Saint-Caprais observatory
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
A few kilometres from Rabastens in France's Occitanie region, the Saint-Caprais Observatory rises from agricultural fields as three white domes, home to one of the country's largest amateur telescopes.
About Saint-Caprais Observatory
The observatory was built incrementally by farmer Yvon Rieugnié and centres on a 94cm Ritchey-Chrétien reflector, among the most powerful instruments in the amateur category anywhere in France.
Telescopes & research
Visitors use the observatory's telescopes to observe the Moon, galaxies, Saturn's rings, and the Galilean moons of Jupiter. The site participates in France's National Star and Science Days events and teaches visitors how to use the telescopes themselves.
Location & getting there
Saint-Caprais Observatory sits in open farmland near Rabastens, in the Occitanie region of southern France, offering dark rural skies away from town lighting.
Visiting Saint-Caprais Observatory
The observatory operates during the summer season, with public sessions where visitors can learn to use the telescopes and observe deep-sky objects; check locally for current dates before travelling.
See your named star from here
With a 94cm telescope among the largest in the amateur world, this is a place with the aperture to find the coordinates behind a named star certificate. Discover more named stars in our catalogue.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
