The Laboratory for Instrumentation and Research in Astrophysics (LIRA) studies the Sun’s atmosphere, from the photosphere to the corona, which extends into the solar wind; It develops instruments for space and ground-based use, analyzes data from these instruments, and performs modeling. Its activities also encompass Earth-Sun interactions and space weather.
Finally, LIRA has been continuously observing the Sun since 1908 at the Meudon site, continuing the work initiated in the 19th century by Jules Janssen. Using spectroscopy and imaging, it updates a unique database of solar images on a daily basis, offering an exceptional view of the Sun’s evolution over the long term.
Eclipse & Research
The study of the Sun and its environment is one of the major research areas at the Paris Observatory-PSL.
LTE
The Laboratoire Temps Espace (LTE), a French expert in celestial mechanics, compiles national ephemerides through the Space Department of the Paris Observatory (SE-OP), enabling the accurate prediction of celestial phenomena, including eclipses. It also develops tools and content accessible to various audiences, such as educational guides including “Trois éclipses en lumière” (Three Eclipses in Light), soon to be published by EDP Sciences, as well as digital services dedicated to sky observation, notably the ÉclipSEOP app, which allows users to view observation conditions based on their geographic location.
ORN
The Nançay Radio Astronomy Observatory (ORN) studies the Sun using radio waves, notably through instruments such as the Nançay Radio Heliograph (NRH) and the ORFEES spectrograph, which enable the analysis of solar eruptions and the prediction of their effects on Earth’s space environment. Observations are conducted daily and enable real-time monitoring of solar eruptive activity.
LUX
The Laboratory for the Study of the Universe and Extreme Phenomena (LUX) explores, beyond the Sun itself, the fundamental laws of physics, particularly general relativity, which enables the description of gravitational effects observed near the Sun and throughout the Universe.