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European heritage days The Observatoire de Paris opens its doors

11 septembre 2012 European heritage days The Observatoire de Paris opens its doors

As always, the Observatoire de Paris, an important astrophysics research centre, will be participating in the European heritage days, and will allow the public to discover its unusual architecture, its unique observational facilities , and its hidden treasures. For this 29th edition, the opening of two of its sites – Paris and Nançay – will feature an eclectic programme of astronomical events, some of which have never been seen before : exhibitions, public talks on current discoveries, a treasure hunt for the children... An absolute must, for the whole family.

The Paris site

Site de Paris
(Observatoire de Paris, Jean Mouette)

Founded in 1667, the Observatoire de Paris is the cradle of institutional astronomy in France. You can discover at will an exceptional heritage and remarkable architecture : a panoramic terrace with its unparallel view of Paris, the « Arago » dome which houses a large astronomical refractor dating from 1855, the monumental hall named after "Cassini" crossed by the Paris meridian, the « Grande Galerie » with its historic, « Esclangon », the room with the taling clocks, the Council room with its decorated ceiling, and in the gardens : the "Arago" medallions which dilineate (he meridian in the capital, the equatorial refractor, the “Carte du ciel”…

Follow the numerous activities, novel for some :

• A programme of round tables with different experts and persnalities in astronomy

Saturday 15th of september
13h30 –« Presentation of the Observatoire de Paris », by Claude Catala, President of the Observatoire de Paris
– 14h –« Life in the universe », by Guy Perrin, astronomer and vice-president of the scientific council of the Observatoire de Paris and Vincent Coudé du Foresto, astronomer at the Observatoire de Paris
– 15h –« The measurement of time », by Noël Dimarcq, director of the SYRTE laboratory, Jérôme Lodewyck, CNRS research fellow, Jean Souchay et Philippe Tuckey, astronomers at the Observatoire de Paris
– 16h –« Can the sky fall on our heads ? », by Fabrice Mottez, CNRS research fellow and Guillaume Aulanier, astronomer, both at the Observatoire de Paris
– 17h –« Retrospective of the exciting events in the “Cassini-Huygens” mission, by Philippe Zarka, CNRS research director and Jean-Pierre Lebreton, engineer and manager of the Cassini-Huygens mission.

Dimanche 16 septembre
– 13h30 – « Présentation de l’Observatoire de Paris », par Claude Catala, Président de l’Observatoire de Paris
– 14h - « DEUS ou la simulation ultra réaliste de tout l’Univers », par Jean-Michel Alimi, directeur de recherche CNRS à l’Observatoire de Paris
– 15h - « Le destin de l’Univers : trous noirs et énergie sombre », par Jean-Pierre Luminet, directeur de recherche CNRS à l’Observatoire de Paris
– 16h - « L’ESO : 50 ans de fabuleux progrès en astronomie », par Pierre Léna, membre de l’Académie des sciences et chercheur associé à l’Observatoire de Paris, Guy Perrin, astronome et vice-président du conseil scientifique de l’Observatoire de Paris, François Hammer et Vincent Coudé du Foresto, astronomes à l’Observatoire de Paris
– 17h – « L’astronome du Roi et le satellite : pourquoi une exposition-hommage à Jean-Dominique Cassini ? », par Suzanne Débarbat, astronome honoraire à l’Observatoire de Paris et Laurence Bobis, directrice de la bibliothèque de l’Observatoire de Paris, commissaires de l’exposition ainsi que James Lequeux, astronome à l’Observatoire de Paris

  • Exhibition in honour of Jean-Dominique Cassini (1625-1712) :The king’s astronomer and the satellite
    The tercentenary of the death of Jean-Dominique Cassini, the first organizer of the Observatoire de Paris, will be for the institution an opportunity to pay him tribute by organizing an exhibition in his honour. The work of this scientist and his discoveries are presented in detail, as well as the modern extensions of his research which are thus incarnated in projects like the NASA-ESA Cassini-Huygens space mission.
  • Treasure hunt for children : Cassini de Thury leaves hints to find an invaluable treasure bequeathed to the Observatoire de Paris by his grand-father, Jean-Dominique Cassini. An opportunity to familiarise oneself with a few astronomical notions while looking for the treasure.
    Duration : Allow at least 30-45 minutes in order to solve several enigmas. From 7 ans. 2 levels of difficulty.
  • Scientific experiments : scientists from the Observatoire de Paris have adapted a few scientific instruments for the general public : a working radiotelescope in the gardens, surrounded by radioastronomers, and a model of an atomic fountain, one of the most accurate time measuring devices in the world, which can be manipulated with the help of scientists from the Systèmes de référence Temps-Espace - Syrte – department of the Observatoire de Paris.
  • Theatrical events around the person of Jean-Dominique Cassini, founder of the Observatoire de Paris
  • Itinery « An observatory in the town » to discover the history of the Observatoire de Paris and the circomstances of its establishment in the XIVth arrondissement, based on certain of its architectural details.
  • Welcome for visitors with hearing impairments on Saturday by an astronomer trained in the use of sign language.

Open doors at the Nançay site (Cher) of the Observatoire de Paris

The radioastronomical station is the largest radio observatory for low frequences in France. You will discover a set scientific instruments involving advanced technology, associated with major international research programmes.

– Welcome at the « Pôle des étoiles »
– Welcome by the scientific popularisers of the « Centre de vulgarisation scientifique Pôle des Etoiles ». Free entrance to the exhibitions.

Visit of the radioastronomical station
You will discover the various observational instruments of the Station : the large radiotelescope, the radioheliograph, the decametric array … as well as the new prototypes under development. It will be possible to move about this large site to visit the various points of interest, on foot, by bicycle or in a carriage.

Talks
14h30 -« Where is the largest radiotelescope in the world ? » by Steve Torchinsky, CNRS research engineer at the Observatoire de Paris
16h30 –« Solar activity » byLudwig Klein, astronomer at the Observatoire de Paris

Solar Observations
Together with amateur astronomical associations, observations of the Sun through various filters using optical telescopes, and training in the use of a sundial ...

Radioastronomical station
route de Souesmes, 18330 Nançay
Sunday 16th of September 2012, from 14h to 18h

The Observatoire de Paris

Through the number of its scientists and the wide variety of the subjects studied, the Observatoire de Paris is one of the most important centres of astronomical and astrophysical research in the world. Founded in 1667, it is also one of the oldest. Today, it has three distinct sites : Paris, Meudon and Nançay. The Observatoire de Paris is a founding member of « Paris Sciences et Lettres », and, with 15 other partners, is striving to establish a major international research university.

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