Overview
- More than 500 free stargazing sessions are taking place across France from August 1 to 3 under the banner of the Association française d’astronomie and local clubs.
- Organizers selected these dates to avoid moonlight interference and showcase the Perseids meteor shower, which can yield up to 100 meteors per hour.
- Beginners are advised to use simple equipment or even a reclining chair for naked-eye viewing before investing in telescopes or binoculars.
- Despite a 19% national drop in high light pollution exposure since 2014, urban glow and reflections from satellite networks still hinder clear sky observations.
- The ‘village étoilé’ label now spans 722 communes that have implemented measures like shielded or dimmed street lighting to protect night skies.