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PIC DU MIDI OBSERVATORY
| Founded : | 1878 |
| Activities : | observing station |
| Welcoming the general public : | everyday museum, exibition observing site telescope for amateur astronomers reservation and information: 33(8) 25 00 28 77 |
| Address : | Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2876m above sea level) reachable by cable-car from La Mongie F-65200 Bagnères de Bigorre |
| Contact : | Régie du Pic du Midi rue Pierre Lamy de la Chapelle F-65200 La Mongie |
| Phone : | 33(5) 62 56 60 00 |
Situated at 2876 meters above the sea level, Pic du Midi observatory has very good observational conditions allowing astronomers to record high quality images and data. It was founded in 1878 by the General de Nansouty and the engineer Vaussenat. Until 1951, the access to the site was by feet before the cable-car was built.
Nowadays, the site is accessible to the general public for touring.
The seeing is so good that the images of the Moon necessary to prepare the Apollo mission were made during the 1960's using the 1-meter telescope still working for planetology.