STAR NIGHTS. For its 32nd edition, the Nuit des étoiles invites you to discover astronomy in the four corners of France. We give you all the information to take advantage of this great event near you.

[Updated July 26, 2023 at 7:32 p.m.] This year again, the Night of the Stars promises a great show for astronomy enthusiasts, enthusiasts or beginners. This 2023 edition of the event falls at the same time as the peak of the Perseids, the most spectacular meteor shower of the year. Far from being reserved for insiders, the Night of the Stars offers you a moment out of time, to discover the sky, equipped with a telescope or with the naked eye, accompanied by a guide or even independently. Only one condition to participate: curiosity! We take stock of the various events offered in the four corners of France.

On August 11, 12 and 13, 2023, the Night of the Stars 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 events. 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 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 across 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 the French Astronomy Association (AFA) which lists the events.

On the occasion of the Night of the Stars 2023, a number of events are organized in Paris and its surroundings such as Le Bourget or the Cité des Sciences (find the map):

From August 11 to August 13 from 9:30 p.m. to midnight, at the Kerzouar Observatory, located in Saint-Renan, 13 km from Brest, the public is invited to attend an observation of the sky.

A moment to live during the school holidays! 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 became plural: “The Nights of the Stars”, because the event was 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 meteor shower of 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, on August 11, 12 and 13, 2023. Since 1991, the Night of the Stars has been organized in France, and in several European countries by associations, in particular the Association Française d’Astronomie . It was 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. This 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! Upon coming into contact with the Earth’s atmosphere, these small rocks provide 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.