OBSERVATOIRE ASTRONOMIQUE DE L'UNIVERSITÉ DE GENÈVE

The Geneva Observatory was founded in 1772 by the Geneva astronomer Jacques André Mallet (1740-1790) and is part of the Astronomy Department of the University of Geneva. It has been located since 1966 in Sauverny, a few kilometres north of Geneva. In addition to the Observatory's staff, those of the Astrophysics Laboratory of the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne work there. Thus, scientists from all disciplines are involved, including engineers, data processing specialists, technicians, administrative staff, students, etc. The observatory works closely with Europe through various space programmes of the European Space Agency (use of observation satellites) and with the observation and study programmes of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), notably through the major observatories located in Chile. The Astronomy Department manages two permanent astronomical observation stations: a 1.20 m diameter telescope at the La Silla site in Chile, and a 1 m telescope at the Saint-Michel site at the Haute-Provence observatory in France. Astronomers also use the telescope at the University of Leuven (Belgium) station at the El Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. The two domes located in Sauverny allow technical work, such as the assembly and development of instruments to be installed in other observatories. These telescopes are also used for student training, but also for public outreach (observations). The main lines of research carried out at the observatory concern the search for planets outside our Solar System, the study of the evolution of stars, or the functioning of stars and distant galaxies.