Prix Jules Janssen

Prix Jules Janssen
Awarded for	Outstanding scientific work in astronomy as well as for contribution to public appreciation of astronomy. Awarded to both French and non-French astronomers.
Country	France
Presented by	Société Astronomique de France (SAF)
Reward(s)	A golden medallion with an embossed image of Jules Janssen facing right in profile. To the right of his face is the text "J. JANSSEN DE L’INSTITUT". To the left is the engraver’s name (ALPHÉE DUBOIS) in smaller characters. Reverse : a crown of olive branches and stars; PRIX J.JANSSEN on the top; the laureate’s name and the year in the middle.
First awarded	1897; continuously awarded except for during the two World wars.
Website	saf-astronomie.fr/en-janssen-prize/

The Prix Jules Janssen is the highest award of the Société astronomique de France (SAF), the French astronomical society.

This annual prize is given to a professional French astronomer or to an astronomer of another nationality in recognition of astronomical work in general, or for services rendered to Astronomy.^[1] The first recipient of the prize was Camille Flammarion, the founder of the Société astronomique de France, in 1897. The prize has been continuously awarded since then with the exception of the two World Wars. Non-French recipients have come from various countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Hungary, India, the former Czechoslovakia, and the former Soviet Union.

It was established by the French astronomer Pierre Jules César Janssen (known as Jules Janssen) during his tenure as president of SAF from 1895 to 1897.^[2] Janssen announced the creation of the new prize at a meeting of the Société Astronomique de France on 2 December 1896.^[3]

The medal was designed in 1896 by the Parisian engraver Alphée Dubois (1831–1905).^[4] It is minted by the Monnaie de Paris.

This prize is distinct from the Janssen Medal (created in 1886), which is awarded by the French Academy of Sciences and also named for Janssen.