The Royal Observatory of Belgium (French: Observatoire Royal de Belgique, Dutch: Koninklijke Sterrenwacht van België), has been situated in the Uccle municipality of Brussels (Belgium) since 1890. It was first established in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode in 1826 by William I under the impulse of Adolphe Quetelet. It was home to a 100 cm (39 in) diameter aperture Zeiss reflector in the first half of the 20th century, one of the largest telescopes in the world at the time. It owns a variety of other astronomical instruments, such as astrographs, as well as a range of seismograph equipment (for detecting earthquakes).
The asteroid 1276 Ucclia is named in honour of the city and the observatory and 16908 Groeselenberg is named for the hill the observatory is located on.
Adolphe Quetelet first petitioned the government of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands to establish an astronomical observatory in Brussels in 1823. William I granted his request in 1826 and construction started in 1827 in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. Meteorological observations started early, but delivery and installation of astronomical equipment proceeded slowly. Quetelet was appointed astronomer in 1828.
During the Belgian Revolution, fighting took place in and around the observatory. Quetelet kept his position under the new government and started scientific observations. By 1834, buildings and instruments were finally completed. Adolpe Quetelet was succeeded by his son Ernest upon his death in 1874.
In 1876, Jean-Charles Houzeau became the new director. He called on François van Rysselberghe to attach him to the weather forecast service the same year. On 26 September 1876, the Observatory published the first Meteorological Bulletin in its history.[2] Immediately after he became director, Houzeau started planning a move to Uccle. He managed to obtain better funding, enlarged the scientific staff and completely renewed the instruments. The first Belgian astronomical expedition was sent to Santiago and San Antonio to observe the transit of Venus in 1882. He tried to separate the meteorological and astronomical departments, but this was refused by the government. In 1883 construction of a new observatory in Uccle started, but Houzeau's resignation in 1883 delayed the move which was only completed in 1890–1891.
20th century
Georges Lecointe was appointed as director in 1900, succeeding F. Folie and A. Lancaster. Under his leadership, seismological measurements started in 1901 and the first weather balloons were launched in 1906. Belgium participated in the Carte du Ciel and the Astrographic Catalogue; observations lasted until 1964. In 1913 the meteorological department finally became an independent entity, the Royal Meteorological Institute. After World War I the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams was located in Uccle from 1920 to 1922 while it was headed by Lecointe.
Illness forced Lecointe to resign in 1925 and he was succeeded by Paul Stroobant.[3] Since 1981, the Sunspot Index Data center, the World data center for the Sunspot Index is harbored at the observatory.[4]
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.
royal, observatory, belgium, french, observatoire, royal, belgique, dutch, koninklijke, sterrenwacht, belgië, been, situated, uccle, municipality, brussels, belgium, since, 1890, first, established, saint, josse, noode, 1826, william, under, impulse, adolphe, . The Royal Observatory of Belgium French Observatoire Royal de Belgique Dutch Koninklijke Sterrenwacht van Belgie has been situated in the Uccle municipality of Brussels Belgium since 1890 It was first established in Saint Josse ten Noode in 1826 by William I under the impulse of Adolphe Quetelet It was home to a 100 cm 39 in diameter aperture Zeiss reflector in the first half of the 20th century one of the largest telescopes in the world at the time It owns a variety of other astronomical instruments such as astrographs as well as a range of seismograph equipment for detecting earthquakes Royal Observatory of BelgiumObservatory code012 LocationUccle Arrondissement of Brussels Capital Brussels BelgiumCoordinates50 47 53 N 4 21 31 E 50 798179 N 4 358628 E 50 798179 4 358628 Coordinates 50 47 53 N 4 21 31 E 50 798179 N 4 358628 E 50 798179 4 358628Established1826 1826 Saint Josse ten Noode 1890 1890 UccleWebsitewww wbr orb wbr be www wbr ksb wbr beTelescopesHumain Radioastronomy StationSWAP Location of Royal Observatory of Belgium Related media on Commons edit on Wikidata Minor planets discovered 13 1 see List of discovered minor planetsIts main activities are Reference systems and geodynamics Astrometry and dynamics of celestial bodies Astrophysics Solar physics The asteroid 1276 Ucclia is named in honour of the city and the observatory and 16908 Groeselenberg is named for the hill the observatory is located on Contents 1 History 1 1 19th century 1 2 20th century 2 Instruments 3 List of discovered minor planets 