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.