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Besançon Astronomical Clock
The Besançon astronomical clock is housed in Besançon Cathedral. Auguste-Lucien Vérité :fr:Auguste-Lucien Vérité of Beauvais designed and built Besançon's present astronomical clock, between 1858 and 1863. It replaced an earlier clock that Bernardin had constructed in the 1850s that proved unsatisfactory. Besançon's clock differs from those in Strasbourg, Lyon, and Beauvais. The clock is meant to express the theological concept that each second of the day the Resurrection of Christ transforms the existence of man and of the world. Bernardin's clock A clockmaker called Bernardin made the first astronomical clock installed in Besançon between 1851 and 1857. Bernadin is probably Constant Flavien Bernardin, born 15 January 1819, probably in Fougerolles, who probably came from Fougerolles and lived in Saint-Loup-sur-Semouse. (This Bernardin is not to be confused with Br Bernardin Morin who during the same period constructed the astronomical clock at Ploërmel). Bernardin ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
René Baillaud
René Baillaud (10 November 1885 – 2 July 1977) was a French astronomer born in Toulouse. He is noted for inventing the paraboloid for detecting incoming aircraft sounds before the introduction of radar. It is a parabolic device that reflected the sound of the aircraft towards the ear of the observers. Biography Baillaud initially worked at the observatories of Nice from 1910 to 1924 and of Marseille from 1924 to 1930. He was also teaching at the "École d'Ingénieurs de Marseille", before taking a chair as professor at the University of Besançon and becoming director of the Besançon observatory until 1957. During this time he oversees the installation of special clock, in a specially built room 5 meter underneath the observatories' library to maintain constant temperature, allowing the observatory to join the establishment of a global time network. Baillaud was one of the scientists recruited by General Gustave-Auguste Ferrié to build France's acoustic defense during the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Astronomical Clocks In France
Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and comets. Relevant phenomena include supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, quasars, blazars, pulsars, and cosmic microwave background radiation. More generally, astronomy studies everything that originates beyond Earth's atmosphere. Cosmology is a branch of astronomy that studies the universe as a whole. Astronomy is one of the oldest natural sciences. The early civilizations in recorded history made methodical observations of the night sky. These include the Babylonians, Greeks, Indians, Egyptians, Chinese, Maya, and many ancient indigenous peoples of the Americas. In the past, astronomy included disciplines as diverse as astrometry, celestial navigation, observational astronomy, and the making of calendars. Nowadays, professio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