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistory Edit19th century Edit Adolphe Quetelet first petitioned the government of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands to establish an astronomical observatory in Brussels in 1823 William I granted his request in 1826 and construction started in 1827 in Saint Josse ten Noode Meteorological observations started early but delivery and installation of astronomical equipment proceeded slowly Quetelet was appointed astronomer in 1828 During the Belgian Revolution fighting took place in and around the observatory Quetelet kept his position under the new government and started scientific observations By 1834 buildings and instruments were finally completed Adolpe Quetelet was succeeded by his son Ernest upon his death in 1874 In 1876 Jean Charles Houzeau became the new director He called on Francois van Rysselberghe to attach him to the weather forecast service the same year On 26 September 1876 the Observatory published the first Meteorological Bulletin in its history 2 Immediately after he became director Houzeau started planning a move to Uccle He managed to obtain better funding enlarged the scientific staff and completely renewed the instruments The first Belgian astronomical expedition was sent to Santiago and San Antonio to observe the transit of Venus in 1882 He tried to separate the meteorological and astronomical departments but this was refused by the government In 1883 construction of a new observatory in Uccle started but Houzeau s resignation in 1883 delayed the move which was only completed in 1890 1891 20th century Edit Georges Lecointe was appointed as director in 1900 succeeding F Folie and A Lancaster Under his leadership seismological measurements started in 1901 and the first weather balloons were launched in 1906 Belgium participated in the Carte du Ciel and the Astrographic Catalogue observations lasted until 1964 In 1913 the meteorological department finally became an independent entity the Royal Meteorological Institute After World War I the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams was located in Uccle from 1920 to 1922 while it was headed by Lecointe Illness forced Lecointe to resign in 1925 and he was succeeded by Paul Stroobant 3 Since 1981 the Sunspot Index Data center the World data center for the Sunspot Index is harbored at the observatory 4 The Planetarium is located on the Heysel Plateau 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 Instruments EditExamples onlyIn 1914 5 38 cm 15 inch Cooke Merz refractor 15 cm 6 inch Cooke Steinhell refractor 15 cm 6 inch Repsold refractor with micrometer Carte du Ciel astrographAs of 1981 6 Askania Meridian circle 19 cm Danjon Astrolabe 45 cm aperture Cooke Zeiss refractor on equatorial mount 38 cm aperture refractor Triple refractor By Zeiss 25 10 and 15 cm aperture refractors these are telescopes with a lens 20 cm Zeiss Double AstrographThe Observatory also had a 100 cm aperture Zeiss reflector 7 List of discovered minor planets Editimportant height 175px 120140 2003 GB21 3 April 2003 list 172419 2003 GD21 4 April 2003 list 174625 2003 ST76 19 September 2003 list 175069 2004 GU28 15 April 2004 list 182910 2002 EP99 2 March 2002 list 186664 2003 YA30 18 December 2003 list 206440 2003 SC210 25 September 2003 listimportant height 175px 217332 2004 RS79 8 September 2004 list 247727 2003 GC21 4 April 2003 list 260089 2004 KO17 27 May 2004 list 271133 2003 SU76 19 September 2003 list 323074 2002 TS96 10 October 2002 list 436000 2009 FE46 17 March 2009 listMinor Planet Center as of 2016 1 See also EditBelgian Federal Science Policy Office Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy List of astronomical observatories List of minor planet discoverers Discovering dedicated institutions Planetarium Royal Meteorological InstituteReferences Edit a b Minor Planet Discoverers by number Minor Planet Center 14 November 2016 Retrieved 27 November 2016 Royal Academy of Science Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium 1958 1959 Biographie Nationale PDF in French Brussels p 362 Geschiedenis van Koninklijke Sterrenwacht van Belgie in Dutch Belgian Science Policy Office 1 February 2007 Archived from the original on 21 October 2013 Retrieved 21 October 2013 Solar Influences Data analysis center Astronomy in Belgium and the War The Uccle Observatory under German Occupation Gazette Astronomique 7 51 1914 Bibcode 1914GazA 7 51 The Astronomical Almanac Department of Defense Navy Department Naval Observatory Nautical Almanac Office 1981 King Henry C 1 January 2003 The History of the Telescope Courier Corporation ISBN 9780486432656 Further reading EditCentennial of the Royal Observatory Belgium The Observatory Vol 58 p 208 209 1935 External links EditOfficial websitePortals Belgium Astronomy Stars Spaceflight Outer space Solar System Education Science Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Royal Observatory of Belgium amp oldid 1129926247, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
