The Astronomy Center attached to the Haute-Provence Observatory ensures a mission of disseminating scientific culture and welcomes school and adult audiences throughout the year.
Description
Dive into the heart of the stars at Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire!
Perched at an altitude of 600 m on the Moulin à Vent plateau, opposite the Haute-Provence Observatory, the Astronomy Center invites you to experience an unforgettable celestial adventure.
This scientific mediation site, accessible to all, offers a rich program all year round: sky observation sessions, themed evenings, workshops for children, photography courses, guided tours, and activities for groups and schools.
The new generation planetarium, inaugurated in 2022, immerses young and old alike in a 360° starry sky, with more than 40 million stars projected using hybrid technology unique in France.
The Center is also equipped with numerous observation instruments, including a 760 mm telescope installed in a geode, Dobsonians up to 500 mm, as well as a siderostat for observing the Sun directly.
In summer, the Astro Festival transforms the site into a mecca for discovery and sharing around astronomy, with immersive activities, special evenings such as the Perseids or exoplanets, and participatory experiences.
The Centre is located in a preserved natural environment of 10 hectares, ideal for picnics and day walks, close to Forcalquier, Sisteron and the Luberon.
A place of emotion, knowledge and contemplation, to be experienced with family or with those curious about the cosmos.
Comfort and amenities
Equipment
Rates / opening
Opening
Dates: "L'Été Astro": in July-August, from Monday to Saturday; and in September, on Mondays and from Wednesday to Friday. Outside of "L'Été Astro", from October to June: Sun observation: one Saturday per month, from 14 p.m. to 15:30 p.m. and a stargazing vigil from 21 p.m. Annual closure: during the Christmas holidays.