FOCUS CONTROL METHOD AND CULTURE OBSERVATION APPARATUS

The focus control culture observation apparatus enable simple and reliable detection of a focusing position of an objective lens on a subject and with certainty. When a focusing position is detected, an area, which includes an edge portion of the culture medium drop is selected as an AF area which is to be a target of detecting the focusing position of the objective lens on the culture medium drop. The apparatus detects the focusing position on the culture medium drop based on an observation image of the AF area. By detecting the focusing position as a targeting area that is different from an area which is near the edge of the culture container and where illumination unevenness is generated, the detection accuracy can be improved.