Observatory of Geneva, Astronomical observatory in Versoix, Switzerland.
The Observatory of Geneva is an astrophysics research facility in Versoix with multiple locations dedicated to studying stars, planets, and distant objects in space. The main site at Sauverny contains observation equipment and laboratories, while a separate facility handles data analysis and processing.
The site was established in 1772 and remains one of Switzerland's oldest scientific institutions. In 1995, researchers made a groundbreaking discovery by confirming the first planet orbiting a sun-like star beyond our solar system.
The observatory's name survives in watchmaking: movements that passed its 45-day accuracy tests, run in five positions and two temperatures, received a Bulletin de Marche signed by the director and were sold as Observatory Chronometers. Certification ended in the late 1960s and early 1970s after the second was redefined.
Visitors can explore the Sauverny site and take tours to learn about the research work and observation equipment used by scientists. It is helpful to check opening times and registration requirements in advance so you can plan your visit accordingly.
The observatory's 1.2-metre Leonhard Euler Telescope and the 0.6-metre TRAPPIST telescope, run with the University of Liège, both sit at ESO's La Silla Observatory in northern Chile. TRAPPIST, built to watch comets and exoplanets, took part in the 2010 size comparison of the dwarf planets Eris and Pluto.
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