Parsec to grow a new course within Observatorium
- Paper number
IAC-06-E1.2.08
- Author
Mr. Philippe Jung, AAAF, France
- Coauthor
Mr. Jean-Louis Heudier, Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, France
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Parsec was created in Nice twenty years ago, on October 4th, 1986 to popularise astronomy with the help of both professional and amateur astronomers. The closure of Baudry’s Space Camp in Cannes led to a first major development of Parsec, with the addition in 1994 of an astronautical dimension, again with a dual contribution, of space engineers and space-lovers. This included Classes Azur Astro Espace (CAAE), which still provide an unequalled combination of space and astronomy courses, as given by active and retired professionals of the unique facilities of Alcatel Alenia Space (AAS) in Cannes, and Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (OCA) in Nice, Grasse and Caussols, together with the help of CNES and ESA. A second step now is about to be taken, in the wake of the major creation of a science center within OCA, the Observatorium. One of the main missions of OCA being collection, animation and information activities, the creation of a science center in such an historical place, built by Garnier and Eiffel, and where Chrétien was a famous astronomer, only was natural. All the more in a magnificent park overlooking the whole city of Nice and the Mediterranean Sea. OCA has under its belt a wealth of past and future space achievements, with laser geodesy (the only such station in Europe, e.g. used with Lunakhod, and soon with Jason 2/T2L2), Sun studies (Picard), small bodies search (Eros and Toutatis were discovered there), planetary search (Corot, Darwin), interferometry/gravitational waves (Virgo with Italy, Microsope, LISA), astrometry (Gaia) and VLT in Chile. Observatorium is developed in the frame of a joint state/region program, with the financial support of the City of Nice, the Provence/Alpes/Côte d’Azur region and the French Ministry of Research. As a consequence, the whole team of 35 Parsec animators is going to be integrated into a structure which will allow a continuous operation, such as for the various visits, thus putting the astronomical and space popularisation activities on Côte d’Azur on a solid and higher level footing. Today, restoration of the largest reflector in the world as well as the Schmidt telescope is in progress, while the first exhibits and animations are being built. This paper describes the evolution of soon to merge Parsec and Observatorium; it also summarises achieved popularisation results. 10.3.06
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E1.2.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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