Could a place named Place du Sextant have anything to do with the stars? Here in Créteil, at Place du Sextant, the answer is surprisingly, yes. While this square isn’t a launchpad to the cosmos, its name echoes a fascinating piece of astronomical history. The sextant, a navigational tool used to measure the angle between celestial objects and the horizon, plays a crucial role in determining location, particularly at sea. The name Place du Sextant pays indirect homage to Johannes Hevelius, a 17th-century astronomer who meticulously charted the lunar surface and even discovered the Moon’s libration in longitude. Hevelius tragically lost his observatory and instruments in a fire in 1679. He later commemorated a lost sextant, a key instrument in his observations, by naming a constellation Sextans. This celestial tribute, visible in our night sky, connects our Place du Sextant to the broader universe. Though Hevelius never set foot in Créteil, the shared name offers a moment of reflection, reminding us of our place within a larger, star-studded narrative. So, the next time you find yourself at Place du Sextant, take a moment to look up at the sky. You might just catch a glimpse of the constellation that silently connects this square to the legacy of a passionate astronomer and his lost instrument.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.