French Astronomical Society

The French Astronomical Society (Société Astronomique de France (SAF) is the French astronomical society and was founded by the astronomer Camille Flammarion in 1887, its purpose is to promote the development and practice of astronomy.

Open to all, it publishes the journal l'Astronomie and the magazine "Observations et Travaux", offers monthly lectures at the Oceanographic Institute of Paris and more recently at the FIAP, as well as afternoons of initiation in the walls of its headquarters now located 3, rue Beethoven, 75016 Paris. It was created 28 rue Serpente at "l'Hôtel des Sociétés Savantes" (Hotel of Learned Societies) and hosted rue Saint-Dominique, in a room of the "Maison de la Chimie". It has 14 specialized committees, offers the opportunity to explore the sky during spectacular astronomical events, from the dome of the Observatory of the Sorbonne, in the heart of Paris where a workshop on optics is also held.

It organizes the yearly astronomical meetings "Rencontres Astro Ciel", which allows over one hundred astronomy enthusiasts, to get together for two or three weeks under the starry sky of Provence.

Awards and prizes
The society offers the following recognitions:
 * The Prix Jules Janssen for outstanding work in Astronomy
 * The Prix des Dames for services to the society
 * The Médaille Commémorative
 * The Prix Maurice BALLOT
 * The Prix Georges BIDAULT de l'ISLE
 * The Prix Henry REY
 * The Prix Gabrielle et Camille FLAMMARION
 * The Prix Dorothea KLUMPKE - Isaac ROBERTS encouraging the study of nebulae
 * The Prix Marcel MOYE for young astronomers
 * The Prix Marius JACQUEMETTON
 * Prix VIENNET - DAMIEN
 * Plaquette du Centenaire de Camille FLAMMARION
 * Prix Julien SAGET for Astro-photography
 * Prix Edmond GIRARD
 * Prix CAMUS - WAITZ
 * Prix Marguerite CLERC
 * Médaille des anciens présidents
 * Médaille du Soixantenaire ; Fondation MANLEY - BENDALL