A luminous demonstration of this collective success: last July, the Grande Lunette reconnected with its history by making its "new" first lights since 1991. The Moon and Saturn were immortalized, confirming the smooth running of the instrument.
Although modern science is now based on much more advanced instruments, the Grande Lunette remains an important witness to the history of astronomy. In the 20th century, it contributed to our knowledge of stars and the solar system by characterizing multiple stars, novae and comets, and observing planets, in particular Mars.
Its scientific legacy continues today through some of the cutting-edge projects carried out by our researchers and engineers, for example:
- the development of numerous instruments for large ground-based observatories, such as the VLT or the future ELT, with projects such as MOONS, Gravity, MICADO and MOSAIC;
- Mars exploration with missions such as Mars Express, Perseverance, Mars Moons eXplorer;
- studies of the giant planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune;
- comet studies, involvement in the Rosetta mission... ;
- research into stellar populations and the evolution of stars.
Currently open to the public only during the Fête de la Science, for educational and heritage purposes, its future is currently under review.
