STAR NIGHTS. Until this Sunday, August 7, it’s the Night of the Stars. In Paris, Lille, Marseille, Bordeaux or Toulouse, find all the information to enjoy this magical night and observe the stars!
[Mis à jour le 06 août 2022 à 19h17] It’s right now! The 32nd Night of Stars in France is an unmissable opportunity to observe the sky in search of shooting stars. Throughout France, events are organized by the French Association of Astronomy (AFA). In the sky, you can observe shooting stars, and even Perseids, but other beautiful astronomical surprises also await you. Thanks to a telescope or a telescope, it will be possible to observe the planet Jupiter, Saturn, but also Uranus and Neptune. Whether you are in the north of France near Lille, in Brittany, near Bordeaux, in Paris or in Marseille, find all the information to take advantage of this Night of the Stars. The AFA welcomes everyone free of charge in places conducive to observing the sky and the stars, that is to say far from the lights. You can consult the program of events below or use the summary at the beginning of the article.
The theme given by the French Association of Astronomy (AFA), organizer of the event, is l’exploration“at a time when the return to the Lune materializes with Artemis, of the exploration of Mars.” The French Astronomical Association (AFA) welcomes everyone free of charge to places conducive to the observation of the sky and the stars, that is to say far Consult the program near you on the official site of the French Association of Astronomy or see below our selection of events that take place during the nights of the stars in the major cities of France:
A few events are scheduled for the Nuit des Étoiles in Paris and its surroundings, such as in Saint-Ouen or Le Bourget (consult the map) :
- From August 6 at 6 p.m. to August 7 at 1:30 a.m., astronomy enthusiasts and neophytes are invited to observe the starry sky through a telescope from the tarmac of the Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget. Several free activities are offered, with virtual reality, games and theatrical and musical wanderings. Observations of the sky, with or without a telescope, are also planned.
- From August 6 at 10 p.m. to August 7 at 12:30 a.m., the curious can observe the sky using a telescope and maps in the large park of Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, located at 8-10 rue de la Clef des champs. Admission is free, but requires registration. This animation is organized by the center of scientific culture Atlas.
- From August 7 at 9 p.m. to August 8 at 1 a.m., AFA professionals invite you to the Square Louise Michel in the 18th arrondissement of Paris to observe the stars. The meeting point is on the lower terrace, under the panorama. This observation evening is free and open to all.
For Lille, everything happens in Villeneuve d’Ascq: at Departmental Science Forum located at 1, Place de l’Hotel de Ville. Here is the program :
- From August 6 at 2 p.m. to August 7 at 6 p.m., the planetarium of the Departmental Science Forum opens its doors free of charge with two planetarium sessions on the program at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- On August 6, two planetarium sessions are offered from 9 years old, to describe the summer sky of the Nights of the Stars. Opening hours: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Duration: 45 minutes.
From August 6 at 5 p.m. to August 7 at 1 a.m., the Lyon Ampère Astronomy Club (CALA) offers to come and spend contemplative and instructive evenings under the celestial vault at François Mitterrand Park, 20 Rue Robert Desnos in Vaulx- in-vellum. In the program : workshops, animations, observations of the sun from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., then conferences on the theme of astronomy and observation of the sky with telescopes from 8 p.m. to midnight. Cancellation possible depending on weather conditions!
On August 6, from 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., meet at the Château de Soule in Ramonville St-Agne where Planète Sciences Occitanie will show you the wonders of the summer sky: shooting stars and summer constellations. The acalmia association organizes karaoke in the afternoon.
The closest event to the city of Rennes happens with the association Cassiopée Astronomie Bruz Chavagne which offers a night of the stars on August 6 in Bruz, in the plain of Vert Buisson. On the program, observation of stars with the naked eye, but also of nebulae and star clusters with telescopes. The event is free and open to all.
The events planned around Bordeaux for the Nuit des Étoiles have been canceled on Saturday August 6 and Sunday August. Indeed, rallies were planned in the Bourgailh forest and in Martignas-sur-Jalle, but were canceled due to the risk of fire in Gironde.
The closest town to Nice which is taking part in the event is Villeneuve Loubet, near Cagnes-sur-Mer. In partnership with the SPICA astronomy club, on Saturday August 6, from 4 p.m., an exhibition of photos taken by members of the club, various activities on the solar system and the sundial, a conference by Benoît Carry on “asteroids and meteorites” and an observation of the sky from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
A moment to live during the School vacation ! The Night of the Shooting Stars had a singular title when it was created in 1991 since the event lasted only one day. But it has become plural: “The Nights of the Stars”, because the event has been extended to three consecutive nights of observation from the year 2000 edition. Observation in France, it makes it possible to observe the planets Jupiter, Mars and Saturn as well as the shower of shooting stars from the Perseids. These stars come from the constellation Perseus. They are located below the constellation called Cassiopeia, in the shape of W.
To optimize your chances of seeing the stars, it is better to move away from sources of light pollution such as street lights. The stars are observed from 10 p.m., after dark. If the horizon is clear to the northwest, where the Sun sets, you won’t miss a beat. Especially if you have binoculars or a telescope.
The Nights of the Stars took place over three days, from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 August 2022. Since 1991, the Night of the Stars has been organized in Franceand in several European countries by associations, in particular theFrench Association of Astronomy. They are renowned astrophysicists or scientists, such as Hubert Reeves or Alain Cirou, in association with France 2, who launched the event.
Every year, the Earth passes through the Perseids. It is a meteor shower made up of the debris of an ancient planet: Swift Tuttle. Their mass ranges from the head of a pin to that… of a pea! By coming into contact with the Earth’s atmosphere, these small rocks offer a magnificent natural spectacle: shooting stars. The Perseid meteor shower will take place on the night of Friday August 12 to Saturday August 13, 2022.
The Perseid meteor shower is held this year on the night of Friday August 12 to Saturday August 13, 2022. During this exceptional night, a hundred shooting stars will be visible after 10 p.m., at sunset. If this is the peak of activity, shooting stars will be observable in numbers in the sky until August 25, 2022.