An observatory for everyone

The first entirely student-run observatory in France, designed and operated by the students of UPS in Space, open to every audience, from the general public to research teams.

The Jocelyn Bell Observatory in Toulouse stands on the campus of the University of Toulouse. It is designed, built and operated by UPS in Space, the campus student astronomy association.

Clear night Conditions are good for observing. See the live readings

In figures

0
instruments, three in Toulouse and one at the pic du Midi
0 m
dome diameter, slaved to the instruments
0 mm
main telescope, 3,454 mm focal length
0 k€
of instrumentation, funded by grants and donations

Our mission

Sharing the sky, opening up research

Share knowledge in astronomy, astrophysics and space science. Give research a stage, run events, and make astronomy and space easier to reach for everyone.

This is an observatory built to democratise astronomy and scientific research, through regional, national and international collaborations, and through outreach with schools and the general public.

Hadrien Dupuis, who has led the project since 2018, former president of UPS in Space

Where to start

The observatory

A 4 m dome, a 508 mm telescope and 200 k€ of instrumentation designed and operated by students.

The sky, live

Open or closed tonight, the forecast for the coming hours, and the camera at the site you pick.

Come and observe

General public, schools, researchers: every audience has its own way in.

The first question

How to observe with the observatory

Every profile has its own way in. Public sessions are booked online; scientific projects go through the scientific committee.

General public

Open observing sessions, by booking. No prior knowledge required.

See the page : General public

Schools and teachers

Guided teaching sessions, from primary to sixth form, prepared with the outreach team.

See the page : Schools and teachers

Students

Access through the association, with training on the equipment before any hands-on use.

See the page : Students

Amateur astronomers

Dedicated slots, subject to training on the instruments.

See the page : Amateur astronomers

Research and institutions

Submit a project to the scientific committee, which selects programmes through a call for proposals.

See the page : Research and institutions