Description of the attraction
The Astronomical Museum of the Paris Observatory is not for everybody: the observatory is active, the atmosphere here is strict. But a prepared person will find out and see a lot of interesting things.
The Paris Observatory is the oldest operating in Europe, even Greenwich is several years younger. When Louis XIV created the Royal Academy of Sciences in 1666, at the very first meeting, she decided to ask the monarch to establish an observatory. On June 21, 1667, on the day of the summer solstice, academic mathematicians determined the exact direction of the Paris meridian and the contours of the building at the site purchased for the observatory. It was designed and built by the architect Claude Perrault, brother of the storyteller Charles Perrault. The central building of the observatory is now named after the architect.
At different times, the observatory was headed by outstanding astronomers. Since 1994, a chain of bronze medallions with the inscription Arago runs through the pavements of Paris along the line of the Paris meridian. This is a monument to one of the directors of the observatory, the outstanding astronomer Francois Arago, whose life resembles an adventure novel. The young scientist was instructed to measure the arc of the meridian in Spain, which at that time rebelled against Napoleon. Arago was arrested, was in prison, then fell into slavery to the Algerian dey, was an interpreter for the corsairs - and nevertheless reached France, having saved the results of measurements. At 23 he was elected to the Academy. In Paris, there was a monument to Arago, which disappeared during the occupation. The French did not restore it, but put 135 bronze medallions in the pavements, reminding Parisians every day of the scientific feat of their compatriot.
In the building of the observatory, a copper line runs along the halls of the second floor, denoting the Paris meridian. In the 19th century, three telescopes were installed at the observatory, which are now shown to tourists. Also in the museum you can see the masterpieces of the instrumental collection, which were used by scientists of earlier centuries.
It is not easy to get here on an excursion: the observatory accepts only groups of 20-30 people upon prior request. But the level of the two-hour excursion will be the highest - it will be led by real researchers.
