OBSERVATOIRE DU PIC DU MIDI

If there is a great place of astronomy - both on its own and figuratively - to visit in France, it is the Observatory of the Pic du Midi! Because at the observatory itself, particularly spectacular to discover, adds a remarkable site of high mountains, to make day and also at night.

A little bit of history…

The "Pic" has been a famous astronomical site for a long time! Thus, from the beginning of the eighteenth century, French astronomer François de Plantade climbed there to study the crown of the Sun during the total eclipse of May 12, 1706. He returned several times in the following decades before losing his life in 1741. Other expeditions and scientific measures were subsequently carried out, but it was really in the mid -1860 s that the summit was developed through a group of passionate and explorers who founded Ramond, with the aim of promoting scientific and tourism exploration in the Pyrenees. Once the decision was made to construct an observatory, the first earthwork works took place in 1875 and some buildings became habitable in 1881. In 1907, a first telescope was installed which, in particular, made it possible to make observations of a quality never reached in the world. Astronomers can then insure with certainty the presence of channels on Mars, a thesis then defended forcefully by the American astronomer Percival Lowell. Over time, observation rooms and couplings are built and built. A first cable car was installed in 1952. In the early 1960 s, an extensive inter-ministerial building was built, bringing together a number of scientific and technical activities (astronomy, meteorology, television and air navigation). In the mid -1990 s, the observatory is in great financial difficulty and requires important decision-making: it will become a tourist destination! A public cable car is then built, and some buildings are rehabilitated: the new set is finally seen in the year 2000.

The Observatory today

Many buildings and cupolas are now on the site. Not all are equipped with active scientific materials and/or accessible to the general public. Among these are the 2 m telescope, called TBL (Bernard Lyot Telescope), designed to study the magnetic fields of stars. It is the largest telescope in metropolitan France, the characteristic dome located west of the summit behind the inter-ministerial building and its impressive 104 m TDF antenna to broadcast FM radio and digital television broadcasts throughout the southwest of France. The dome of the 1 m diameter telescope is located on the terrace where most tourists are found during the day. This instrument is dedicated to observing the Solar System and remains highly effective thanks to the great stability of the atmosphere around the peak: in 2017, he thus realized one of the best solved images of Jupiter and Saturn ever obtained from a earth observatory. The couthouse of the coroner, a study instrument of the Sun, is perhaps the most impressive of the observatory, in any case the one that you can see perfectly from the arrival of the cable car to the tourist terrace. During the day, when the sun ends the nose of its nose, its crest is open and the coronary keeps "imitating" solar activity. Other cupolas are visible, such as the T 60 telescope (the 60 cm diameter telescope in amateur astronomy groups), or the "Baillaud" that is now an integral part of the publicly accessible museum and planetarium space.

The conditions to be met up there

Everything depends on the weather! The peak can be inaccessible for several days depending on bad weather conditions (wind and snow). Yes, at 2 877 m altitude we are in the middle of high mountain, winds can be extremely violent (258 km/h raised in January 2009!) and snow storms completely block the rotations of the cable car. Small advice: In addition to the general weather conditions in the mountains, it is essential to know the forecasts at the peak of the peak itself! Why? Because the peak has a particular climate; it is not unusual to have cloud seas. In other words, it is quite possible that the time is completely closed in the valleys around, as in La Mongie, the point of departure of the cable car, while the observatory is situated above the cloud layer, enjoying a blue sky and the exceptional spectacle of the Pyrenean summits emerging from magnificent "cotton seas" ".

Day visits

For visitors who wish to stay the entire day at the observatory, the simplest is, after consulting the weather forecasts, to take a "day package" that includes the cable trip from La Mongie, and the visit of the museum space. On site, restorations are possible and in times of affluence it is best not to come soon to reserve his table once noon (no reservations online or by phone). In winter, the restaurant is open only during school holidays while the bistro is open every day.

The rise to the observatory is on its own a real adventure! Indeed, if the first stretch to the Taoulet Peak at 2314 m altitude proves to be unsurprising, the second stretch that brings to the Peak of Midi offers a vertiginous view of the valley 200 m lower! Suspended thus above the vacuum, with the point of what seems to be a tiny rocky pitch from where a few buildings emerge, the visitor is freaking out while waiting to arrive. At the top, the sun can hit hard and it is essential to equip yourself with the essential glasses and sunglasses. Same in case of cold that can be intense. Then, free for everyone to walk between buildings and cupolas, to take advantage of views towards northern and above all south (this is where the mountains are most present), and to visit the various infrastructures (the cupolas are unfortunately only accessible to people registered at the Summit Nights!). In summer, the most sports can rally the hiking peak from La Mongie or Tourmalet, provided there is no snow. By the way, it is appreciated to enjoy the beautiful lake of Once located below the observatory, snow covered much of the year, but visible in the beautiful days in August and September generally.

Evening and night visits

This is of course what we advise you to do absolutely! On the condition that the weather is favorable (clear sky) and that the moon is not too embarrassing (favoring the periods of new moon), spend part of the night in the observatory, at such an altitude and under such transparent sky, is an experience to live at least once in his life. And this makes it possible to understand why this observatory is nicknamed "the star ship": The sublime starry arch above the head and the rejected horizons to the downwards gives the very clear impression of being on a straight-headed tip towards the firmament! A vision that gives the verge to more than one visitor, especially when it approaches the north parapet of the observatory and admire the glittering glimmers of Tarbes. In summer, it is also rare to witness, incredulous, distant thunderstorms unleash on the Mediterranean basin.

Two packages are offered for the night at peak… The Star Evening offers a fairly complete program with lift in the cable car, sunset observation (often spectacular), dinner at the panoramic restaurant, discovery of the sky and constellations, and planetarium meeting. The Night at the Summit is an absolute must… For the previous program comes one night in the room in the center of the observatory (a good physical condition is requested, and do not hesitate to anticipate the necessary in case of headaches the next morning), an observation evening through a large diameter telescope brought for the circumstance by the Farm of Stars, observation of sunrise to the early morning and the visit of the scientific districts (cupola). For those who opt for this full night, we can only make the following tips: to be equipped with very warm clothing, especially in winter where the temperature can descend very much below zero, bring with it a light lamp to the red lighting so as not to dazzle and dazzle during the manipulations and night walks, bring its photo foot if you wish to immortalize the celestial vault and the cupoles, and finally enjoy every moment spent on site, even when the night is very advanced and one wants to go to bed.