Meudon Observatory

Administratively, it is a " Great Establishment " of the ministry charged with higher education, with a status close to that of a public university. Its missions include:

research in astronomy and Astrophysics ;

education (four graduate programs, Ph.D. studies);

diffusion of knowledge to the public.

It is home to the International Time Bureau , and maintains a solar observatory at Meudon and a radio astronomy observatory at Nançay .

HISTORY

Its foundation lies in the ambitions of Jean-Baptiste Colbert to extend France 's maritime power and international trade in the 17th Century . Louis XIV promoted its construction starting in 1667 , its being completed in 1671 . The Architect was probably Claude Perrault whose brother, Charles , was secretary to Colbert and superintendent of public works. Optical instruments were supplied by Giuseppe Campani . The buildings were extended in 1730 , 1810 , 1834 , 1850 , and 1951 . The last extension incorporates the spectacular Meridian Room designed by Jean Prouvé .

The world's first national almanac, the '' Connaissance Des Temps '' was published by the observatory in 1679 , using eclipses in Jupiter 's satellites to aid sea-fairers in establishing Longitude . In 1863 , the observatory published the first modern Weather Map s. In 1882 , a 33 Cm Astrographic Lens was constructed, an instrument that catalysed the ill-fated, international '' Carte Du Ciel '' project.

Former directors