Digitized collections - History of Nice observatory , CERGA and the creation of the Côte d'Azur observatory

Details: Version :; Last Updated: 24 January 2025

Three major stages mark the history of the Côte d'Azur observatory :
1. the creation of the Nice observatory (in 1881) ;
2. the creation of the Geodynamics and Astrometry Research Center (CERGA) and its observation site, the Calern Observatory (in 1970)
3. the merger of the Nice observatory with the Geodynamics and Astrometry Research Center (CERGA) to become the Alpes-Maritimes Observatory (in 1986) then the Côte d'Azur observatory (in 1988).
The documents below retrace this evolution from the creation of the Nice observatory in 1881 to the formal creation of the Côte d'Azur observatory in 1986.

Click on the section that interests you : CERGA (1881-1987) - Nice Observatory (1881-1887) - Côte d'Azur Observatory (1988) and then on the cover page of a document to consult it or on "find out more" to see the table of contents

History - Nice observatory (1881-1985)

		Annales de l'Observatoire de Nice. Tome 1 [Texte] Henri Joseph Anastase Perrotin (Eds sc.) (1899) Call number : A002341(A1) Access condition : Free access for all History of the Nice observatory from its creation until 1911 (buildings, instruments, staff, scientific works). See also : Monographie de l'obs. de Nice / Charles Garnier (1892) (external resource : "e-rara", the ETH-Bibliothek Zürich portal)
To find out more and to see the atlas

		1881-1981 : cent ans d'astronomie à l'observatoire de Nice A. Clorennec, R. Feldman, J.-P. Zahn et al. (1981) Call number : W20 (OCA-NI-005000) Access condition : Restricted access to OCA Brochure written on the occasion of the centenary of the Nice Observatory. Richly illustrated, it retraces the major stages in the creation and development of the Nice observatory from 1879 to 1981
To find out more

Le centenaire de l'observatoire de Nice
Conférence de Jean-Claude Pecker (1981)
in Bulletin de l'ADION, n.18,1981, p.15-37 (p.19-41 du pdf)
Access condition : Restricted access to OCA

Conference given by Jean-Claude Pecker on the occasion of the centenary of the Nice Observatory on the creation and development of the observatory

		L'Observatoire de Nice Paul Couteau (1981) Call number : W17 / OCA-NI-009776 Access condition : Restricted access to OCA Booklet on the history of the Nice observatory and its instruments from its creation until the early 1980s : the construction period - the period of the 2 great wars - the rebirth from 1962
To find out more

		Observatoire de Nice hier, aujourd'hui Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur José Antonio de Freitas Pacheco (dir.) ; Renata Feldman (ed.) (1998) Call number : W21 / OCA-NI-005460 Access condition : Restricted access to OCA History of the Nice observatory which became the Côte d'Azur observatory until the beginning of the 1990s. Development of a museum project to ensure the conservation of the Nice Mont-Gros site
To find out more

		Le centenaire de l'observatoire de Nice (suivi de) L'observatoire de Nice à travers son siècle Paul Couteau (1982) in L'Astronomie, vol.96, nov. 1982, pp.487-499 Call number : W185 / OCA-NI-010663 Access condition : Restricted access to OCA History of the Nice observatory from its creation in 1881 until 1982. __________________________
To find out more

		L'Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur du Mont-Gros au Plateau de Calern en passant par le village de Gourdon La Sarrasine : rappel historique et visite des lieux Jean Claude Thorel (2002) Call number : W87 / OCA-NI-007779 Access condition : Restricted access to library staff . The document is available in paper version Foundation, history and guided tour of the Nice Observatory (part 1)
To find out more

History - the Geodynamics and Astrometry Research Center (CERGA) (1965-1985) and the Calern observatory

Research campaign of astronomical sites 1965-1969

La recherche d'un site
Jean-Claude Pecker (1967)
in Bull. de l'ADION, n.4,1967, p.47-51
Cote : PO422
Access condition : Restricted access to OCA

		Recherche de sites astronomiques. Fasc. 1. Résultats des mesures Gérard Billaud (1966) Call number : W48 / OCA-NI-005384 Access condition : restricted access to OCA A research campaign for astronomical sites for the establishment of a future observatory was undertaken in 1965. This booklet presents the results of the first measurements made in Briançon and Nice (1965-1966)
To find out more

