The Centre de recherches en géodynamique et astrométrie (CERGA) was a scientific department of the Observatoire de la côte d'azur (OCA). It included 28 researchers and as many engineers and technicians located on the Observatory sites of Nice, Grasse and Calern. The scientific activities covered fields as diverse as fundamental astronomy, celestial mechanics and space geodesy. CERGA was in charge of several observing facilities like the lunar-laser ranging telescope and the two satellite laser stations.
By nature the scientific activity involved the acquisition of data and their processing, a dedicated instrumental development and a close relationship with the more theoretical aspects in dynamics and observation modelling.
CERGA was dissolved in 2004 when the OCA re-organized.
References
CERGA English home page (http://wwwrc.obs-azur.fr/cerga/CERGA_anglais.html)
The Gouffre du Calernaum, located on the upper Plaine de Calern (see below), is a set of underground caves with over 8700 metres of galleries.
The northern side of the Plateau de Caussols is bordered by a long cliff, with a small road that goes up to the plaine de Calern where you'll find the CERGA Observatory.
The area near the observatory looks a bit like a moonscape, with white, domed buildings scattered around the white, rocky terrain.
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