Observatory of Geneva

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The Geneva Observatory is an astronomical observatory, which was established in 1772 by Jean André Mallet near the city of Geneva, Switzerland. She is best known today because of the discovery of the first exoplanet in 1995 by Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz.

History

The first scientific activities at the observatory has mainly consisted in time measurements, meteorology, as well as the study of eclipses, comets, planets, and after the turn of the century and the observation of variable stars. Longtime director of the observatory was Jean Alfred Gautier ( 1819-1839 ). He was succeeded by Emile Plantamour to 1882, then took over Gautier's nephew Emile Gautier, the director of the observatory. After his son Raoul Gautier had in 1889 accepted the professorship of astronomy at the Geneva Academy, Émile Gautier gave him also the director of the observatory. This led the fate of the Institute of Astronomy and the Observatory until the end of 1927, at which time he resigned from his offices. The original Observatory of Geneva had continued into 1966, where she was moved finally to Versoix (municipality Versoix ). This was on the initiative of Professor Marcel Golay, which until 1992 was chairman of the new observatory.

The Geneva Observatory and Astrophysics Laboratory of the EPFL ( Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne ) work in science and infrastructure area very closely. The Head of these two institutions ( as of 2009) of Gilbert Burki ( Geneva ) and Georges Meylan ( Lausanne).

Organization

Internal

In the center employs around 80 people from the fields of science, engineering, computer science, graduate students, students and administration. At the observatory and the Integral Science Data Centre ( ISDC ), which processes the data from the satellite INTEGRAL (International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) and the Agency's own provides. In the area of research stations, mechanical and electronic laboratory for the calibration of the instruments, a computer science department, a library and rooms for Foreign Researchers are present.

The main research areas are:

  • Astrophysics that deals with the development of modern measuring devices for solar and space research
  • Stellar evolution
  • Dynamics and kinematics of galaxies
  • Study of quasars
  • Special physical aspects of the upper atmosphere

Of course, part of the teaching of astrophysics in French-speaking Switzerland it. In addition, publicly accessible tours are organized, conducted courses for teachers and answered countless questions of the public.

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

External Cooperation

  • HARPS (High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Search) at the ESO 3.6m telescope at La Silla
  • GAIA (Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics ) space telescope

Services

  • Discovery of the first exoplanet around a Sun-like star 1995 ( 51 Pegasi b )
  • Discovery of the first Earth-like exoplanets around the star Gliese 581 2007, published in 2009 ( Gliese 581 d)

Swell

  • Information of the observatory Engl. and double
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