STAR NIGHTS. The Night of the Stars is back in 2022, from Friday August 5 to Sunday August 7, 2022. Events are organized all over France. Ask for the program!
[Mis à jour le 05 août 2022 à 10h06] Head in the stars: from this Friday August 5th until Sunday August 7th, the traditional night of the stars takes place, which, each year, allows everyone, young and old, to enjoy the Milky Way and its dozens of ‘shooting Stars. For this 32nd edition, events are organized all over France, often with scientists sharing their knowledge and observation techniques.
With friends or family, everyone can participate in the observation, via workshops and conferences organized across the country. Enough to take full advantage of our celestial vault and (re)discover its wonders. The Night of the Stars is an unmissable opportunity to observe the sky in search of shooting stars like the 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. It will obviously be a great opportunity to observe the Moon and its craters, seas and mountains at nightfall, and the nebulae and galaxies a little later. Consult the program below, or use the summary opposite.
The theme given by the French Association of Astronomy (AFA), organizer of the event is exploration, “at a time when the return to the Moon materializes with Artemis, from the exploration of Mars.” The French Astronomy Association (AFA) welcomes everyone free of charge to places conducive to observing the sky and the stars, that is to say far from the lights. 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:
In the capital, the night of the stars has scheduled three intramural events, but others also take place in the Parisian suburbs such as Montrouge or Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine (consult the map):
- From August 4 at 9 p.m. to August 5 at 1 a.m., the sky watchers of the French Astronomical Association (AFA) point glasses and telescopes towards the starry sky sheltered from the lights in the Parc Montsouris in the 14th arrondissement. of Paris, to offer observations and workshops for spotting the sky. Free entry via 26 boulevard Jourdan.
- From August 5 at 9 p.m. to August 6 at 1 a.m., in the Parc de la Villette, just behind the Geode, the mediators of the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie offer you a workshop for the manufacture and use of a map of the sky to learn how to find your bearings at night under the stars, a mini-conference on the theme of exploration (Mission Mars and exoplanets) and observation of the sky with telescopes.
- 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.
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 :
- On August 5, 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 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.
- On August 5 from 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., the Astronomical Society of Lyon (SAL) offers a rendezvous under the stars with a first lunar crescent, the rising of the planet Saturn and deep sky objects observed through telescopes at the Fort de côte Lorette, 18 Rue de la Croix Rouge in Saint-Genis -Laval.
- From August 5 at 9 p.m. to August 6 at 1 a.m., right in the center of Villeurbanne, the AFA offers free glasses and telescopes for observations and free sky tracking workshops.
- From August 6 at 5 p.m. to August 7 at 1 a.m., CALA offers to come and spend contemplative and instructive evenings under the celestial vault at François Mitterrand Park, 20 Rue Robert Desnos in Vaulx-en-Velin. 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 5, from 9.30 p.m. to midnight, the historical Observatory of Marseille located on allée Jean-Louis Pons in the 4th arrondissement, organizes an evening of observation of the sky: the reliefs of the Moon through the telescope, the rings of Saturn, the objects from the deep sky, double stars, star clusters and nebulae will have no more secrets for you. Planetarium sessions will also be offered. Free admission, by reservation only from the MyRezApp link on the observatory website.
- On August 5, from 7 p.m. to midnight, the Cité de l’Espace opens its doors on avenue Jean Gonord in Toulouse. On the program, continuous observations of the sun and the sky from 7 p.m. thanks to the many telescopes installed in the Gardens by associations of amateur astronomers, Planetarium and Stellarium sessions every 45 minutes from 7:30 p.m., musical and artistic entertainment , workshops led by Planète Sciences Occitanie. Free entry on registration required.
- From August 5 at 9 p.m. to August 6 at 1 a.m., the People’s Astronomical Society located at 1 avenue Camille Flamarion offers commented tour of the domes, conference, observation of the sky, exhibition of the solar system and demonstration of Foucault’s pendulum.
- 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 theassociation Cassiopeia Astronomy Bruz Chavagne which offers a night of the stars on August 5 in Chavagne, in the parking lot of the Sillandais pond. On the program, slideshows presented from 9 p.m., then at nightfall, an observation of the starry sky in the telescopes of the members of the association. A refreshment area (drinks, pancakes) will be offered and it is possible to reserve your meal (vegetarian burger with potatoes) for 10 euros before August 2 by email. On August 6, the association invites you to Bruz, on the plain of Vert Buisson for another starry night.
- On August 5 from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., Air & Space Sciences side and the social and cultural center of Beaudésert invite you to contemplate the Milky Way and the constellations of the summer sky at 74 avenue des Marronniers in Mérignac. Green background, stellarium, sky charts, light painting, the program is charged !
- From August 5 at 9:30 p.m. to August 6 at 1 a.m., the city of Gradignan invites you to the open-air theater
from Parc Saint Albe to discover the night sky with the naked eye or observe the Moon, the planets and the deep sky with instruments. - From August 7 at 2 p.m. to August 8 at midnight 30 on the Bourgailh forest site at 160, avenue de Beutre in Pessac, Jalle Astronomie offers workshops for children and sun observations from 2 p.m., then from 10 p.m., a lecture by Alain Chapon on the solar system, and as night falls, observations of the sky using telescopes and glasses.
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, there is 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: “Les Nuits des Etoiles”, since the event has been extended to 3 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 3 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.