National Observation Services

National Observation Services are one of the missions of the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur. They are accredited by the Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers (INSU) and are known in French as Services Nationaux d'Observation (SNO). They respond to the need to document the formation, evolution and variability of astronomical systems and terrestrial environments over the long term, and to advance knowledge in these fields. These SNOs are intended to provide a service to the scientific community. A detailed description can be found on the INSU website.

The Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur is responsible for 9 National Observation Services and is also a partner in 24 other SNOs. In total, the Côte d'Azur Observatory's involvement in the SNOs represents around 51 full-time equivalents (FTEs), for 33 CNAP agents present at the observatory (i.e. around 11 CNAP FTEs). Since 2023, the OCA has set up a digital SNO center staffed by 3 engineers on fixed-term contracts to support the development of web services for data dissemination and analysis, in particular for the ANO-5 SNOs of the Astronomy-Astrophysics section and the ANO-2-3-5 SNOs of the Internal Earth section.

The OCA has identified SNOs of strategic importance (for which it may or may not be the coordinator) and for which it is particularly soliciting applications (see table below).

ATTENTION: this list is not exclusive. Other SNOs for which OCA is a partner or coordinator (see below) also have significant recruitment needs.

Astronomy-Astrophysics Section

Internal Earth Section

There are also SNOs where the OCA, although less involved in terms of FTEs, has a strong added value through the production and dissemination of data and models (HCDC, MOIO-AMHRA, L3S/MAGYC, Gravimetry, MP3C). This is also the case for SNO 3Soleils.

In the field of Astronomy-Astrophysics

Major surveys, ground segments and ground support for space missions.

The OCA is one of the biggest contributors to the analysis and processing of SNO Gaia data. Our second major contribution to this theme is to SNO Euclid-Survey, with a recognized contribution to detection algorithms and the production and validation of galaxy catalogs. The OCA is a leader in galactic surveying, with the porting of SNO WEAVE. Instrumental developments around the LISA mission, preparation of the ground segment and scientific support are now of major importance to the OCA. The OCA is also involved in the ground segments and scientific support for the PLATO mission.

Instrumental development and digital instrumentation.

The OCA's national contribution is twofold. The first involves strong national and international involvement in supporting optical interferometry instruments (SUV (Gravity+, MATISSE), CHARA), as well as instrumental developments for validation and testing of LISA's optical system.The second involves digital instrumentation and is supported by SNO SKATE, with strong involvement in hardware co-design and a desired positioning on the future SKAO data center.

Multi-messenger astrophysics.

This primarily concerns the Virgo SNO on gravitational waves, for the production of calibrated data from the Virgo instrument, the exploitation of LIGO and Virgo data, their distribution and valorization, and the multi-wavelength monitoring of gravitational wave alerts. Naturally, this also includes participation in SNO SVOM for gamma-ray bursts.

Space and time metrology.

Particularly through SNO laser telemetry. The OCA is a reference in terms of launches on artificial satellites and on the Moon, and offers perspectives in interplanetary launches and time transfer. The OCA is responsible for the construction of the INPOP planetary and lunar ephemerides, considered to be world references. A contribution to SNO Horloges completes the establishment's activities.

In the Sollid Earth field

In terrestrial and marine seismology.

Seismology is at the heart of the OCA's activities in the Internal Earth SNOs (ANO2), with the management of permanent stations, the co-management of the RLBP A node, and the monitoring of seismicity and the calculation of focal mechanisms in France (BCSF-ReNaSS) as part of the Epos-France national research infrastructure. Marine seismology also makes an important contribution to OCA in terms of observations.

In geodesy.

The OCA plays a key role in ANO3, with responsibility for the EPOS-GNSS data portal, coordination of the EPOS-GNSS node infrastructure, management of a local node in France, and responsibility for the GNSS data center of the permanent academic GNSS network. All these activities are carried out within the framework of the ANO3 SNO Rénag and the Epos-France research infrastructure. OCA is also involved in developments and observations in the marine domain.

On natural gravitational hazards.

The OCA is involved in the SNO OMIV (ANO5), particularly in the monitoring of several landslides, by monitoring hydrological conditions and landslide kinematics, and in instrumentation, in particular by developing and deploying low-cost sensors.