Arago telescope

The Arago telescope is a refractor with a 38-centimeter lens installed in the east tower of the Paris Observatory. The instrument sits on an equatorial mount designed for tracking celestial objects across the night sky.

François Arago ordered this telescope from Lerebours in 1839, and it took until 1857 to complete the complex instrument. The Henry Brothers later upgraded it with an iron tube and a new objective lens in the early 1880s.

The telescope bears the name of François Arago, a figure central to the observatory's mission and reputation. It sits in the east tower as a symbol of the institution's commitment to astronomical observation during the 19th century.

This telescope can be viewed during guided tours of the Paris Observatory, where staff explain its historical role in astronomical research. The best time to visit is during regular afternoon hours or special evening programs focused on the observatory's collections.

For decades, this telescope enabled precise observations of double stars and minor planets that contributed to significant astronomical discoveries. Its long operational life from 1857 to 1971 connects different eras of the observatory's scientific work.