Lyon Observatory

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.

Research
Lyon Observatory has worked on polychromatic artificial stars for adaptive optics systems, made by a laser.

Directors

 * 1878-1912: Charles André (1842-1912)
 * 1912-1933: Jean Mascart (1872-1935)
 * 1933-1966 : Jean Dufay (1896-1967)
 * 1966-1976: Joseph-Henri Bigay (1910-1982)
 * 1976-1986: Guy Monnet (1941-)
 * 1986-1995: Jean-Claude Ribes (1940-)
 * 1995-2005: Roland Bacon (1956-)
 * 2005-2015: Bruno Guiderdoni
 * 2015-... : Isabelle Daniel