The night of the stars
Like every summer, the "night of the stars" festival is fast approaching. To find out more about this event, you're in the right place:
Our stargazing advice
Below you will find our advice as well as a list of the essential items you need to put in your backpack before going to spot shooting stars!
1/ The essentials
Every year, in the heart of summer, three evenings are devoted to stargazing. For the occasion, many events are organised throughout France. So that you don't miss any of the spectacle and gaze at the stars under the best possible conditions, here is a list of the essential items you need to remember:
- binoculars or a telescope
- an app to learn the constellations
- a printed star map
- a camera to take beautiful pictures
- a small lamp with red lighting that won't dazzle you
- a head torch to get your bearings in the night
- a blanket to lie down comfortably on the ground
- a soft pillow to avoid straining your neck
Remember to dress properly, summer nights can be cold:
- a sweater or a fleece
- a small padded jacket if you are in the mountains
- a hat
- some gloves
- some comfortable chunky socks
2/ Our advice for a great stargazing outing
1/ GET AWAY FROM ANY LIGHT POLLUTION
Go in search of a clear sky, that is as far as possible from the city lights.
In order to fully enjoy your night under the stars, make sure there are no clouds. This will need some preparation: take a good look at the weather forecast before you go!
The further away you are from the city, the more you will be able to see the stars. Indeed, cities are very bright and make it hard to observe the skies. We recommend getting at least 15 to 20 km away from the city centre, where your eyes will be able to see up to 2000 or 3000 stars simultaneously, once they are accustomed to the dark!
2/ FIND THE IDEAL LOCATION
Did you know? France has 2 of the 13 major dark sky reserves in the world: the Pic du Midi and the Cévennes nature reserve.
If you don't live next to these two reserves, you can turn to mobile apps like Dark sky or Sky Live - Clair Ciel Nocturne to help you find the perfect place to gaze at the stars!
3/ GET THE RIGHT TOOLS
With the help of mobile apps or maps of the constellations, you will be able to know which stars or which planets you are looking at! For example, you will be able to identify the three planets of the solar system that are always visible: Mars, Saturn and Jupiter! You too can enjoy a great stargazing outing!
3/ Why not sleep under the stars?
To enjoy the starry sky all night long, you could sleep under the stars!
Should you choose this option, you will have to add a few items to your backpack.
Below, check out our tips for a perfect night out in the open:
All about hiking and camping
It's true that when we start hiking, we can sometimes have some apprehensions. What are your thoughts about hiking? How do you set up a campsite? What do you need to bring? What do you eat? How to hike safely What about the children, how do you keep them occupied?
This is why we created this guide on hiking and camping. Here, you will find the essentials you need to explore the paths freely, while taking care of nature.
