Alternative names | OSUL | ||||
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Observatory code | 513 | ||||
Location | Saint-Genis-Laval, France | ||||
Coordinates | 45°41′41″N 4°46′57″E / 45.69472°N 4.78250°E | ||||
Altitude | 266 metres | ||||
Established | 1878 | ||||
Website | observatoire | ||||
Telescopes | |||||
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Related media on Commons | |||||
Lyon Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in Saint-Genis-Laval, a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France, near Lyon. Founded in 1878, the entire facility was listed as a historical site on 9 May 2007.
In 1867, Paris astronomer Charles André requested of the prefect of Rhone, that a new observatory be created. In 1873, a commission offered to establish a facility in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon. André sought to have the site built in Saint-Genis-Laval. On March 11, 1878, Patrice de MacMahon approved the creation of the Lyon Observatory. André was appointed its first director.[1][2][3]