Sphinx Observatory
The Sphinx Observatory is a research station, which is located on the Jungfraujoch in Switzerland. It is named after the rock knoll Sphinx, on the tip ( 3'571 m above sea level. M. ) it stands.
History and Function
With the concession for the construction of the Jungfrau Railway in 1894 assured the founder, Adolf Guyer- Zeller, to build a research station on the Jungfraujoch. On 4 July 1931, the research station for meteorology, glaciology, radiation research, astronomy, physiology and medicine was covered with the rock home for 13 researchers. The plans for these buildings came from the architectural firm of Pfister brothers. In 1937, the Sphinx Observatory with its 76- cm telescope to do so. 1950 the observatory dome for astronomical observations was set up, which has since been repeatedly adapted to the modern requirements of science. The weather station at the extreme crest location on the main meteorological divide of the Alps is not only one of the most modern equipped stations of the world, but at the same time the highest permanently manned station in Europe. It is connected since 1980 in the automatic monitoring network ANETZ the Swiss Meteorological Institute and sends every ten minutes, the measured values of about 25 weather elements to the headquarters in Zurich. Despite the automation today provided two observers their service. These supplement the automatically measured values regularly 6-18 clock in three hours with a additional eye observations of clouds and weather character. Of great importance is the measurement of radiation with multiple measuring devices on the Sphinx. The station is open to researchers from all over the world.
That made accessible by a 111.4 -meter-long elevator building is not just meteorologists, radiation researchers and astronomers for their research purposes. Since the observation deck in nice weather outlook to the neighboring countries of France, Germany and Italy, and the Aletsch Glacier offers, it attracts hundreds of visitors every day. Between 1993 and 1996, was built at the observatory in order to equip it with the fastest ski lift in Switzerland, the glassed-in viewing hall and running around the building terraces. The research and weather station itself can not be visited by the visitors.