Eliminate the human factor. The automation of time determination at the Neuchâtel Observatory
| Résumé |
Throughout its existence, the Neuchâtel Observatory has sought to be
at the forefront of astronomical time determination. In the mid-20th
century, a technological innovation began to spread in observatories
with PZTs (Photographic Zenith Tube). The Neuchâtel Observatory was
one of the first to obtain this instrument, the purpose of which
was to eliminate the human factor by automating the time
determination and certain other instrumental errors. PZTs were
presented as the most accurate instruments of their time, but their
development was soon halted. In this paper, we will examine the
technical evolution of PZTs, the reasons why they became the
must-have instrument, and the explanations for their rapid
abandonment. |
| Mots-clés |
Neuchâtel Observatory, time determination, Scientific instruments, operating chain, cultures of precision, materiality |
| Citation | Gressot, J. (2021). Eliminate the human factor. The automation of time determination at the Neuchâtel Observatory. Presented at AHRC Observatory Networks – Workshop 1, Greenwich. - Fulltext https://libra.unine.ch/Publications/47717 (State: 2022-05-24). |
| Type | Présentation (Anglais) |
| Date | 8-12-2021 |
| Evénement | AHRC Observatory Networks – Workshop 1 (Greenwich) |
| Liée au projet | l’Observatoire de Neuchâtel (1858-1958). Cultures de la p... |