CommunicationPublished on 1 October 2020

The meridian sighting marks of the Neuchâtel Observatory

The meridian sighting marks of the Neuchâtel Observatory

Seftigenstrasse 264 3084 Wabern — From 1859 to 1959, to determine Swiss time the Neuchâtel Observatory observed the passage of the stars above the meridian using a telescope. To make sure that the telescope was correctly adjusted, it was required to scan the north-south axis and identify two marks serving as reference points. These marks still exist today. The southern mark in Portalban has a direct link to swisstopo since it was integrated into the national survey network.