Arbonne la Foret observatory

Arbonne-la-Forêt observatory is based in the village of Arbonne-la-Forêt, south of Paris in the Seine-et-Marne department of France.

About Arbonne-la-Forêt observatory

The site is associated with an independent astronomical observer who takes part in stellar occultation observations, including research tracking trans-Neptunian objects - the distant, icy bodies orbiting beyond Neptune. This kind of work involves timing exactly when a distant object briefly blocks the light of a background star, and amateur observers with modest equipment can contribute genuinely useful data to it.

Location & getting there

Arbonne-la-Forêt sits within the Fontainebleau forest area of Seine-et-Marne, a rural stretch southeast of Paris known for its woodland and sandstone outcrops, offering darker skies than the capital itself.

Visiting Arbonne-la-Forêt observatory

No public opening hours or tour details are published for this site, which appears to function primarily for research observations rather than public visits. Check locally in Seine-et-Marne for current contact information if you're hoping to visit.

See your named star from here

The same dark forest skies that make Arbonne-la-Forêt useful for occultation work also make it a good spot to try to find a star named through Star Register. Look up its coordinates in the star catalogue before heading out.