Established in 1667, the Observatoire de Paris is the largest national centre for research in astronomy. It counts among its staff thirty per cent of all French astronomers, who carry out research in the institution's seven laboratories. Located in the Paris, Meudon and Nan�?�§ay sites, these are joint research units with the CNRS and often with major scientific universities in the Paris region. The Observatoire de Paris is a leading institution coming under the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. The three main components of its mission are: - research, to contribute to the advancement of our knowledge of the Universe; - basic and continuing training; - public outreach.
