Haute-Provence Observatory, Astronomical observatory in Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire, France
The Haute-Provence Observatory includes four reflecting telescopes with diameters of 1.93 meters, 1.52 meters, 1.20 meters, and 0.80 meters at 650 meters elevation.
The construction of the observatory began in 1937 following a decision by the French government to establish a high-quality observation site in the region.
The observatory received monument historique status in February 2017, recognizing its contribution to French scientific and architectural heritage.
The facility experiences approximately 170 cloudless nights annually, with optimal observation conditions occurring during summer and autumn months.
Scientists at this observatory discovered the first confirmed exoplanet, 51 Pegasi b, in 1995 using the ELODIE spectrograph attached to the 1.93-meter telescope.
Location: Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire
Inception: 1937
Elevation above the sea: 650 m
Website: http://obs-hp.fr
GPS coordinates: 43.93083,5.71333
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:43
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