Aniane: at night, the spectacle of the Perseids is on display at the Astronarium

Un nouvel équipement pour observer le ciel, toute la nuit, à 360°. JM – JM

La bulle céleste 360°. DR – DR

La nuit des étoiles approche à grand pas, mais le spectacle des Perseïdes et déjà lancé. Il atteindra son paroxysme dans quelques jours.

Summer flies by at the speed of light. The high point of the Perseids has already arrived, a shower of meteors, remnants of the comet Swift Tuttle, which displays a nocturnal pyrotechnic festival between July 20 and August 25, the phenomenon reaching its peak “on the night of Sunday August 11 and Monday August 12”, calculates Alexandre Chanaud, head of the Aniane Astronarium. There, on the site installed on the heights of Aniane, sheltered from all light pollution, it is possible to bubble all night to savor this rain of “stars” aboard cozy cocoons, with transparent roofs, which seem to come straight out of a science fiction blockbuster. Star map and mini telescope in hand, the visitor can thus savor the spectacle face to face with the Milky Way. Like "a billion-star hotel", with a jacuzzi, memory foam mattress and all the essential comforts for a night of unusual observation.

A 360° experience

Among the new features of the Astronarium, developed by Alexandre Chanaud for 10 years on the site of the former Aniane observatory, the "celestial bubble" 360° overlooks the canopy several meters above the ground and, in addition to the celestial vault, allows you to discover the Hérault valley, below and the Massif de la Séranne, without forgetting, to the northwest, Mont Saint-Baudille. “On a clear day you can even see as far as Canigou”, Alex specifies to the attention of lovers of the emblematic Catalan mountain. Enough to spend a beautiful, very beautiful night, even a little closer to the stars…

Discovering the Perseids

The Perseid phenomenon will therefore reach its peak in a few days. But, every evening, at the Aniane Observatory, it is possible to discover the stars (including today's) thanks to the association “Arts et Astres” in charge of the astronomical and scientific activities of the observatory. As since the beginning of the summer, the backstage of the celestial spectacle is revealed by Patrick Lussiez, member of the association. Every evening, from 6:30 p.m., amateur astronomers offer an evening to observe the sun, the stars, the nebulae and therefore, at the moment the Perseids. The evening begins with the observation of the protuberances and sunspots with the appropriate filters. And continues, after the packed lunch between 8pm and 10pm, with a conference on a general public theme followed by a guided discovery of the night sky with telescopes. "The association is dedicated to popularizing astronomy among the general public and, to this day, the Aniane observatory remains one of the largest amateur astronomy observatories in Europe", recalls Alexandre Chanaud.

Prices: Full price: 15 euros (adults and children from 12 years old), reduced price: 12 euros (children from 3 to 11 years old inclusive). Free for children under 3 and members of the association. Reservation required on the association's website: https://www.observatoire-aniane.com/Soiree-publique I subscribe to read the rest