Société astronomique de France

What Société astronomique de France does

Société astronomique de France (SAF) is a French nonprofit astronomical association founded in 1887 by Camille Flammarion and recognized as an association d'utilité publique since 1897. Headquartered at 3 rue Beethoven in Paris's 16th arrondissement, SAF operates as a membership-driven scientific society that disseminates astronomy knowledge and facilitates amateur participation in the advancement of the universe sciences. The organization serves amateur astronomers, young people and students, gnomonics specialists, and the general public through a portfolio spanning publications (the monthly magazine l'Astronomie, the semi-annual Cadran Info journal, and annual astronomical ephemerides co-produced with the Observatoire de Paris IMCCE), direct observation services at two historic public observatories (the 1883 Observatoire Camille Flammarion at Juvisy-sur-Orge, classified as a historic monument, and the Observatoire de la Sorbonne with its 153mm refractor), and a remote-accessible Youth Observatory in the Southern Alps.

The organization operates 15 specialized thematic commissions covering areas from astronautics and cometary studies to sundials, radioastronomy, and dark sky preservation, supported by tooling such as the MéTéoS real-time solar and space weather monitoring system and the API ProAm Gemini amateur-professional collaboration platform. Its technology footprint is primarily that of a publishing and content-distribution organization rather than a technology company, with proprietary assets centered on the Commission's 69,210-object gnonomic inventory database, sundial design software ecosystem (Shadows, Cadsol), and the MC-Cadrans Solaires mobile application.

SAF's business model is membership-funded through tiered annual dues (€15-€150+ depending on geography, age, and benefactor status), tax-deductible donations (66% individual / 60% corporate deduction), publication and merchandise sales via its e-commerce boutique, and ticketed observation and event programs. Revenue is supplemented by grants and contributions associated with its public utility status. The organization is governed largely by volunteers under a Board of Directors, has 1-10 employees, and maintains a presence across digital channels (YouTube with 60+ recorded conferences, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Instagram, Flickr), a regional correspondent network across French provinces, and a growing African edition of its magazine through l'Astronomie Afrique.

Name

Société astronomique de France

Legal name

Société astronomique de France

Website

https://saf-astronomie.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

French nonprofit astronomical association founded in 1887 by Camille Flammarion, serving amateur astronomers, students, and the public through membership programs, monthly and annual publications, historic observatory access, and 15 thematic commissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Astronomy Education and Scientific Society

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD), Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Amateur astronomy society
• Astronomy education
• Scientific publications
• Observatory visits
• Public outreach astronomy

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from €15 for standard members to €40-52 for Île-de-France residents, €35 for EU/other countries, €15 for minors/students under 25, and €150+ for benefactors. Membership provides access to all SAF activities, commissions, publications at member rates, and tax deduction benefits (66% for individuals).
2. Magazine l'Astronomie: Monthly francophone astronomy magazine, available by subscription in print and digital formats. The digital version is only available bundled with print subscription.
3. Cadran Info Publication: Semi-annual sundial review published in May and October, available as download or USB key subscription (€10/year for 2 issues). Individual issues available at €5 each.
4. Book and Publication Sales: Sale of astronomy books, ephemerides, and specialized publications through the SAF boutique. Includes collaborative works with publishers such as Delachaux et Niestlé.
5. Observatory Visit Reservations: Ticketed observation evenings at the Observatory of Juvisy (€7) and guided tours of the Observatory of the Sorbonne (€7-15 depending on age).
6. Donations: Tax-deductible donations starting from €5, with 66% tax deduction for individuals (up to 20% of taxable income) and 60% for corporations (up to €10,000 or 0.5% of turnover).
7. Commemorative Items: Sale of commemorative medals (e.g., €85 for centenary of Camille Flammarion, €119 for SAF centenary), badges (€6), and specialty items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Société astronomique de France is a non-profit astronomical society that offers annual memberships providing access to a portfolio of activities including astronomy publications (l'Astronomie monthly magazine, Cadran Info semi-annual journal, annual ephemerides), themed conferences and courses, public observation sessions at two historic observatories (Juvisy and Sorbonne), instrument-building workshops, and participation in 12+ specialized thematic commissions covering sundials, comets, cosmology, history, education, and dark-sky preservation.

