Haute-Provence Observatory

Haute-Provence Observatory
	The 1.93 meter aperture telescope, installed in 1958
Alternative names	Observatoire de Haute-Provence
Observatory code	511
Location	Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Metropolitan France, France
Coordinates	43°55′51″N 5°42′48″E / 43.9308°N 5.7133°E
Altitude	650 m (2,130 ft)
Website	www.obs-hp.fr
	Location of Haute-Provence Observatory
	Related media on Commons
	[edit on Wikidata]

Minor planets discovered: 6 ^[1]
see § List of discovered minor planets

The Haute-Provence Observatory (OHP, French: Observatoire de Haute-Provence) is an astronomical observatory in the southeast of France, about 90 km east of Avignon and 100 km north of Marseille. It was established in 1937 as a national facility for French astronomers. Astronomical observations began in 1943 using the 1.20 m telescope, and the first research papers based on observations made at the observatory were published in 1944. Foreign observers first used the observatory in 1949, when Geoffrey and Margaret Burbidge visited.

The observatory lies at an altitude of about 650 m, on a plateau near the village of Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence département.

The site was chosen for an observatory because of its generally very favourable observing conditions. On average, 60% of nights are suitable for astronomical observations, with the best seasons being summer and autumn. About 170 nights per year on average are completely cloudless. The seeing is usually around 2" but can reach 1" or lower on occasion. Seeing degrades severely, sometimes to over 10", when the cold Mistral wind blows from the northwest. This happens on about 45 days per year on average, mostly during winter. Good weather conditions often follow a Mistral. On average, atmospheric absorption at OHP is roughly twice that seen at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) at La Silla, Chile.

The main-belt asteroid 7755 Haute-Provence, discovered by Belgian astronomer Eric Elst in 1989, was named for the region where the discovering observatory is located.^[2]

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[1]

[2]