Three major stages mark the history of the Côte d'Azur observatory :
1. the creation of the Nice observatory (in 1881) ;
2. the creation of the Geodynamics and Astrometry Research Center (CERGA) and its observation site, the Calern Observatory (in 1970)
3. the merger of the Nice observatory with the Geodynamics and Astrometry Research Center (CERGA) to become the Alpes-Maritimes Observatory (in 1986) then the Côte d'Azur observatory (in 1988).
The documents below retrace this evolution from the creation of the Nice observatory in 1881 to the formal creation of the Côte d'Azur observatory in 1986.
| Click on the section that interests you : CERGA (1881-1987) - Nice Observatory (1881-1887) - Côte d'Azur Observatory (1988) and then on the cover page of a document to consult it or on "find out more" to see the table of contents |
History - Nice observatory (1881-1985)
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Annales de l'Observatoire de Nice. Tome 1 [Texte] History of the Nice observatory from its creation until 1911 (buildings, instruments, staff, scientific works).
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See also : Monographie de l'obs. de Nice / Charles Garnier (1892) (external resource : "e-rara", the ETH-Bibliothek Zürich portal) |
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1881-1981 : cent ans d'astronomie à l'observatoire de Nice
A. Clorennec, R. Feldman, J.-P. Zahn et al. (1981)
Call number : W20 (OCA-NI-005000) Brochure written on the occasion of the centenary of the Nice Observatory. Richly illustrated, it retraces the major stages in the creation and development of the Nice observatory from 1879 to 1981
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Le centenaire de l'observatoire de Nice Conference given by Jean-Claude Pecker on the occasion of the centenary of the Nice Observatory on the creation and development of the observatory _______________
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L'Observatoire de Nice
Paul Couteau (1981)
Call number : W17 / OCA-NI-009776 Booklet on the history of the Nice observatory and its instruments from its creation until the early 1980s : the construction period - the period of the 2 great wars - the rebirth from 1962
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Observatoire de Nice hier, aujourd'hui Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur
José Antonio de Freitas Pacheco (dir.) ; Renata Feldman (ed.) (1998)
Call number : W21 / OCA-NI-005460 History of the Nice observatory which became the Côte d'Azur observatory until the beginning of the 1990s. Development of a museum project to ensure the conservation of the Nice Mont-Gros site
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Le centenaire de l'observatoire de Nice (suivi de) L'observatoire de Nice à travers son siècle History of the Nice observatory from its creation in 1881 until 1982.
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L'Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur du Mont-Gros au Plateau de Calern en passant par le village de Gourdon La Sarrasine : rappel historique et visite des lieux Foundation, history and guided tour of the Nice Observatory (part 1) Access condition : Restricted access to library staff . The document is available in paper version
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History - the Geodynamics and Astrometry Research Center (CERGA) (1965-1985) and the Calern observatory
Research campaign of astronomical sites 1965-1969
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La recherche d'un site _______________ |
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Recherche de sites astronomiques. Fasc. 1. Résultats des mesures
Gérard Billaud (1966)
Call number : W48 / OCA-NI-005384
A research campaign for astronomical sites for the establishment of a future observatory was undertaken in 1965. This booklet presents the results of the first measurements made in Briançon and Nice (1965-1966)
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Campagnes d'observations avec l'astrolabe Danjon . I . Eléments météorologiques. Fréquence des nuits utilisables dans les sites prospectés
Francis Laclare (1968?)
Call number : W175 / OCA-NI-010467
With a view to the installation of new instruments, particularly in the context of astrometry, a series of meteorological studies and experiments should lead to drawing up a picture of the sites where one can hope for optimal performance.
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Recherche de sites astronomiques. The purpose of this 2nd booklet is to present the results of astronomical observations and the instrumental performance in the different sites observed
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La campagne de prospection de site dans les Alpes Maritimes. La station expérimentale de la cime de l'Aspre
= Campagne de recherche de sites [titre de couv.] Bernard Bertin ; Jacques Marchal (1969)
Call number : W47 / OCA-NI-004913
In 1966, the French National Astronomical Committee decided to install experimental stations intended for the study of possible locations for the astrophysical instruments provided for in the 5th Equipment Plan. The choice of the location of the experimental station to be created in the Alpes-Maritimes is assigned to the Nice observatory.
