Founded in 1667, the Observatoire de Paris is the largest national research center for astronomy. 30 % of all French astronomers are working in it five laboratories and its institute. Situated on the Paris, Meudon and Nançay campuses, they are all "Unités Mixtes de Recherche (UMR)" associated with the CNRS and, in many cases, with the major scientific universities in the Paris area. The work of the Observatoire is also carried out in two major scientific services.

The Observatoire de Paris is an academic centre (Grand établissement) under the aegis of the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche.