From Paris to the Moon: They have given their names for the lunar landscape

Director of the Observatory in Toulouse from 1879 to 1907, also director at the Paris Observatory from 1907 to 1925, Benjamin Baillaud is part of the Carte du Ciel (Map of the Sky) project. He was leading research in the field of celestial mechanics (notably on the movement of Jupiter’s satellites). Back to the map

 

Mathematician, astronomer and politician. Member of the French Academy of Sciences starting from 1763, later at the French Academy by 1784 and the Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres in 1785. Elected as Deputy of the Estates-General, and later as the Mayor of Paris in 1789. He is deputy of the National Constituent Assembly. Arrested in 1792 for contributing in Louis XIV escape, he is executed in 1793. Back to the map

 

Deputy astronomer at the Paris Observatory, known for his observations on Mars with Aymar de la Baume Pluvinel at the Pic du Midi Observatory. At the Meudon Observatory, he leads an important work on comets, in which he will write a thesis supported in 1926. He is widely recognized for his works and received a number prizes. Fernand Baldet is also President of the Société astronomique de France from 1939 to 1946, and later a member of the Bureau des Longitudes.  Back to the map

 

 

Bearer of the chair of astronomy at the University of Bologna between 1650 and 1669, and superintendent of the waterworks of Bologna from 1657 to 1669. Jean-Dominique Cassini is asked by Louis XIV to move in France in 1669. Member of the French Academy of Sciences, he manages the projects at the Paris Observatory, starting in 1672. His discovery of Saturn’s four satellites and his measure of the distance between Earth-Sun will make him famous. Back to the map

 

Astronomer at the Paris Observatory and the Observatory of Haute-Provence. Daniel Chalonge is one of the founders of the Paris Institute of Astrophysics in 1936. His works are notably on stellar photometry and the ozone layer.  Back to the map

 

Astronomer and engineer. Henri Chrétien is renowned for his research in the field of optics. Assistant of Henri Delandres at the Meudon Observatory, later associate-astronomer at the Observatory of Nice, he develops during the First World War optical instruments for aviation. Among his inventions, the Hypergonar (an anamorphic lens originating the CinemaScope), will earn great success in the United States during the 1950s. In the field of astronomy, his name is associated to the telescope Ritchey-Chrétien designed to correct the optical aberration.  Back to the map

 

Director of the Observatory of Strasbourg, the Paris Observatory and the Paris Institute of Astrophysics, President of the Société astronomique de France and the Bureau des Longitudes and member of the French Academy of Sciences. He perfects the astrolabe and improves the astral positions statements.  Back to the map

 

Selenographer. Maurice Darney has led his research at the observatories in Paris and Meudon. A former student from the National School of Fine Arts, he was also a painter and draughtsman.  Back to the map

 

His calculations permitted to determine the length of a meter. In 1792, Jean-Baptiste Delambre is member of the French Academy of Sciences. . Back to the map

 

Former student of Jacques Cassini (Cassini II), he is professor of mathematics at the College de France and specialized in naval geography. In 1725, he establishes the School of Astronomy of St. Petersburg. Known for his observations on Mercury and Venus transits, he is also a collector. His acquisitions, notably for the manuscripts have considerably expanded the collections at the Library of the Paris Observatory. Back to the map

 

Former student from the Ecole Polytechnique, Henri Deslandres is director of the Observatory in Meudon and of the Paris Observatory. From 1902, he is member of the French Academy of Sciences. Following in the footsteps of Jules Janssen, he participates in research centered on the Sun. He designs the spectroheliography, as an instrument that captures monochromatic images of the Sun, depending of the wavelength of light.  Back to the map

 

Astronomer and mathematician, professor of the Faculty of Sciences in Paris. Ernest Esclangon has left its mark in the world of astronomy with his observations of planets and comets. From 1929 to 1944, he is director of the Paris Observatory. His works on time measurement and the production of astronomical clocks gave him a reputation.  Back to the map

 

Astronomer, engineer and specialist in geodesy. Hervé Faye works at the Paris Observatory, under Arago. Principal of the Academy of Nancy and professor of astronomy at the Ecole Polytechnique, he is member of the French Academy of Sciences from 1847 and later President in 1872. Back to the map

 

Physician, inventor of the gyroscope and a clock that bears his name. Léon Foucault is also famous for his research on the speed of light. From 1862, he is member of the Bureau des Longitudes, later at the French Academy of Sciences, starting in 1865.  Back to the map

 

Trained by Joseph-Nicolas Delisle and recognized by the French Academy of Sciences for his capacities. Under Louis XIV, Louis Godin is in charge among other scientists, such as La Condamine, to measure of the Equator in order to validate some of Newton’s hypothesis concerning the Earth’s shape. During 15 years, he travels in South America and returns in Europe bankrupt. He is Director at the Marine School of Cadix before his return at the French Academy of Sciences in 1756. Back to the map

Physician, astronomer, geologist and inventor. Jules Janssen is notably famous for introducing spectroscopy in astronomical research. Member of the French Academy of Sciences, from 1873, later President of the Academy from 1887 to 1888, he is also a member of the Bureau des Longitudes. In 1879, he manages the reconstruction of the imperial palace of Meudon for the creation of a new observatory.  Back to the map

 

Mathematician, physician and astronomer. Philippe de la Hire is also a painter and an architect. Member of the French Academy of Sciences, from 1678, he teaches at the Collège de France and at the Royal Academy of Architecture. At the Paris Observatory, he produces a number of weather records and he is associated for the Map of France’s rectification and for the establishment of the Paris meridian.  Back to the map

 

Former student of Jacques Cassini at the Paris Observatory in 1736, he participates in a number of campaigns for the measurements of the kingdom (record of the Atlantic coast, measure of the meridian). During 4 years, from 1750 to 1754, he travels along the Southern Hemisphere and multiples the number of observations, in Cape Town, or from Ile-de-France (Mauritius) and Île Bourbon (Réunion). He is member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1741 and is part of a number of European academies during his career. Back to the map

 

 

From 1753, Member of the French Academy of Sciences, Guillaume Le Gentil is first recognized for his observations on ephemeris. His name is often associated to misadventures during a sea journey of 11 years. Indeed, wishing to observe the transit of Venus, a relatively rare phenomenon, Le Gentil faces a number of obstacles, which prevents his research. The remaining period of his career is at the Paris Observatory. Back to the map

Pierre Charles Le Monnier enters the French Academy of Sciences in 1736. From 1746, he teaches at the College de France. His calculations and measures are particularly interesting for their high precision. Pierre Charles Le Monnier also diffuses in France the theories of British astronomers, John Flamsteed and Isaac Newton.  Back to the map

 

Astronomer, a specialist of celestial mechanics. Urbain Le Verrier is also a pioneer of meteorology. He discovers the planet Neptune. In 1854, Le Verrier is named new Director of the Paris Observatory. His bad-temperament, his methods of staff management makes him unpopular among the institution. Driven out of his position, he leads career in scientific journalism, before taking back his position at the Observatory, until his death.  Back to the map

 

Born under the name Mariánské Lázne, in Czech Republic, Maurice Loewy begins his career as an assistant astronomer at the Observatory of Vienna. His progression in the institution ends during the antisemitism movement, since it governs higher-grade positions. In 1860, he is welcomed at the Paris Observatory, and becomes a French citizen in 1863. From 1872, Maurice Loewy is a member of the Bureau des longitudes and a member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1873. In 1897, as the Director at the Paris Observatory, he produces his most famous work, L’Atlas photographique de la Lune, achieved in 1910. Additionally, he participates in the project Carte du ciel (Map of the Sky).  Back to the map

 

As the inventor of the polarimeter and the coronagraph, which permits the observations of stars’ corona. Bernard Lyot studies notably the solar prominence by filming them in 1939, the same year of his entrance at the French Academy of Sciences.  Back to the map

 

Through his uncle’s demand (Jean-Dominique Cassini), Giacomo Filipo Maraldi arrives in Paris in 1687. In 1699, he enters the French Academy of Sciences. His observations are focused on the planet Mars, Saturn’s ring system and the comets. His implication in a number of large-scale projects at the Paris Observatory makes him an important figure in the realm of science. Jean-Dominique Maraldi, the nephew of Giacomo Filipo Maraldi enters the French Academy of Sciences in 1731. He invests himself in large projects at the Academy: publication of the Connaissance des temps and the creation of the Map of France.  Back to the map

 

Student of Joseph-Nicolas Delisle and of Pierre Méchain. Charles Messier is well known for his observations of comets and for his catalog on nebulas and star clusters in 1774, which is still today used by amateurs’ astronomers. From 1770, Charles Messier is member of the French Academy of Sciences.  Back to the map

 

After teaching mathematics, Henri Mineur focuses on astronomy in 1925, the same year of his arrival at the Paris Observatory. Known for his observations on galaxies and stars, he contributes for a better understanding of their functions. Henri Mineur is also the founder the Paris Institute of Astrophysics in Paris. He is part of the creation of the CNRS. During the Second World War, he participates in the resistance movement.  Back to the map

 

Ernest Mouchez enrolls in a prestigious career as a marine before integrating the Bureau des longitudes in 1873 and having the position of Director at the Paris Observatory in 1878. He is member of the French Academy of Sciences, since 1875. His names is associated to many large-scale projects: the creation of an observatory in the park Montsouris for students enrolled in the Marine school, the creation of a museum on astronomical instruments at the Observatoire de Paris and the deployment of the project Cartes du ciel (Map of the Sky). Back to the map

 

Jean Picard’s works have given a new leap in the study of geodesy and astronomy. He introduces new methods for observations reports. Jean Picard participates in many projects in different fields: works on leveling, reports for the creation of a new map for the kingdom, determination of unity of measures, research in the field of gnomonics, observations of the planets’ movement… Jean Picard is a member of the French Academy of Sciences, since 1666.  Back to the map

 

A graduate in the field of mathematics, Pierre Puiseux supports his thesis on the secular acceleration of the Moon’s movement. In 1885, he is now part of the Paris Observatory. His works are well received and earns many prestigious prizes. He is part of the Carte du ciel project (Map of the Sky) and collaborates with Maurice Loewy for the Atlas photographique de la Lune. From 1912, he is a member of the French Academy of Sciences. Pierre Puiseux is also one of the first modern alpinist.  Back to the map

 

Etienne Léopold Trouvelot moves in the United States in 1855, where he becomes interested in entomology. His passion will end after a dramatic event: the dispersion of Trouvelot’s invasive species he raises in the regions are threatening the ecosystems. After heading towards the field of astronomy, Trouvelot is back to France and he becomes known for his illustrations (pastels) of good quality. In 1882, he enters the Observatory of Meudon. At the end of his career, he produces more than 7000 illustrations and scientific articles.  Back to the map