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Contribution à la recherche d'un site d'observatoire astrométrique A research campaign for astronomical sites for the establishment of a future observatory was undertaken in 1965. This thesis presents the results of the first meteorological measurements and astronomical observations. Access condition : restricted access to OCA
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The creation of CERGA 1970-1974 (choice of the observation site - construction of the Calern observatory and Roquevignon site)
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Rapport d'activité 1973 This activity report presents in chapter 2 the first stages of the constitution of CERGA and the construction project of the Calern observatory (see p.7-8)
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Rapport préparatoire au rapport de conjoncture pour le septième plan Situation of French astronomy in 1974 in the field of astrometry, space geodesy, geophysics, celestial mechanics and planetology. Comparison with foreign countries. Short and medium term outlook. Role of CERGA
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CERGA : Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Géodynamiques et Astronomiques
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Le Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Géodynamiques et Astronomiques Jean Kovalevsky (1975) Call number : W188 / OCA-NI-010678 History of the creation of the Calern observatory and the organization of CERGA. Period covered : 1964-1975 and prospective 1976 _______________________ Access condition : restricted access to OCA |
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Il était une fois... la naissance du C.E.R.G.A. Fascicules 1 & 2
Francis Laclare (1994)
Call number vol 1 : W26 (OCA-NI-004136) Call number vol 2 : W27 (OCA-NI-004137) Collection of technical documents on the CERGA's birth in 2 vol.. - Period covered : 1970-1974
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CERGA n°1. Projet d'un centre d'études et de recherches géodynamiques et astronomiques (CERGA) Presentation of the project to create CERGA and the Calern observatory at its beginnings in 1970 Access condition : Restricited access to OCA |
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CERGA, n.2 . Proposition à long terme sur la géodynamique = Documentation sur la géodynamique (titre de couv.) The document describes the state of knowledge in spatial geodynamics in 1970 and the main role that CERGA could play in this field |
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CERGA n°3. Projet d'un centre d'études et de recherches géodynamiques et astronomiques,CERGA Presentation of the CERGA project in the implementation phase in 1973 ___________________ |
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Scientific and administrative activities of CERGA (Activity reports 1975-1986)
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CERGA. Portes ouvertes Centre d'études et de recherches géodynamiques et astronomiques (CERGA) [1979?]. Call number : W203 (OCA-NI-010838) Open House Day at the Calern observatory : the various CERGA teams present their instruments and their research _________________ Access condition : restricted access to OCA |
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Le livre de la jungle 1974-1982 Jean Kovalevsky (1982) Call number : W174 (OCA-NI-010466) Collection of 50 decisions about the internal organization of CERGA for the period 1974-1982 Access condition : restricted access to OCA |
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Le CERGA
Centre d'études et de recherches géodynamiques et astronomiques (CERGA) (1981)
Call number : W28 (OCA-NI-005016)
Description of the CERGA's scientific and administrative activities in the years 1978 to 1981 with a reminder of the historical context at the origin of these activities.
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CERGA n°5. Rapports d'activité 1975 CERGA [1976] ________________________ |
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CERGA n°6. Rapports d'activité 1976 CERGA [1977] ________________________ |
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CERGA n.7. Rapports d'activité 1977 CERGA [1978] ________________________ |
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CERGA n.8 . Rapports d'activité 1978 CERGA [1979] ________________________ |
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CERGA n°9. Rapports d'activité 1979 CERGA [1980] ________________________ |
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CERGA n.10. Rapports d'activité 1980 CERGA [1981] ________________________ |
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CERGA n°11. Rapports d'activité 1981 CERGA [1982] ________________________ |
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CERGA n°12. Rapports d'activité 1982 CERGA [1983] ________________________ |
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CERGA n.13. Rapports d'activité 1983 CERGA [1984] ________________________ |
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CERGA n°14. Rapports d'activité 1984 CERGA [1985]
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CERGA n.15. Rapports d'activité 1985 CERGA [1986] ________________________ |
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CERGA n.16. Rapports d'activité 1986 CERGA [1987] ________________________ |
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Le CERGA dix ans après sa création in L'Astronomie, vol. 99, déc.1985, p.545-556 Call number : W191 (OCA-NI-010682) Evolution of CERGA from 1974 to 1984 around 6 themes: 1. Space geodesy and Earth sciences - 2. Schmidt telescope - 3. Reference systems - 4. Optical interferometry - 5. Dynamics of the solar system - 6. Technical research and prospective Access condition : restricted access to OCA |
History of the creation of the Côte d'Azur Observatory - Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (1988-...)
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Dossier de proposition de l'UA, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur
Raymond Michard (1988)
Call number : W14 (OCA-NI-004995) The Decree 86-200 of 12-02-1986 brought together the Nice Observatory (UA 128) and CERGA (UA 252) within a new public establishment called "Observatoire des Alpes-Maritimes" (OAM). For the year 1988, proposal for the creation of an Associated Unit bringing together the teams previously associated within UAs 128 and 252 under the name of "Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur."
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-- The documents can also be consulted by using the OCA library catalog --
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