Buthiers Observatory

Buthiers Observatory sits within the Île de loisirs de Buthiers leisure park, close to the Fontainebleau forest about 80 km south of Paris, France.

About Buthiers Observatory

Completed in 2000 at an elevation of 87 metres, the observatory is jointly operated by Planète Sciences and the Île de Loisirs de Buthiers, and is billed as the only year-round public observatory in the Paris region.

Telescopes & research

Two telescopes serve the site: a 510 mm instrument belonging to the Île de Loisirs de Buthiers, and the 600 mm Jean-Marc Salomon Telescope operated by Planète Sciences. Both support the observatory's mission of astronomy education, outreach and citizen-science projects, with funding support from the Île-de-France Regional Council, the Jean-Marc Salomon Foundation and the Ministry of Research.

Location & getting there

The site sits at 87 metres elevation on the edge of the Fontainebleau forest in the Île-de-France region, easily reached from Paris for a day or evening trip.

Visiting Buthiers Observatory

As the Paris region's only year-round public observatory, Buthiers welcomes visitors for public and group sessions; it can be reached at +33 1 69 02 76 10 to check the current schedule before travelling.

See your named star from here

With two serious telescopes and a mission built around public astronomy, Buthiers is exactly the kind of place where a named star's coordinates come to life. Name a star or browse the catalogue to get the numbers ready for your visit.