OCA-DLR Asteroid Survey, Astronomical observatory in Grasse Arrondissement, France
The OCA-DLR Asteroid Survey is an observation station located in the French Alps at an elevation of roughly 1,270 meters (4,170 feet). It operates a large Schmidt telescope to scan and record celestial objects systematically.
The project began in the 1990s as a partnership between French and German research institutions. During its operational period from 1996 to 1999, it discovered more than one thousand asteroids and one comet orbiting the sun.
The facility represents a partnership between the French Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur and the German Aerospace Center for space research advancement.
The site sits in the mountains and is accessible through the nearby town of Grasse, offering a chance to explore the surrounding region. Operations happen most actively during moonless or low-light nights, which provide the clearest view of the sky for research purposes.
The facility received the international designation 910 from the Minor Planet Center, an identification code that catalogs its discoveries. This made it possible for astronomers worldwide to easily track and reference the more than one thousand new objects found.
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