Observatoire de Saint-Véran, Astronomical observatory in Saint-Véran, France.
The observatory stands at 9,610 feet (2,930 meters) in altitude and contains a 24-inch (62-centimeter) Cassegrain telescope for deep space observations and research purposes.
Built in 1974 as a branch of the Paris Observatory, the facility sits on the Pic de Château Renard at 2,930 metres. In 1990 amateur astronomers were granted use of its 62 cm Cassegrain telescope, and it is now run by the association AstroQueyras.
Since 1990 the site has been run by AstroQueyras, an amateur astronomy association that operates the 62 cm Cassegrain telescope on behalf of its members. The facility's name links it to the village below and to asteroid 48159 Saint-Véran, discovered there in 2001 and named after both.
The observatory sits on the Pic de Château Renard at 2,930 metres, reached from the village of Saint-Véran in the Hautes-Alpes. Access depends on mountain weather, so check conditions before setting out. The site is run by the amateur astronomy association AstroQueyras, which organises the use of the 62 cm Cassegrain telescope.
The asteroid 48159 Saint-Véran, discovered at the observatory on 16 April 2001, was named after both the facility and the village that hosts it. The same night also yielded 264476 Aepic, and the Minor Planet Center credits the site with further asteroid discoveries through 2005.
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