		Recherche de sites astronomiques. Campagnes d'observations avec l'astrolabe Danjon . I . Eléments météorologiques. Fréquence des nuits utilisables dans les sites prospectés Francis Laclare (1968?) Call number : W175 / OCA-NI-010467 Access condition : restricted access to OCA With a view to the installation of new instruments, particularly in the context of astrometry, a series of meteorological studies and experiments should lead to drawing up a picture of the sites where one can hope for optimal performance.
To find out more

		Recherche de sites astronomiques. Campagnes d'observations avec l'astrolabe Danjon. II. Observations astronomiques. Rendement instrumental dans les sites prospectés Francis Laclare (1967) Call number : W49 / OCA-NI-005385 Access condition : restricted access to OCA The purpose of this 2nd booklet is to present the results of astronomical observations and the instrumental performance in the different sites observed
To find out more

		La campagne de prospection de site dans les Alpes Maritimes. La station expérimentale de la cime de l'Aspre = Campagne de recherche de sites [titre de couv.] Bernard Bertin ; Jacques Marchal (1969) Call number : W47 / OCA-NI-004913 Access condition : restricted access to OCA In 1966, the French National Astronomical Committee decided to install experimental stations intended for the study of possible locations for the astrophysical instruments provided for in the 5th Equipment Plan. The choice of the location of the experimental station to be created in the Alpes-Maritimes is assigned to the Nice observatory.
To find out more

OCA NI 010654 W181 LACLARE CONTRIBUTION A LA RECHERCHE THESE 1

Contribution à la recherche d'un site d'observatoire astrométrique
Francis Laclare (1969)
Thèse : Science : Faculté des Sciences de Paris : 1969
Call number : W181 / OCA-NI-010654
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

A research campaign for astronomical sites for the establishment of a future observatory was undertaken in 1965. This thesis presents the results of the first meteorological measurements and astronomical observations.

To find out more

The creation of CERGA 1970-1974 (choice of the observation site - construction of the Calern observatory and Roquevignon site)

		Rapport d'activité 1973 Observatoire de Paris Call number : W173 / OCA-NI-010465 Access condition : restricted access to OCA This activity report presents in chapter 2 the first stages of the constitution of CERGA and the construction project of the Calern observatory (see p.7-8)
To find out more

		Rapport préparatoire au rapport de conjoncture pour le septième plan Jean Kovalevsky (1974) Call number : W206 / OCA-NI-010848 Access condition : restricted access to OCA Situation of French astronomy in 1974 in the field of astrometry, space geodesy, geophysics, celestial mechanics and planetology. Comparison with foreign countries. Short and medium term outlook. Role of CERGA
To find out more

OCA NI 006737 W68 CERGA KOVALEVSKY 1975 TITRE

CERGA : Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Géodynamiques et Astronomiques
Jean Kovalevsky, dir. du CERGA (1975)
call number W68 (OCA-NI-006737)

Access condition : restricted access to OCA

History of the creation of the Center for Geodynamic and Astronomical Studies and Research (CERGA) and the Calern observatory (period : 1965-1974)

To find out more

OCA NI 010678 W188 OCR l astronomie 89 1975 1

Le Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Géodynamiques et Astronomiques
Jean Kovalevsky (1975)
in L'Astronomie, 89e année, Juil-Août 1975, pp. 271-286
Call number : W188 / OCA-NI-010678
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

History of the creation of the Calern observatory and the organization of CERGA. Period covered : 1964-1975 and prospective 1976

To find out more

fasc.1		Il était une fois... la naissance du C.E.R.G.A. Fascicules 1 & 2 Francis Laclare (1994) Call number vol 1 : W26 (OCA-NI-004136) Call number vol 2 : W27 (OCA-NI-004137) Access condition : Restricted access to OCA Collection of technical documents on the CERGA's birth in 2 vol.. - Period covered : 1970-1974		fasc. 2
To find out more				To find out more

PO142 5 CERGA1 Projet d un cerga1970 titre

CERGA n°1. Projet d'un centre d'études et de recherches géodynamiques et astronomiques (CERGA)
CERGA ; François Barlier ; Bernard Guinot ; Jacques Levy et al (1970)
Call number : PO142(5)
Access condition : Restricited access to OCA

Presentation of the project to create CERGA and the Calern observatory at its beginnings in 1970

To find out more

PO142 5 CERGA2 doc sur geodynamique1970 titre

CERGA, n.2 . Proposition à long terme sur la géodynamique = Documentation sur la géodynamique (titre de couv.)
CERGA ; Michel Lefebvre (collab.) (1970)
Call number : PO142(5)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

The document describes the state of knowledge in spatial geodynamics in 1970 and the main role that CERGA could play in this field

To find out more

PO142 5 CERGA3 projet d un cerga1973 titre

CERGA n°3. Projet d'un centre d'études et de recherches géodynamiques et astronomiques,CERGA
CERGA ; Jean Kovalevsky (1973)
Call number : PO142(5)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

Presentation of the CERGA project in the implementation phase in 1973

To find out more

Scientific and administrative activities of CERGA (Activity reports 1975-1986)

OCA NI 010838 W203 CERGA PORTES OUVERTES

CERGA. Portes ouvertes
Centre d'études et de recherches géodynamiques et astronomiques (CERGA) [1979?].

