Geneva observatory

The Geneva observatory

The Geneva Observatory is an observatory founded by Jacques-André Mallet in 1772 near the city of Geneva . It is known today because of the discovery of the first exoplanet in 1995 by Michel Mayor and Didier Quéloz .

history

Station next to the main building

The first scientific activities at the observatory consisted primarily of time measurements, meteorology , as well as the study of eclipses , comets , planets and, after the turn of the century, the observation of variable stars . Long-time director of the observatory was Jean Alfred Gautier (from 1819 to 1839). He was followed by Emile Plantamour until 1882, after which Gautier's nephew Émile Gautier took over the management of the observatory. After his son Raoul Gautier took over the professorship for astronomy at the Geneva Academy in 1889, Émile Gautier also handed him the management of the observatory. He directed the fortunes of the Institute of Astronomy and the Observatory until the end of 1927, the time at which he resigned from his offices. The original Geneva observatory existed until 1966 ( observatory code 189 ), when it was finally moved to Sauverny (municipality of Versoix ) ( observatory code 517 ). This was achieved on the initiative of Professor Marcel Golay , who chaired the new observatory until 1992.

The Geneva observatory and the EPFL's astrophysical laboratory ( École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne ) work very closely together in the scientific and infrastructural area. The two institutes (as of 2009) are headed by Gilbert Burki (Geneva) and Georges Meylan (Lausanne).

organization

Intern

Around 80 people from the fields of science , engineering , IT , doctoral candidates, students and administration work in the center. The observatory also includes the Integral Science Data Center (ISDC), which processes the data from the INTEGRAL (INTErnational Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) satellite and makes it available to ESA. Research stations, mechanical and electronic laboratories for the calibration of instruments, an IT department, a library and rooms for external researchers are on site.

The main research areas are:

• Astrophysics , which deals with the development of modern measuring devices for solar and space research
• Star evolution
• Dynamics and Kinematics of Galaxies
• Study of quasars
• special physical aspects of the high atmosphere

Of course, teaching astrophysics in French-speaking Switzerland is one of them. In addition, publicly accessible tours are organized, courses for teachers are held and countless questions from the public are answered.

Geneva and Lausanne are members of group L2G2 , along with Lyon and Grenoble . Within this group, the diplomas are mutually recognized and the courses of study are developed together.

External collaboration

• HARPS (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Search) at the ESO 3.6 m telescope in La Silla
• COROT (COnvection, ROtation and planetary Transits) space telescope
• GAIA (Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics) space telescope

Services

• Discovery of the first exoplanet around a sun-like star in 1995 ( 51 Pegasi b )

swell

• Information from the observatory engl. and franz.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Obituary to E. Gautier by Rudolf Wolf
2. ^ Official news of R. Gautier's resignation
3. ↑ Homepage of the ISDC
4. ^ HARPS homepage of the University of Geneva
5. ↑ COROT homepage of ESA
6. ^ ESA's Gaia homepage

Coordinates: 46 ° 18 '30.1 "  N , 6 ° 8' 3"  E ; CH1903:  four hundred and ninety-nine thousand five hundred eleven  /  129388