Observatoire Royal de Belgique
Encyclopedia
The Royal Observatory of Belgium, officially known in French
as the Observatoire Royal de Belgique, and in Dutch
as the Koninklijke Sterrenwacht van België, is situated at Uccle
(Ukkel in Dutch) since 1890, although it was originally founded in 1834. It was home to a 100 cm diameter aperture Zeiss reflector in the first half of the 20th century, one of the largest telescopes in the world at the time. It has had a variety of other astronomical instruments, such as astrograph
s, as well as a range of seismograph equipment (such as for detecting earthquakes).
The main activities are:
in 1828, and the facilities there began operation by 1834. It was moved to Uccle in 1890, however, this was a fairly common practice for observatory in those days. It suffered some damage in 20th century wars, but it was repaired and new instruments were acquired (new instruments were bought on a regular basis also).
Since 1981, the Sunspot Index Data center, the World data center for the Sunspot
Index is harbored at the observatory.
The asteroid 1276 Ucclia
is named for City and the Observatory.
The Planetarium
is located at the Heysel, in the northern region of Brussels.
King Baudouin was an amateur astronomer
and took a keen interest in the Royal Observatoy. After his death a statue in honour of the king was raised outside the entrance.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
as the Observatoire Royal de Belgique, and in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
as the Koninklijke Sterrenwacht van België, is situated at Uccle
Uccle
Uccle or Ukkel is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.Uccle is known for its well-to-do areas, its green spots and its high rental rates.-History:...
(Ukkel in Dutch) since 1890, although it was originally founded in 1834. It was home to a 100 cm diameter aperture Zeiss reflector in the first half of the 20th century, one of the largest telescopes in the world at the time. It has had a variety of other astronomical instruments, such as astrograph
Astrograph
An astrograph is a telescope designed for the sole purpose of astrophotography. Astrographs are usually used in wide field surveys of the night sky as well as detection of objects such as asteroids, meteors, and comets.-Design:...
s, as well as a range of seismograph equipment (such as for detecting earthquakes).
The main activities are:
- Reference systems and geodynamics
- Astrometry and dynamics of celestial bodies
- Astrophysics
- Solar physics.
History
The Royal Observatory was founded by Adolphe QueteletAdolphe Quetelet
Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet was a Belgian astronomer, mathematician, statistician and sociologist. He founded and directed the Brussels Observatory and was influential in introducing statistical methods to the social sciences...
in 1828, and the facilities there began operation by 1834. It was moved to Uccle in 1890, however, this was a fairly common practice for observatory in those days. It suffered some damage in 20th century wars, but it was repaired and new instruments were acquired (new instruments were bought on a regular basis also).
Since 1981, the Sunspot Index Data center, the World data center for the Sunspot
Sunspot
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun that appear visibly as dark spots compared to surrounding regions. They are caused by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection by an effect comparable to the eddy current brake, forming areas of reduced surface temperature....
Index is harbored at the observatory.
The asteroid 1276 Ucclia
1276 Ucclia
1276 Ucclia is a main-belt asteroid discovered on January 24, 1933 by E. Delporte at Uccle.It is named for the place, Uccle, where observatory, the Royal Observatory of Belgium, is located and where the discovery was made.- External links :*...
is named for City and the Observatory.
The Planetarium
Planetarium (Belgium)
The Planetarium of the Royal Observatory of Belgium is a Belgian planetarium and part of the institutions of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office....
is located at the Heysel, in the northern region of Brussels.
King Baudouin was an amateur astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
and took a keen interest in the Royal Observatoy. After his death a statue in honour of the king was raised outside the entrance.
See also
- Belgian Federal Science Policy OfficeBelgian Federal Science Policy OfficeThe Belgian Federal Science Policy Office or BELSPO is a Belgian government institution responsible for coordinating science policy at a federal level. It designs and implements research programmes and networks and manages the participation of Belgium in European and international organisations...
- Belgian Institute for Space AeronomyBelgian Institute for Space AeronomyThe Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy is a Belgian federal scientific research institute...
- PlanetariumPlanetarium (Belgium)The Planetarium of the Royal Observatory of Belgium is a Belgian planetarium and part of the institutions of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office....
- Royal Meteorological InstituteRoyal Meteorological InstituteThe Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium is a Belgian federal institute of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office . It is located in Uccle and in Dourbes...
See also
- List of largest optical reflecting telescopes
- List of minor planets/10201–10300
Further reading
- Centennial of the Royal Observatory Belgium (The Observatory, Vol. 58, p. 208-209 (1935))