Call number : W203 (OCA-NI-010838)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

Open House Day at the Calern observatory : the various CERGA teams present their instruments and their research

To find out more

OCA NI 010466 TITRE W174 KOVALEKSY LIVRE DE LA JUNGLE

Le livre de la jungle 1974-1982
Jean Kovalevsky (1982)

Call number : W174 (OCA-NI-010466)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

Collection of 50 decisions about the internal organization of CERGA for the period 1974-1982

To find out more

		Le CERGA Centre d'études et de recherches géodynamiques et astronomiques (CERGA) (1981) Call number : W28 (OCA-NI-005016) Access condition : restricted access to OCA Description of the CERGA's scientific and administrative activities in the years 1978 to 1981 with a reminder of the historical context at the origin of these activities.
To find out more

PO142 5 CERGA5 rapport activite cerga 1975 OCR 1

CERGA n°5. Rapports d'activité 1975

CERGA [1976]
Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-5)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

PO142 5 CERGA6 rapport activite cerga 1976 titre

CERGA n°6. Rapports d'activité 1976

CERGA [1977]
Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-6)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

To find out more

PO142 5 CERGA7 rapport activite cerga 1977 titre Page 01

CERGA n.7. Rapports d'activité 1977

CERGA [1978]
Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-7)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

PO142 5 CERGA8 rapport activite cerga 1978 titre

CERGA n.8 . Rapports d'activité 1978

CERGA [1979]
Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-8)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

To find out more

		CERGA n°9. Rapports d'activité 1979 CERGA [1980] Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-9) Access condition : restricted access to OCA				CERGA n.10. Rapports d'activité 1980 CERGA [1981] Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-10) Access condition : restricted access to OCA
To find out more				To find out more

		CERGA n°11. Rapports d'activité 1981 CERGA [1982] Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-11) Access condition : restricted access to OCA				CERGA n°12. Rapports d'activité 1982 CERGA [1983] Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-12) Access condition : restricted access to OCA
To find out more				To find out more

PO142 5 CERGA13 rapport activite CERGA1983 TITRE

CERGA n.13. Rapports d'activité 1983
CERGA [1984]
Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-13)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

PO142 5 CERGA14 RAPPORT D ACTVITE CERGA1984 TITRE

CERGA n°14. Rapports d'activité 1984

CERGA [1985]

Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-14)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

To find out more

		CERGA n.15. Rapports d'activité 1985 CERGA [1986] Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-15) Access condition : restricted access to OCA				CERGA n.16. Rapports d'activité 1986 CERGA [1987] Call number : PO142(5) / (PO142(5)-16) Access condition : restricted access to OCA
To find out more				To find out more

OCA NI 010682 W191 Rozelot cerga dix ans apres sa creation lastronomie 1985 v99

Le CERGA dix ans après sa création
Jean-Pierre Rozelot, dir. du CERGA (1985)
In L'Astronomie, vol. 99, déc.1985, p.545-556
Call number : W191 (OCA-NI-010682)
Access condition : restricted access to OCA

Evolution of CERGA from 1974 to 1984 around 6 themes: 1. Space geodesy and Earth sciences - 2. Schmidt telescope - 3. Reference systems - 4. Optical interferometry - 5. Dynamics of the solar system - 6. Technical research and prospective

History of the creation of the Côte d'Azur Observatory - Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (1988-...)

		Dossier de proposition de l'UA, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur Raymond Michard (1988) Call number : W14 (OCA-NI-004995) Access conditions : restricted access to OCA The Decree 86-200 of 12-02-1986 brought together the Nice Observatory (UA 128) and CERGA (UA 252) within a new public establishment called "Observatoire des Alpes-Maritimes" (OAM). For the year 1988, proposal for the creation of an Associated Unit bringing together the teams previously associated within UAs 128 and 252 under the name of "Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur."
To find out more