This year’s Night of the Stars promises to be exceptional – Le Figaro

COMPUTER GRAPHICS – From 7 to 9 August, the 25th edition of the Night of the Stars takes place in France. The opportunity to contemplate the Milky Way and to see many shooting stars. See our map to make the most of this event.

The sky like you’ve never seen! From Friday night until Sunday, August 9th the 25th edition of the Night of the Stars will be held throughout France and in several European countries and Africa. This year and for the COP21, to be held in France in December, the Night of Stars will have as theme “Climate, biodiversity and planetary atmospheres.”

“The goal of the stars Nights is to offer the public the opportunity to better understand the sky and the “signals” that we transmit. In addition, Nights allow us to better perceive the place of man in our universe and for us citizens better understand the importance of preserving our planet, “says Clement Plantureux astronomer and member of the French Association Astronomy (AFA), initiator of the stars Nights in France.

This year’s Night of the Stars promises to be exceptional since many favorable conditions are met. “Summer nights are really conducive to stargazing. The sky is generally clear enough and temperatures are milder. Beyond that, the Moon will not be present for this edition. This is good because it emits strong light. So she hides many stars, “says astronomer Le Figaro.

So, as every year, the public can see a meteor shower. During the Perseids – a swarm of rocky debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle passes through the earth each year – nearly a hundred shooting stars are visible every hour, according to a member of the AFA. In addition, “Saturn will be visible with good binoculars or a telescope pretty basic. We can discern the rings of the planet and admire its color, “he said.

Fleeing light

To make the most of this event, it is best to avoid visual pollution. “As usual, it will be wiser to leave the big cities. Mountain or coastal locations will be more favorable, “says the astronomer. Obviously, the weather will be another very important factor to make the most of the show. Find and forecasts of Météo Consult for this weekend.

The AFA has developed this year a map of the main events throughout France. The association counts more than 400. “Each site organizes its own Night of stars. There will be various speakers to welcome the public. Only one condition exists for all these events: the animations should be free. ”