Royal Observatory of Belgium

Royal Observatory of Belgium
Code	012
Location	Uccle (Ukkel (Dutch))
Coordinates	50°47′54″N 4°21′30″E / 50.79833°N 4.35833°E / 50.79833; 4.35833Coordinates: 50°47′54″N 4°21′30″E / 50.79833°N 4.35833°E / 50.79833; 4.35833
Established	1834 1890 Uccle/Ukkle
Website www.orb.be

The Royal Observatory of Belgium, officially known in French as the Observatoire Royal de Belgique, and in Dutch as the Koninklijke Sterrenwacht van België, is situated at Uccle (Ukkel in Dutch) since 1890, although it was originally founded in 1834. It was home to a 100 cm diameter aperture Zeiss reflector in the first half of the 20th century, one of the largest telescopes in the world at the time. It has had a variety of other astronomical instruments, such as astrographs, as well as a range of seismograph equipment (such as for detecting earthquakes).

The main activities are:

• Reference systems and geodynamics
• Astrometry and dynamics of celestial bodies
• Astrophysics
• Solar physics.

History

The Royal Observatory was founded by Adolphe Quetelet in 1828, and the facilities there began operation by 1834. It was moved to Uccle in 1890, however, this was a fairly common practice for observatory in those days. It suffered some damage in 20th century wars, but it was repaired and new instruments were acquired (new instruments were bought on a regular basis also).

Since 1981, the Sunspot Index Data center, the World data center for the Sunspot Index is harbored at the observatory.^[1]

The asteroid 1276 Ucclia is named for City and the Observatory.

The Planetarium is located at the Heysel, 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.

See also

• Belgian Federal Science Policy Office
• Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
• Planetarium
• Royal Meteorological Institute

See also

• List of largest optical reflecting telescopes
• List of minor planets/10201–10300

References

1. ^ "Solar Influences Data analysis center". http://sidc.oma.be/aboutSIDC/index.php. 

Further reading

• Centennial of the Royal Observatory Belgium (The Observatory, Vol. 58, p. 208-209 (1935))

External links

• Official website