Observatoire de Paris
Observatoire de Paris is a French public research institution founded in 1667, operating three campuses (Paris, Meudon, Nançay) with ~750 staff to conduct astronomy, astrophysics, and time metrology research, train ~250 graduate students, and deliver public services including French legal time and ephemerides.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Observatoire de Paris does
Observatoire de Paris is a French public research institution (Établissement public à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel) founded in 1667 and operating across three campuses in Paris, Meudon, and Nançay. It is the largest national research center for astronomy, concentrating approximately 25% of France's total astronomy and astrophysics workforce with around 750 researchers, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff. Its mission spans fundamental and applied research, higher education, and public knowledge dissemination across astrophysics, physics, engineering, and the metrology of time and space.
The institution's core technology portfolio includes state-of-the-art Nançay radio telescopes (including the Large Nançay Radiotelescope and NenuFAR), the Complexe Technologique pour le Spatial (CTS) at Meudon for nanosatellite assembly and testing, and co-development of major international instruments such as GRAVITY for the VLTI. It maintains the Meudon Spectroheliograph solar image archive dating to 1908 (accessible via BASS2000) and produces French legal time, ephemerides, and solar/cosmic-ray observations as government-mandated public services. Research outputs feed into peer-reviewed publications, the Virtual Observatory, and partnerships with ESA, ESO, SKA Observatory, and CNRS.
As a state-funded establishment and founding member of Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL), the Observatoire de Paris is financed through public research funding rather than commercial sales. Its revenue model is effectively a recurring public appropriation supplemented by competitive grants and international mission contracts. Primary stakeholder segments include ~250 graduate and doctoral students annually, an international research community, teachers and educators, and the general public reached through MOOCs, site visits, traveling exhibitions, and digital resources such as the ÉclipSEOP eclipse app.
Observatoire de Paris firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Observatoire de Paris
- Legal name
- Observatoire de Paris-PSL
- Website
- https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Observatoire de Paris is a French public research institution founded in 1667, operating three campuses (Paris, Meudon, Nançay) with ~750 staff to conduct astronomy, astrophysics, and time metrology research, train ~250 graduate students, and deliver public services including French legal time and ephemerides.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Observatoire de Paris industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Astronomy and Astrophysics Research
- NAICS
- Space Research and Technology (9271), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), National Security and International Affairs (9281)
- SIC
- International Affairs (9721), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Research Computing & High-Performance Computing (HPC) User Support (EDALAMAK)
Keywords
Where Observatoire de Paris is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Observatoire de Paris business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Public Research Funding: State-funded public institution under PSL University receiving government funding for fundamental and applied research activities
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Observatoire de Paris product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Observatoire de Paris - PSL is a French public research institution that conducts fundamental and applied research in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, engineering, and time metrology. It delivers higher education programs (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Graduate Program in Astrophysics) and provides public services such as the production of French legal time, ephemerides, and solar observations. The institution operates research infrastructure including state-of-the-art radio telescopes at Nançay, the Space Technology Complex (CTS) at Meudon, and a world-class astronomy library.
Product overview
Observatoire de Paris - PSL is a public research institution (not a product company) responsible for fundamental and applied research, higher education, and knowledge sharing in astronomy, astrophysics, and time metrology. Founded in 1667, it operates across three campuses (Paris, Meudon, Nançay) with approximately 750 researchers and staff. The institution offers a unified portfolio of educational programs (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Graduate Program in Astrophysics via PSL), research services (scientific databases including BASS2000, technical platforms, solar and cosmic ray monitoring), and public outreach services (mobile exhibitions, digital resources such as the ÉclipSEOP app, ephemerides, and French legal time production). Its offerings serve academic researchers, students, educators, and the general public.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PSL Bachelor's Degree Undergraduate bachelor's degree program offered as part of PSL University, providing foundational training in sciences related to astronomy and astrophysics.
- Master in Space Science and Technology Graduate-level master's program in space science and technology offered by the Observatoire de Paris through PSL University.
- PhD Program Doctoral degree and professorial thesis (HDR) programs for advanced research training in astronomy, astrophysics, and related disciplines.
- Graduate Program Astrophysics (AstroParis) PSL graduate program in Astrophysics offering a complete cycle of higher education from Master's to Doctoral level, focusing on astrophysics and space science engineering.
- French Legal Time Official production and dissemination of French legal time, a state-mandated public service.
- Ephemerides and Calendars Public service providing ephemerides of the Sun, Moon and solar system bodies, calendars, and sunrise/sunset times.
- Library Collection in Astronomy and Astrophysics The Collection d'Excellence in Astronomy and Astrophysics, associated with the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, ranks among the finest astronomy-physics libraries in the world.
- Scientific Databases and Virtual Observatory Scientific databases including BASS2000, providing access to solar images from the Meudon Spectroheliograph since 1908, and Virtual Observatory resources.
- Mobile Exhibitions Travelling exhibitions available for loan, covering topics such as The Solar System, La lumière de l'Univers, Le Système solaire, Comètes, Gaia, Space weather, and Du Soleil à la Terre.
- ÉclipSEOP App Web application designed to help the general public prepare for the 12 August 2026 solar eclipse.
- Solar Observations Ongoing observation and monitoring of the Sun, supporting both research activities and public services.
- Cosmic Ray Monitoring Monitoring of cosmic rays as part of the institution's general utility services to society.
