culture-and-leisure
The 33rd “Night of the Stars” is scheduled for this week in Martigues, Aix-en-Provence, Istres, Ensues la Redonne and Roquefort-la-Bédoule: a very nice evening of astronomical observation in perspective for the whole family!
By Aurélien VOIRIN August 11, 2023 at 3:51 p.m.
Each year in August, the orbit of our planet passes through a cloud of debris that Comet Swift-Tuttle cyclically deposits in its path, when the latter crosses our solar system every 135 years. Debris which then turns into luminous streaks, as it burns away by penetrating at more than 200,000 km/h into our atmosphere. However, given that for a terrestrial observer these luminous streaks all seem to come from the constellation of Perseus, Humanity has nicknamed them “The Perseids” for two millenniasuggesting (wrongly) in passing that these meteors would be “shooting stars”…
These “shooting stars” cross the Earth’s atmosphere at 60kms/sec!
In all cases, this shower of shooting stars is always a celestial spectacle as grandiose as it is poetic, to the point of giving rise to the traditional “Night of the Stars” every summer! This is why many astronomy clubs organize astronomical conference and observation nights throughout France. So for example, the M13 Astronomy Club of Martigues will be present on Friday August 11 at 9:30 p.m. on the blue coast, at the foot of the Couronne lighthouse (a pleasant maritime site conducive to observations, thanks to its relatively low light pollution).
For the occasion, about fifteen instruments will be installed by amateur or professional astronomers in order to make the public discover all the wonders of the cosmos. Two great conferences will also be organised: Alexandre Santerne (professional astronomer at the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille) will present the research in progress of a hypothetical “Planet B”, while Muriel and René (amateur astronomers and members of M13) will go back in time by evoking “Meteorite falls on Earth throughout history“.
In addition, a fast food stand will be present and several activities will be offered to children and their families, as well as laser-guided sky tours.
Very nice night of astronomical observation to all!
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