Mission briefing · Le Bourdieu Observatory · 43.98°N 0.50°E

Your next destination is up.

Leave the Gers countryside behind for two hours and travel thousands of light years through a large research-grade telescope. Former ESA project manager Richard Francis is your guide. No astronomy knowledge needed, just curiosity.

Book your launch window Choose a mission

Darkness at La Romieu T− --:--:-- Astronomical dusk

Moon tonight --% Phase

Booking window Checking… Closed ±2 days of full moon €250 per private crew of up to 4

Cloud cover tonight Checking… Forecast: Open-Meteo

Select your mission

Two ways to leave Earth tonight.

A relaxed tour of planets, clusters and galaxies through the eyepiece, or a hands-on night capturing faint nebulae on the observatory's own imaging rig.

The Pleiades star cluster photographed from Le Bourdieu Observatory

Private stargazing evening

A two-hour evening where the night sky becomes legible.

Bright planets when they are up, the Moon when conditions are right, and a rotating selection of clusters, nebulae, and galaxies through a large telescope. The pace stays calm, conversational, and set by your group.

2 hours
Up to 4 guests
English or French
No astronomy knowledge needed

Gate: La Romieu
Departs: After dusk
Duration: 2 h
Crew: Up to 4

€250 per private group

Request a stargazing evening Full mission details →

The dual-telescope astrophotography rig at Le Bourdieu Observatory

For photographers

Mission LBO-02 · Photon Capture

Astrophotography session

For guests who want the sky as data, craft, and image.

A tailored night on the observatory's dedicated imaging platform: target choice, framing, filters, capture, and the processing logic behind a deep-sky photograph. Ideal for photographers travelling light and motivated beginners.

Small private format
Observatory gear provided
Beginner to advanced
English or French

Gate: La Romieu
Departs: After dusk
Duration: Full evening
Crew: Small private

€600 tailored evening session

Plan an imaging session Full mission details →

Countdown sequence

The sky sets the launch window.

Every mission starts with a quick enquiry rather than a fixed ticket. We plan around the Moon, the weather and your stay, so you fly on the clearest night available.

T−3
Transmit your dates

Tell us when you're in the Gers, how many are in your crew, and where you're staying.
T−2
Flight director picks the night

We reply with the best window for the forecast and moon phase. No launches two days either side of a full moon.
T−1
Ground prep in La Romieu

Spend the afternoon in the village, have dinner nearby, then head up the hill as the light fades.
T−0
Liftoff after dusk

Eyes adjust, the roof rolls back, and the first target swings into the eyepiece.

Check launch windows Radio mission control · +33 6 45 49 43 75

Crew file · Mission commander

Richard Francis

A former European Space Agency project manager and long-time astronomer, Richard flies every mission himself, with clarity, patience and real technical depth. This is a working observatory used for genuine observing and deep-sky imaging, not a show set.

Background: ESA space missions
Comms: English · Français
Base: Le Bourdieu Observatory

Tour the observatory →

Souvenirs from deep space

Bring a piece of the mission home.

Deep-sky images captured from Le Bourdieu, printed on Aluminium Dibond with UV and scratch protection. The light in each one set off long before anyone alive today was born.

Pelican Nebula (IC 5070), photographed from Le Bourdieu Observatory — **Pelican Nebula** IC 5070 · 50 × 50 cm

Rosette Nebula (NGC 2244), photographed from Le Bourdieu Observatory — **Rosette Nebula** NGC 2244 · 55 × 75 cm

Cygnus Wall (NGC 7000), photographed from Le Bourdieu Observatory — **Cygnus Wall** NGC 7000 · 50 × 50 cm

Enquire about a print Explore the full gallery

Pre-flight checklist

Questions crews ask before launch.

Anything else? Mission control answers in English or French.

Message mission control

01 Do we need any astronomy knowledge?

No. Evenings are designed for curious beginners as well as guests with a stronger technical interest.

02 Why can't we book around the full moon?

Bright moonlight washes out faint nebulae and galaxies, so reservations are not accepted two days before or after the full moon.

03 How does booking work with the weather?

Bookings are inquiry-first: each evening is confirmed around your dates, the forecast, and the moon phase, so the night is planned for the best sky available during your stay.

04 When is the best season?

Spring and autumn balance darkness, temperature, and comfort well. Summer is beautiful but nights are shorter and start later.

05 Do I need my own camera for astrophotography?

No. One of the strengths of the session is access to the observatory's own imaging setup.

06 Is the evening hosted in English?

Yes. Sessions are hosted in English or French.

Landing coordinates

Above La Romieu, in the heart of Gascony.

43.98°N 0.50°E

Easy to reach from La Romieu, Lectoure, Condom and nearby villages. Tell us where you're staying and we'll plan the mission around it.

Book an evening Things to do in La Romieu at night →

Le Bourdieu Observatory 770 Bourdieu du Haut, VC18, route de Blaziert 32480 La Romieu, Gers, France Plot route in Google Maps → +33 6 45 49 43 75 info@gersastronomie.com

GerSpatial ground control

Software built for real missions.

The same experience behind the observatory goes into GerSpatial's Mac and iOS tools, used everywhere from backyard domes to ESA operations, plus space systems engineering and training.