Transformation in solar telescope of the Nice Observatory 40 cm coude refractor

The 40 cm coude equatorial telescope of the Nice Observatory is presented as a new solar instrument. This telescope, an old instrument renewed on a financial support from I. N. A. G., is briefly described. Mechanical and optical improvements are then detailed, in particular the performance, in the optical laboratory of the Nice Observatory, of two mirrors in cervit, and a cooled focus device for solar observations. The site, which is sunny around 2 800 h every year, is comparable for this point of the best european sites tested in J. O. S. O. operation. The first solar granulation plates obtained in september 1973 show some details reaching the theoretical resolution limit. This telescope is now used by the workers of the Nice University Astrophysical Laboratory, directed by F. RODDIER.