Pises Observatory

Pises Observatory keeps watch over the night sky from 1,300 metres up in the Parc National des Cévennes in southern France, where its telescope has quietly built a record of asteroid discoveries.

About Pises Observatory

Pises Observatory is operated by the Société Astronomique de Montpellier and houses an optical telescope fitted with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, used primarily for asteroid surveys. Its high, remote location gives it notably clear, dark skies.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's CCD-equipped telescope has been used to discover 41 minor planets, including the asteroid 31192 Aigoual, found on 29 December 1997. This makes Pises a genuine contributor to asteroid-tracking astronomy despite its modest size.

Location & getting there

Sitting at 1,300 metres altitude within the Parc National des Cévennes in France, the observatory benefits from mountain-clear air and minimal light pollution, ideal conditions for both amateur and survey astronomy.

Visiting Pises Observatory

The Société Astronomique de Montpellier, which operates the site, lists visiting information on its official page. Check there or with the society directly for the latest opening dates before planning a trip up into the Cévennes.

See your named star from here

An observatory with 41 discovered minor planets to its name is a fitting place to think about the coordinates of a star you've named through Star Register. Find your star's exact position in the star catalogue.