Nights of the Stars 2024: “we should be able to observe beautiful shooting stars with the naked eye in the sky of Hérault”

Rain of shooting stars announced from this Friday, August 9. MAXPPP

Montpellier astrophysicist Éric Josselin explains what will happen in the sky in the coming days, and how to enjoy the show.

Éric Josselin is an astrophysicist, member of the Universe and Particles laboratory at the University of Montpellier.

The Nights of the Stars are scheduled for these August 9, 10 and 11. What exactly are we talking about ?

This is an event that encourages the general public to look up at the sky and take an interest in what is happening there. Historically, it was chosen to take place at the same time as the Perseids, a period conducive to observing the celestial vault. In the coming days, we should be able to observe beautiful shooting stars in the Hérault sky with the naked eye.

How do we explain this phenomenon ?

The Perseids are a meteor shower that appears to come from the constellation Perseus, hence its name. These meteor showers have nothing to do with real stars. They are grains of dust of varying sizes that, as they plunge into the atmosphere at high speed, begin to burn. It is this incandescence that is visible to the naked eye.

Will it be visible from Montpellier and its surroundings ?

From Montpellier it is difficult, since one of the conditions for a good observation is to move away from any light pollution. It is also necessary to count on a cloudless sky. If the phenomenon is visible everywhere in France, our region starts, on this last point, with a small advantage. According to the latest estimates, the peak of activity and therefore visibility of shooting stars should be between August 12 and 13.

Which sectors do you recommend to avoid light pollution ?

The closest to Montpellier is probably the area around the Pic Saint-Loup. There are quite a few open areas in the middle of nature that are ideal for an evening of stargazing. We can also mention, in the Hérault valley, the Aniane observatory or the Argelliers area. If you go a little further, you can head towards the Grands Causses or, even better, the Cévennes National Park. Since August 2018, it has been awarded the International Dark Sky Reserve label.

How to succeed in your observation ?

Light is obviously the worst enemy of anyone who wants to observe the stars. Once you have selected your isolated spot, Éric Josselin advises lying comfortably on your back and starting by looking for the constellation Perseus. This is where the shooting stars should appear. “At the start of the night, it should be in the north-east”, the astrophysicist explains. To locate it, the easiest way is to get a sky map. "It is an accessory that is quite easily found in stores and can even be printed on the internet." An updated version is available on the website of the Hérault-based photographer Guillaume Cannat: leguideduciel.net.

Beyond shooting stars, what wonders does the sky have in store for us right now ?

To finish with shooting stars, it is important to remember that observations can be made without any equipment. On the contrary, the speed of the phenomenon means that using a telescope is of no interest. Now, if you have this instrument available, even a consumer model, the summer sky offers us a beautiful spectacle.

As for the planets, Saturn is visible at the beginning of the night but very low, almost below the horizon. Jupiter and Mars will be more accessible, but you will have to stay up until around 4am. I recommend focusing instead on the Andromeda galaxy, clearly visible from the northern hemisphere, and on the two planetary nebulae in the constellation Lyra and the Little Fox.

And if you're really lucky, you might see a nova. This very rare event only happens every 70 years. In the coming days, a star that is currently invisible to the naked eye could partially explode and become extremely bright, as bright as the North Star.

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