- Technical Platforms Technical platforms supporting advanced research in astronomy and astrophysics, including the Complexe Technologique pour le Spatial (CTS) for space experiments.
Quantifiable outcome
- 350+ years of continuous astronomical research excellence
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Observatoire de Paris
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Observatoire de Paris technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Observatoire de Paris partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- ESA_lab@PSLcoreJoint ESA-PSL laboratory created by protocol of collaboration for space research and technology development
- LNE (Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais)majorCo-organizer of CPEM 2018 conference on precision electromagnetic measurements; collaboration in metrology research
- CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales)corePartner in Complexe Technologique pour le Spatial (CTS) development; collaboration on nanosatellite projects including PicSat
- PSL University (Paris Sciences et Lettres)coreObservatoire de Paris is a founding member of PSL University, a comprehensive university bringing together elite French higher education and research institutions in Paris.
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)corePrimary research partner; joint laboratories including LESIA with CNRS/Sorbonne Université/Université Paris Diderot; major collaboration in astrophysics research
- ESA (European Space Agency)coreStrategic space partnership including ESA_lab@PSL, contributions to ARIEL, JUICE, Solar Orbiter missions; memorandum of collaboration signed
- ESO (European Southern Observatory)coreCollaboration on VLT instruments including GRAVITY; observations using ESO telescopes in Chile; participation in ELT instrument development (MICADO, MOSAIC)
- SKA ObservatorycoreFrance became full member of SKA Observatory; French astrophysics community rallying around world's largest radio observatory; Nançay instruments central to SKA
- Université Grenoble-AlpesmajorResearch partner in IPAG; collaboration on GRAVITY instrument development and other astrophysics projects
- labex ESEPmajorExcellence laboratory co-piloting space technology complex with master OSAE for training
- Bibliothèque Nationale de FrancemajorAssociation for Collection d'Excellence in Astronomy and Astrophysics library; one of finest astronomy-physics libraries in the world
- Île-de-France RegionmajorFunding partner for space technology complex (CTS) and regional research infrastructure
- Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE)coreLeading partner in GRAVITY consortium for VLTI instrument development; directed by MPE
- GRAVITY ConsortiumcoreInternational collaboration including MPE, LESIA, IPAG, MPIA, University of Cologne, CENTRA, ESO for VLTI second-generation instrument
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Observatoire de Paris competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CNRS / INSU: France's primary national scientific research center and primary research partner of Observatoire de Paris; jointly operates LESIA and other astrophysics units, making it the closest national counterpart in scope and mission.
- Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA): Leading German astronomy institute and core partner in the GRAVITY consortium with Observatoire de Paris; comparable in instrument development, doctoral training, and theoretical/observational research scope.
- Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE): Director of the GRAVITY consortium that Observatoire de Paris participates in; directly comparable in instrument-building for ESO/VLTI and space-mission instrumentation.
- Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP): Sister French astrophysics laboratory also under PSL University; directly comparable in research scope, doctoral training, and public outreach mission.
Broad incumbents
- European Southern Observatory (ESO): Operates VLT, ELT and other flagship observatories that Observatoire de Paris uses and contributes instruments to (GRAVITY, MICADO, MOSAIC); broader mandate covering all European member-state astronomy.
- SKA Observatory (SKAO): Intergovernmental organization building the world's largest radio telescope, of which France (and Observatoire de Paris via Nançay) is now a full member; overlapping in radio astronomy and instrumentation.
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: U.S. counterpart operating space-based astronomy missions and major astrophysics instrumentation; directly comparable in mission contribution model with ESA missions like ARIEL and JUICE.
- Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI): Operates Hubble and James Webb science operations; comparable as a public research center running flagship space-astronomy missions and archival data services.
- Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics: Large U.S. multi-institutional astrophysics center combining observational, theoretical and instrument work; closely comparable in scope (research + graduate training + instrumentation).
- CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales): French national space agency and CTS co-developer with Observatoire de Paris; comparable in coordinating national space instrumentation, though broader in launch/spacecraft scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Observatoire de Paris social profiles
Digital presenceObservatoire de Paris financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Observatoire de Paris leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Observatoire de Paris funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Observatoire de Paris M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Observatoire de Paris
What does Observatoire de Paris do?
Observatoire de Paris - PSL is a French public research institution that conducts fundamental and applied research in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, engineering, and time metrology. It delivers higher education programs (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Graduate Program in Astrophysics) and provides public services such as the production of French legal time, ephemerides, and solar observations. The institution operates research infrastructure including state-of-the-art radio telescopes at Nançay, the Space Technology Complex (CTS) at Meudon, and a world-class astronomy library.
Is Observatoire de Paris a public or private company?
Observatoire de Paris is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Observatoire de Paris founded?
Observatoire de Paris was founded in -1. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Observatoire de Paris based?
Observatoire de Paris is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Observatoire de Paris make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Research Funding.
Who are Observatoire de Paris's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CNRS / INSU, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) and Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP). Broad incumbents are European Southern Observatory (ESO), SKA Observatory (SKAO), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales).
Does Observatoire de Paris have an API?
No public API is recorded for Observatoire de Paris.
What industry is Observatoire de Paris in?
Observatoire de Paris's product category is Astronomy and Astrophysics Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAA, Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary), with a secondary code of EDALAMAK, Research Computing & High-Performance Computing (HPC) User Support. Its NAICS code is 9271 and its SIC code is 9721.