Toulouse Observatory

The Toulouse Observatory (Observatoire de Toulouse) has watched the sky over southwestern France since 1733, making it one of the country's longest-running centres of astronomical work.

About Toulouse Observatory

The observatory was founded by the Académie des Sciences, Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres de Toulouse, giving the city its own scientific institution dedicated to tracking the stars and planets. It has since relocated twice, first in 1841 and again in 1981, following the growth of the city and the search for better observing conditions.

History

In its early decades the observatory used refractors and a 28-inch quadrant to record transits of Mercury in 1736, 1743 and 1753. Astronomers François Garipuy and Antoine Darquier worked from the site, with Darquier credited with comet discoveries from 1777 onward. In 1841 the observatory moved to Jolimont hill on the eastern edge of Toulouse, seeking clearer skies away from the growing city centre.

Telescopes & research

Toulouse Observatory's astronomers have continued to contribute to modern astrophysics. In 1987, Geneviève Soucail and collaborators presented data on a blue, ring-like structure in the galaxy cluster Abell 370 and proposed a gravitational lensing explanation, a discovery that helped establish lensing as a tool for studying the universe. In the 1990s, the observatory took part in the multi-institution MEGACAM imaging project.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in Toulouse, in southwestern France, a region known for its aerospace industry and long scientific heritage. Its current site on Jolimont hill offers a clear vantage point over the city below.

Visiting Toulouse Observatory

For current opening times, public talks or any organised visits, check the observatory's official site before you travel, as access for the general public can vary by season and by programme.

See your named star from here

Once you've named a star, its coordinates are fixed and can be located from almost anywhere with a clear sky, including from a site with as much observing history as Toulouse. Browse the star catalogue to see how a named star's position is recorded.