Technical
De Galatée Observatory
The observatory characteristics
The observatory is divided into 4 parts: the Internet, a radio relay in the village of Draix, the weather station Eole and the telescope.
- The first part is not really a part of the observatory, but is necessary for observing. It is Internet. The observer's computer is a constituent of it. The observer sends requests to the observatory via Internet.
- After going through this network, the requests arrive at the Draix station. Draix is a village of the Alps de Haute Provence, 6 kilometers away from the Cheval Blanc summit. The station of Draix is a room which shelters a computer and communication equipment. It treats the requests, and sends them by radio to Eole.
- Eole has several functions. It is at the same time the weather station of the observatory and its radio relay. It is a metal case integrated into a pylon, 10 meters away from the summit of the mountain. The metal case shelters various electric components, of which a computer and batteries. Weather sensors are fixed at a mast at the top of the pylon. The climatic study guarantees an optimal and protected use of the observatory.
- Finally, the main building and the telescope inside of it are at the summit of the mountain, 10 meters away from Eole.