The Space Observatory (Observatoire de l'Espace)

The Space Observatory, known in French as the Observatoire de l'Espace, is a cultural laboratory in central Paris run by CNES, the French national space agency.

About The Space Observatory (Observatoire de l'Espace)

Rather than a telescope-based observatory, it is CNES's cultural programme exploring how space exploration is represented in art and culture, created in 2000 on a proposal by Gérard Azoulay, a CNES climatologist and astrophysicist.

History

Since its founding, the Observatoire de l'Espace has run two creation programmes: one inviting artists to use space as a creative motif, and “Archéologie de l'Espace,” which examines the history of space exploration through cultural and artistic lenses. It has built partnerships with museums, artistic centres, and literary institutions, and has taken part in the Nuit Blanche festival since 2014, showcasing artist works drawn from the space programme's archives.

Location & getting there

The Observatoire de l'Espace is located at 2, place Maurice Quentin, in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France, in the heart of the city.

Visiting The Space Observatory (Observatoire de l'Espace)

As a cultural programme rather than a fixed public exhibition space, check the official CNES Observatoire de l'Espace website for current events, exhibitions, or open days before visiting.

See your named star from here

A space agency's own cultural lab is a fitting place to reflect on how we picture the stars, symbolically and scientifically. If you've named a star, you can find its exact coordinates in the catalogue, or start with a naming package of your own.