Product overview

The Société astronomique de France (SAF) operates as a membership-based astronomical society founded in 1887 by Camille Flammarion, offering a comprehensive portfolio of astronomy education, observation services, and publications. The core offering centers on l'Astronomie, a prestigious monthly astronomy magazine, and Éphémérides astronomiques, an annual reference publication produced with Observatoire de Paris. SAF provides direct observation experiences through two historic observatories (Observatoire de Juvisy with Flammarion's original telescope and Observatoire de la Sorbonne), plus the remotely-accessible Observatoire des jeunes for youth. The organization operates 15 specialized commissions covering topics from sundials (Commission des Cadrans Solaires) to astrophotography, supported by tools like MéTéoS for real-time solar/space weather data and API ProAm Gemini for amateur-professional collaboration. Annual events include Rencontres AstroCiel, while educational initiatives target youth through Commission Jeunes, Younivers competitions, and ICAY congress. SAF also maintains an extensive bookstore offering books, commemorative medals, and sundial inventories, with membership providing access to all activities and a 66% tax deduction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• l'Astronomie: Monthly French-language magazine of reference for Universe sciences, edited by the Société astronomique de France.
• l'Astronomie Afrique
• Commission Jeunes (CJS)
• Commission des Cadrans Solaires (CCS)

Products and services

• l'Astronomie Magazine Monthly French-language astronomy magazine published by SAF, considered the reference publication for French-language universe sciences, with research updates, astrophysics deep-dives, amateur techniques, history of astronomy, ephemerides, and event calendar.
• Cadran Info Journal Semi-annual journal (€10/year for 2 issues, May and October) published by Commission des Cadrans Solaires, covering studies on time measurement by celestial bodies, sundials, astrolabes, and nocturlabes, including practical applications, techniques, and historical research. 857+ articles published since 2000.
• Éphémérides astronomiques (Annual) Annual astronomical ephemerides for amateur astronomers (€25 for 2027 edition, 192 pages, A4 color), containing monthly almanacs, sky charts, planetary data, eclipse predictions, occultations, and comet information, produced in collaboration with the Observatoire de Paris IMCCE.
• SAF Membership Annual membership starting at €15 (varies by region: Île-de-France higher, other French departments standard, foreign rate, junior under 18, student under 25, benefactor €150+), providing access to all SAF activities, commissions, member-priced publications, courses, conferences, library, optics workshop, observation sessions, and 66% tax deduction for French taxpayers.
• Juvisy Observatory Observation Sessions Evening observation sessions (€7 per person) at the Observatoire Camille Flammarion in Juvisy-sur-Orge, featuring Flammarion's historic 240mm diameter refracting telescope on an equatorial mount inspired by Paris Observatory instruments. The observatory is classified as a historical monument. Weather-dependent with alternative historical tour option.
• Sorbonne Observatory Guided Tours Guided tours of the historic Observatoire de la Sorbonne in Paris (€15 adults 14+, €7 under 14, max 5 participants), featuring a 153mm aperture, 2300mm focal length refracting telescope housed in the main dome of the historic astronomy tower.
• Rencontres AstroCiel Annual summer gathering of amateur astronomers at Domaine de Pradines for deep-sky observation sessions and knowledge exchange, typically held August 5-22, one of SAF's flagship community events.
• Observatoire des Jeunes (Youth Observatory) Remote-accessible observatory for young astronomy enthusiasts aged middle school and above, located at approximately 1200m altitude in the Southern French Alps, enabling youth to control quality instruments remotely via web application for celestial observations even from urban areas.
• SAF Books and Publications Astronomy books and publications sold through the SAF boutique, including 'Voyage au bout de l'Univers' (€29), 'Gnomonique moderne' (€29), 'Calculs astronomiques à l'usage des amateurs' (€13), and other collaborative works with publishers such as Delachaux et Niestlé.
• Camille Flammarion Centenary Medal Limited edition commemorative medal (€85) in antiqued silver finish (73mm diameter), released for the centenary of Camille Flammarion's death, presented in gift box with numbered certificate.
