Malibert observatory

Tucked into the hills near Saint-Chinian in southern France, Malibert Observatory is part of a long-running educational centre where children and school groups have been learning astronomy since the postwar years.

About Malibert observatory

Malibert observatory sits within a 240-hectare educational property in the Hérault department, close to the border of the Tarn and Aude departments and roughly 30 km from Béziers. It is run by PEP 34, an association that hosts children's holiday and school programmes on the site, with the observatory and an accompanying planetarium forming the astronomy wing of its activities.

History

The educational centre that houses Malibert observatory was created in 1948, making it one of the longer-established outdoor education sites in the region. Its observation dome and planetarium have since introduced generations of visiting schoolchildren to the night sky.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's dome houses telescopes used for observing objects within our own solar system, while the adjoining planetarium presents shows on the myths and legends associated with the constellations — a combination aimed squarely at first-time stargazers rather than professional research.

Location & getting there

Malibert observatory is located in Saint-Chinian, in France's Hérault department, within the wider Occitanie region. The surrounding countryside, at the meeting point of the Tarn, Aude and Hérault departments, keeps skies relatively free of city light.

Visiting Malibert observatory

The site operates as an educational centre offering programmes for children and school groups; individual visitors should check with PEP 34 for current session dates and booking details before travelling.

See your named star from here

Malibert's dome and telescopes are built for exactly this kind of moment: pointing an instrument at real coordinates in the night sky. If you've named a star with Star Register, bring its right ascension and declination along on a visit, or explore other dedications in our star catalogue.