The CERGA Observatory (french: Centre de recherches en géodynamique et astrométrie; obs. code:

010 010 may refer to: * 10 (number) * 8 (number) in octal numeral notation * Motorola 68010, a microprocessor released by Motorola in 1982 * 010, the telephone area code of Beijing * 010, the Rotterdam Rotterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the R ...

) was a scientific department and astronomical station of the

Côte d'Azur Observatory The Côte d'Azur Observatory (french: Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, OCA) is a network of astronomical observatories throughout southern France. It originated in 1988 with the merger of two observatories: # Nice Observatory # Centre de recher ...

in southern France, where several

asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...

s were discovered during 1984–1993.

Description

CERGA included 28 researchers and as many engineers and technicians located on the Observatory sites of

Nice Nice ( , ; Niçard: , classical norm, or , nonstandard, ; it, Nizza ; lij, Nissa; grc, Νίκαια; la, Nicaea) is the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative c ...

Grasse Grasse (; Provençal dialect, Provençal oc, Grassa in classical norm or in Mistralian norm ; traditional it, Grassa) is the only Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department in the Provence- ...

and Calern (

Caussols Caussols (; oc, Caussòus; it, Caussole) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. It is known for the CERGA Observatory on the Calern plateau. Demographics See also *Communes of the Alpes-Maritimes departmen ...

). The scientific activities covered fields as diverse as fundamental

astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies astronomical object, celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and chronology of the Universe, evolution. Objects of interest ...

celestial mechanics Celestial mechanics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the motions of objects in outer space. Historically, celestial mechanics applies principles of physics (classical mechanics) to astronomical objects, such as stars and planets, to ...

, and space

geodesy Geodesy ( ) is the Earth science of accurately measuring and understanding Earth's figure (geometric shape and size), orientation in space, and gravity. The field also incorporates studies of how these properties change over time and equivale ...

. CERGA was in charge of several observing facilities of the Lunar Laser Ranging experiment, for example, the lunar-laser ranging telescope and the two satellite laser stations. By nature the scientific activity involved the acquisition of data and their processing, a dedicated instrumental development and a close relationship with the more theoretical aspects in dynamics and observation modelling. CERGA was dissolved in 2004 when the parent

re-organized. The main-belt asteroid 2252 CERGA was named for the observatory, where this asteroid was discovered by

Kōichirō Tomita was a Japanese astronomer, discoverer of minor planets and comets. The fireball passed over west Japan and was recorded by photos and a sketch. Kōichirō Tomita identified that it was the Kosmos 133 spacecraft (30 November 1966). He is credit ...

List of discovered minor planets

The

Minor Planet Center The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Function ...

directly credits the CERGA observatory with the discovery of 21 asteroids made during 1984–1993. The discoveries were made using the observatory's 0.9-meter Schmidt telescope.

References

External links

CERGA English home page
* http://www.oca.eu/

www.beyond.fr {{DEFAULTSORT:Centre de recherches en geodynamique et astrometrie Astronomy institutes and departments Asteroid surveys Year of establishment missing 2004 disestablishments in France Minor-planet discovering observatories