Naval Observatory - Kaiguntenmondai

…Both the Paris and Greenwich observatories were equipped with meridian instruments, meridian circles, and zenith instruments for the purpose of precise observation of celestial positions necessary for research on celestial mechanics and navigation, and compiled and published astronomical almanacs in addition to astronomical observations. Later observatories such as the Washington Naval Observatory (established in 1832) in the United States, the Pulkovo Observatory (established in 1839) in the Soviet Union, and the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory (established in 1878) in Japan all focused on astronomical positional observations when they were founded. The above observatories also have in common the fact that they have played the role of national observatories in their respective countries. …

*Some of the terminology used to refer to the Naval Observatory is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…パリとグリニジの両天文台は，天体力学の研究や航海に必要な天体位置の精密観測を目的として，子午儀，子午環，天頂儀などが備えられ，天体観測と並んで天体暦の編集発行が行われてきた。のちにできたアメリカのワシントン海軍天文台(1832創設)，ソ連のプルコボ天文台(1839創設)，日本の東京天文台(1878創設)なども，創設当時はいずれも位置天文学の観測が中心であった。上記の諸天文台は，各国の国立の天文台としての役割を果たしてきた点でも共通している。…

※「海軍天文台」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報