Visit of the Pic du Midi Observatory 2021

Class 2021 of the Solar Thermal & Associated Renewable Storage master training visited the Pic du Midi Observatory CNRS research lab in Bagnères de Bigorre on March 18, 2021.

Indeed, optics for astrophysics and concentrated solar are very similar. For instance, heliostats of the local Themis solar tower served for cosmic ray detection from 1987 to 2004. IN2P3, CEA and CERN installed telescopes there.

For the students, it was a great opportunity to actually visit a unique site, see live picture of the Sun, understand optics problematic and enhance their scientific general knowledge about astrophysics and stars. After all, the Sun is a star!