Lyon Observatory
# Lyon Observatory

Lyon Observatory is located in Saint-Genis-Laval, a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France, near Lyon. Founded in 1878, the entire facility was listed as a historical site on 9 May 2007.

In 1867, Paris astronomer Charles André requested of the prefect of Rhone, that a new observatory be created. In 1873, a commission offered to establish a facility in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon. André sought to have the site built in Saint-Genis-Laval. On March 11, 1878, Patrice de MacMahon approved the creation of the Lyon Observatory. André was appointed its first director.

## Research

Lyon Observatory has worked on polychromatic artificial stars for adaptive optics systems, made by a laser.

## Directors

* 1878-1912: Charles André (1842-1912)
* 1912-1933: Jean Mascart (1872-1935)
* 1933-1966 : Jean Dufay (1896-1967)
* 1966-1976: Joseph-Henri Bigay (1910-1982)
* 1976-1986: Guy Monnet (1941-)
* 1986-1995: Jean-Claude Ribes (1940-)
* 1995-2005: Roland Bacon (1956-)
* 2005-2015: Bruno Guiderdoni
* 2015-... : Isabelle Daniel
