STAR NIGHTS. The Night of the Stars takes place on August 11, 12, 13 throughout France and promises to be spectacular. Discover the many activities on the program for the 33rd edition.
[Mis à jour le 11 août 2023 à 16h12] Stars, constellations, galaxies… the Night of the Stars has been making French eyes sparkle since 1991. Organized by the French Astronomy Association (AFA), this event promotes the observation of celestial phenomena. This year, it is from August 11 to 13 that the conditions are the most favorable with in particular the peak of the Perseids, one of the most grandiose meteor showers of the year. More than 500 events are offered in France. While it is recommended to move away from the agglomerations because of their light pollution, some try to do what is necessary to be able to admire the universe. Discover below the multiple events planned across different regions of France.
The 2023 edition of the Night of the Stars takes place on August 11, 12 and 13, 2023. The program is busy. In Paris, Lille, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Lyon, events are organized in all the cities of France. More than 250 structures will offer events across France for a total of 500 activities. A large number of them are free and open to all audience profiles, from beginners to astronomy enthusiasts. The opportunity to discover the wonders of the night sky: planets, stars, constellations or even shooting stars!
This year, the theme of the Night of Stars will be “Stardust”, a subject in line with the time of year since the event will fall at the same time as the peak of the Perseids. It will therefore be possible to admire many shooting stars streaking the night sky.
Astronomy clubs, planetariums or even observatories, various structures throughout the territory will open their doors to the public to offer them the possibility of using astronomical equipment to admire the celestial vault. It’s now or never to discover the planets through a telescope or to learn to recognize the constellations. To find the complete program of events organized near you on the occasion of the Night of the Stars, go to the website of theFrench Association of Astronomy (the AFA) which lists the events.
On the occasion of the Night of the Stars 2023, a certain number of events are organized in Paris and its surroundings such as at Le Bourget or at the Cité des Sciences (find the map):
- On August 11 between 9 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., a free observation evening is organized in the Montsouris Park. Astronomical telescopes and telescopes will be installed and made available to the public. You can contemplate the Moon and observe its craters but also admire certain planets such as Saturn and its rings or Jupiter and its multiple moons.
- On August 11 from 9 p.m. to midnight, the City of Science and Industry invites you to the semi-circle meadow for an evening of discovery of the sky. Independently or accompanied by a guide, you can learn to locate the constellations, build a map of the sky and admire shooting stars. The event is accessible for all audiences from 6 years old.
- On August 12 from 6 p.m., Le Bourget offers a whole program of free entertainment within its structure. From 10:30 p.m., when the night is dark, an evening of observation is offered on the airport tarmac. Astronomical instruments and telescopes will be available and will allow you to observe the sky to discover the planets and in particular the giants Jupiter and Saturn. Mediators will also be on hand to help you discover the celestial vault, its stars and its constellations with the naked eye. Other activities will be offered such as a piano-voice recital given at 10 p.m. as well as a “sky map” workshop or exhibitions accessible continuously throughout the evening. Other surprises await you, do not hesitate to consult the program !
The events do not take place in Lyon itself but on the outskirts: meet at Vaulx-en-Velin, 10 km from Lyon, from August 12 at 5 p.m. to August 13 at 1 a.m. THE Astronomy Club of Lyon Ampère (CALA) offers workshops, activities and observations of the sun from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., then from 8 p.m. to midnight, observations of the sky with glasses and telescopes. A workshop “Getting your bearings in the summer sky” is also offered free of charge.
Otherwise, on August 11, in Saint-Genis-Laval located 14 km from Lyon, the Astronomical Society of Lyon offers an evening at the Fort de côte Lorette from 9 p.m. In case of bad weather postponed to Saturday August 12th same place, same time.
- 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 11 at 6 p.m. to August 13 at 6 p.m., the planetarium of the Departmental Science Forum opens its doors free of charge with three planetarium sessions on the program from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 11 and 12 and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on August 13.
- 40 km south of Lille, the astronomy club of the MJC of Douai offers from 7 p.m. to midnight on August 11 then from 3 p.m. to midnight on August 12 exhibitions, conferences, planetarium sessions, observations and workshops.
From August 11 to August 13 from 9:30 p.m. to midnight, at theKerzouar Observatorylocated in Saint-Renan 13 km from Brest, the public is invited to attend an observation of the sky.
- In Gradignan, located 11 km south of Bordeaux, a discovery of the summer sky with its celestial objects and astronomical phenomena, as well as the identification of constellations are offered by the House of Nature from August 11 at 9:30 p.m. to August 12 at midnight.
- In Martignas sur Jalle, 19 km west of Bordeaux, theAssociation Jaille Astronomy offers on August 12 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. creative workshops for children (all ages) and the observation of the sun, then from 9 p.m. to midnight, the observation of nocturnal stars (planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies, clusters, .. .).
- The Bourgailh ecosite in Pessac, 7 km south-west of Bordeaux, in collaboration with the Jaille Astronomie association, is offering on August 13 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. creative workshops for children (all ages) and observation of the sun, then at 10 p.m. a conference “The Moon” by Pascal Duphil, then from 9:30 p.m. to midnight a night observation (planets, nebulae, galaxy, star clusters, …).
- There Space City offers an evening under the sign of the Perseids on August 11 from 8 p.m. to midnight, on registration. On the program: Planetarium and Stellarium sessions, observations of the Sun and the sky thanks to the telescopes installed in the gardens, activities with Planète Sciences Occitanie: tales and legends, workshop, star show, make-up, wandering show…
- There People’s Astronomical Society offers on August 11 from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. guided tours of the domes and their instruments and observations of the sky.
- At the Château de Soule in Ramonville St-Agne, 10 km south of Toulouse, from 9 p.m. to midnight on August 12, the volunteers of Planète Sciences Occitanie invite you to observe the celestial beauties through telescopes, to listen to tales and legends…
- At the Baou Redon municipal stadium in Roquefort-La Bédoule, 25 km from Marseille, shared readings are offered under the stars on August 12 from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- In Ensuès-la-Redonne, 22 km from Marseille, theVelaux astroclub offers from August 11 at 6 p.m. to August 12 at midnight an astrogeek animation at 6 p.m., a conference from 8:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and telescope observations or free visits from 10 p.m. to midnight at the Adrien Ricaud stadium.
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 take place over three days, the August 11, 12 and 13, 2023. 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 Saturday August 12 to Sunday August 13, 2023.