• Sundial Inventories Annual inventories of sundials (€10 for downloadable inventory of 39,749 French sundials, or USB with full worldwide inventory of 69,210 gnonomic objects), updated annually, including addresses and photographs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 66% income tax deduction for individual donors/members
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Association Copernic 05minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner association collaborating with the Commission Jeunes (CJS) on the Youth Observatory project located in the Southern Alps.
• Service des Éphémérides de l'Observatoire de Paris (SEOP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on annual ephemerides publications. The ephemerides are created in partnership with the Service des Éphémérides of the Paris Observatory and the SAF.
• Société Astronomique du Sud (SF2A)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint prize (Prix SAF – SF2A) awarded in collaboration with SF2A. The two societies also cooperate through the API ProAm Gemini platform.
• Institut de mécanique céleste et de calcul des éphémérides (IMCCE)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborative partner for ephemerides publications. IMCCE contributes to ephemerides content including almanac, sky maps, occultations, eclipses, and comet data.
• OVH SASminorOthersWebsite hosting provider. OVH SAS (capital €10,069,020, RCS Lille 424 761 419 00045) provides infrastructure hosting for saf-astronomie.fr.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Astronomische Gesellschaft (AG): German astronomical society with a long-standing tradition of astronomical publications, meetings, and member sections. Comparable as a European national astronomical society combining amateur and professional membership with structured commissions.
• Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP): US-based international astronomy society founded in 1889 with strong emphasis on public education, teacher resources, and amateur-professional programs. Closely parallel to SAF in mission, age, and educational focus.
• Association Française d'Astronomie (AFA): French national amateur astronomy association also operating as a membership-based society publishing astronomy content and organizing observation events. Directly comparable as the second major French amateur astronomy organization serving overlapping francophone audiences.
• Unione Astrofili Italiani (UAI): Italian federation of amateur astronomical associations coordinating national observation programs and publications. Comparable as a membership-driven national amateur astronomy organization with thematic sections.
• British Astronomical Association (BAA): UK amateur astronomy society founded in 1890 with sections (commissions), peer-reviewed journal, and observation programs. Closely mirrors SAF's structure of thematic sections, member publications, and amateur-professional collaboration.

Others

• Sky & Telescope: Commercial English-language astronomy magazine and media brand covering amateur astronomy, equipment, and observation guides. Comparable as a competing astronomy content brand that competes for amateur astronomers' attention and subscription wallet share.

Emerging players

• Planétarium de Paris: Major Parisian planetarium offering public astronomy shows, educational programming, and exhibitions. Comparable as a public-facing astronomy education venue in the same Paris market where SAF delivers courses, conferences, and observatory visits.

Broad incumbents

• American Astronomical Society (AAS): Major US professional astronomy society running large scientific meetings (AAS meetings) and journals. Comparable in convening conferences and publishing but skews more professional than SAF's amateur-focused mission.
• International Astronomical Union (IAU): Global professional astronomy body coordinating international collaboration, naming, and education programs including dark sky protection. Comparable as a global astronomical institution with an education/outreach remit overlapping SAF's Sauvegarde du Ciel and education commissions.
• Royal Astronomical Society (RAS): Established UK society (founded 1820) covering professional astronomy, geophysics, and amateur engagement with a prestigious journal portfolio. Overlaps with SAF in astronomical publishing and amateur programming but operates at a larger institutional scale with broader scientific scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/safastrofrance.bsky.social
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@societeastronomiquedefrance
• Facebookfacebook.com/Societe.Astronomique.de.France
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/societe-astro-de-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/saf_astronomie

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Société astronomique de France