Côte d'Azur Observatory

The Côte d'Azur Observatory (Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, OCA) is a network of astronomical research sites spread across the Alpes-Maritimes district of southern France, with its best-known telescope perched atop Mont-Gros above Nice.

About Côte d'Azur Observatory

OCA brings together several facilities under one research organisation, coordinating work in astrometry, geodynamics and interferometry across its member sites.

History

The observatory was formed in 1988 through the merger of two existing institutions: the Nice Observatory and the Centre de recherches en géodynamique et astrométrie (CERGA).

Telescopes & research

OCA facilities include the historic Grand Equatorial telescope on Mont-Gros in Nice, and the observatory network has tested beam-combining technology at the CHARA interferometric array. Its astronomers have developed theories about M-type asteroids that may be tested by the planned Psyche spacecraft mission, and the network's history includes lunar laser ranging work.

Location & getting there

The historic Nice site sits atop Mont-Gros in the Alpes-Maritimes, in southeastern France near the Côte d'Azur coastline. The map above shows the exact coordinates.

Visiting Côte d'Azur Observatory

Details of public access vary by site within the OCA network; check the official website at oca.eu before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

Once you have named a star through one of our star packages, we hand you its exact right ascension and declination. Any observatory staff member with a computerised telescope, including a team at Côte d'Azur Observatory, can slew to those coordinates and point the eyepiece straight at "your" star. Browse the catalogue to see how a naming looks, or check our list of observatories to plan a visit.