It may have been the promise that he would be made director of the Paris observatory which tempted Méchain back to Paris. Certainly he was elected to this position shortly after his return and made temporary director of the Bureau de Longitudes.
Ito ay maaaring ang mga pangako na siya ay ginawa ng direktor ng Paris obserbatoryo na tempted Méchain bumalik sa Paris. Totoong siya ay elected sa posisyon na ito sa ilang sandali lamang matapos ang kanyang bumalik at ginawa pansamantalang director ng Bureau de Longitudes.