Pôle des étoiles
The Pôle des Étoiles is a science centre devoted to astronomy and the sciences of the universe at Nançay, between the Sologne and the Berry, in the Cher. It is attached to the Nançay radio astronomy station, one of the largest observatories of its kind.
The centre offers exhibitions, shows in a digital planetarium seating up to about forty people, and guided tours of the station. Its temporary exhibitions invite visitors to handle and observe in order to learn while having fun.
The great Nançay radio telescope, inaugurated in 1965 by General de Gaulle, was then the largest antenna in the world devoted entirely to astronomy. Its two mirrors, one mobile measuring 200 by 40 metres and the other fixed measuring 300 by 35 metres, have a collecting area of about 8,000 m². The site also has the LOFAR and NenuFAR antenna arrays. It is open to the public during events such as the European Heritage Days.
