Three tips for observing shooting stars this weekend

These celestial phenomena will be visible to the naked eye from areas free from light pollution on Saturday and Sunday. Three planets will also be observable for amateurs with a telescope.

Stars in their eyes. Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August, at nightfall, the Amateur astronomers will be in the best possible conditions to admire dozens of shooting stars, which the comet Swift-Tuttle leaves in its wake every summer when it approaches the Sun and fragments. A phenomenon called Perseids, because the meteor shower that escapes from the comet is located in the constellation of Perseus.

Some 575 events are being organized across France over the weekend to celebrate this 34th edition of the Nuits des étoiles. On this occasion, franceinfo gives you three tips to make the most of this celestial spectacle.

1 Go to a place without light pollution

With a small moon, a very thin crescent, less bright than a full moon, “we have everything we need” to observe the stars, rejoiced Olivier Las Vergnas, president of the French Astronomy Association (AFA), during a press conference on Thursday. But for the night to be as dark as possible, theShooting star enthusiasts will, however, have to find a place as far away from light pollution as possible, which can be difficult in urban areas, where street lighting and illuminated signs abound. In Paris, for want of anything better, the meeting place is at Parc Montsouris, for example.

In France, “85% of the metropolitan area is exposed to a high level of light pollution”recalls the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB). In the South-East, which is particularly affected by light pollution, France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur advises going to one of the region’s observatories or using binoculars from a remote area. The bravest can head to an isolated location in the countryside or, better, head to one of the five international dark sky reserves: the Pic du Midi and the Cévennes, Millevaches, Mercantour and Vercors parks.

2 Join one of the organized events

With nearly 575 events planned across France this weekend, chances are you won’t be too far from one of the gathering places, listed on a map by the French Astronomy Association. The organizers are providing binoculars and telescopes, so that even the most novice amateur astronomers can try their hand at stargazing.

A night under the stars in a reserve, observation through a telescope in an observatory or even a festive evening… There is something for everyone. You can find out about events taking place near you on the websites of France 3 in Occitanie, Normandy, Centre-Val de Loire or even Bourgogne Franche-Comté.

3 Finding a telescope to best observe Saturn, Mars and Jupiter

In addition to shooting stars, astronomy enthusiasts will be able to observe the planets Saturn, Mars and Jupiter. Saturn will appear in the sky around 10:30 p.m. To see Mars and Jupiter, however, you will have to wait until 3 a.m. At the telescope, “the rings of saturn” will even be observable, enthuses Clément Plantureux, co-organizer of the Nights of the Stars.