CERGA Observatory

The CERGA Observatory (French: Centre de recherches en géodynamique et astrométrie, pronounced [sɑ̃tʁ də ʁəʃɛʁʃ ɑ̃ ʒeɔdinamik e astʁɔmetʁi]; obs. code: 010) was a scientific department and astronomical station of the Côte d'Azur Observatory in southern France, where several asteroids were discovered during 1984–1993.^[1][2]

Centre de recherches en géodynamique et astrométrie

Alternative names	Centre de recherches en geodynamique et astrometrie
Observatory code	010
Location	8687 Caussols
Coordinates	43°45′11″N 6°55′21″E
Location of CERGA Observatory

Description

CERGA included 28 researchers and as many engineers and technicians located on the Observatory sites of Nice, Grasse and Calern (Caussols). The scientific activities covered fields as diverse as fundamental astronomy, celestial mechanics, and space geodesy. CERGA was in charge of several observing facilities of the Lunar Laser Ranging experiment, for example, the lunar-laser ranging telescope and the two satellite laser stations.

By nature the scientific activity involved the acquisition of data and their processing, a dedicated instrumental development and a close relationship with the more theoretical aspects in dynamics and observation modelling.

CERGA was dissolved in 2004 when the parent Côte d'Azur Observatory re-organized. The main-belt asteroid 2252 CERGA was named for the observatory, where this asteroid was discovered by Kōichirō Tomita.^[2]

List of discovered minor planets

Minor planets discovered: 21 ^[1]

see § List of discovered minor planets

See also: Category:Discoveries by the CERGA Observatory

The Minor Planet Center directly credits the CERGA observatory with the discovery of 21 asteroids made during 1984–1993.^[1] The discoveries were made using the observatory's 0.9-meter Schmidt telescope.^[2]

3913 Chemin	2 December 1986	list
4602 Heudier	28 October 1986	list
4603 Bertaud	25 November 1986	list
4892 Chrispollas	11 October 1985	list
5576 Albanese	26 October 1986	list
5671 Chanal	13 December 1985	list
5769 Michard	6 August 1987	list
6375 Fredharris	1 October 1986	list
6587 Brassens	27 November 1984	list
6820 Buil	13 December 1985	list
7928 Bijaoui	27 November 1986	list

8080 Intel	17 November 1987	list
8636 Malvina	17 October 1985	list
9553 Colas	17 October 1985	list
13499 Steinberg	1 October 1986	list
13500 Viscardy	6 August 1987	list
(17405) 1986 VQ2	4 November 1986	list
(27704) 1984 WB4	27 November 1984	list
(55734) 1986 WD6	27 November 1986	list
(65660) 1985 PM1	14 August 1985	list
100122 Alpes Maritimes	15 August 1993	list

See also

• List of minor planet discoverers § CERGA
• OCA–DLR Asteroid Survey