A Galactic View from Pic Du Midi

The arch of the Milky Way rises in this late spring evening panorama from Pic du Midi Observatory located at altitude of 2877 meters of Pyrenees mountains in southern France. Construction of the observatory began in 1878. A one-meter telescope was installed in 1963 funded by NASA and was used to take detailed photographs of the surface of the Moon in preparation for the Apollo missions. A two-meter telescope was placed at the observatory in 1980 which is still the largest telescope in France.

Click the second photo for another view.