Nuits des Étoiles: a celestial spectacle just a telescope away

CONTENTS
The program
What will happen in the skies over Les Orres?
8 tools for observing the sky
les Orres nuit ciel
©A.Simonard
Nuit des étoile observation téléscope famille Les Orres
©Tintin-photo

Friday August 1 to Sunday August 3, 2025

In collaboration with theAssociation marseillaise d'astronomie (AMAS), the commune of Les Orres is celebrating Les nuits des étoiles. To mark the occasion, allstreet lighting will be switched off. Accompanied by a specialist or comfortably seated on a terrace or balcony, these three evenings are an ideal opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the summer night sky.

Lectures and observations are linked to this year's theme , "The Oceans of the Sky".

Nuits des étoiles logo amas

The program

The lectures

by the Association Marseillaise d'Astronomie

Accessible to all, these lectures help us to unravel the secrets of the universe.

CONFERENCES FOLLOWED BY SKY OBSERVATION

In the company of volunteers from the Association Marseillaise d'Astronomie

Those with their own optical equipment (telescope, binoculars, astronomical glasses) are welcome to bring it along and share their observations under the guidance of the lecturer.

Please note: street lighting will be switched off for this event. Bring a flashlight for walking.

Lighting tip: preferably use a red light source. White light severely reduces visual acuity for several tens of minutes (if you need to move around, just use ground lighting, so as not to interfere with your observations).

For your own safety when observing the sun: OBSERVATION OF THE SUN should only be carried out with specially adapted instruments. Any direct observation with the naked eye or through non-dedicated instruments is likely to cause irreversible eye damage.

Locate conferences and observations

Find out easily where conferences and star or sun observations are taking place.

Les Orres 1650
Les nuits des etoiles aux Orres, plan & localisation, Alpes du sud
©Les Orres
Les Orres 1800
Les nuits des etoiles aux Orres 1800, plan & localisation, Alpes du sud
©Les Orres
Le Chef-lieu Les Orres
Les nuits des etoiles aux Orres, plan & localisation du Chef-lieu, Alpes du sud
©Les Orres

Tips to make sure you don't miss a thing

  • Keep away from all sources of light (public lighting will be turned off for the occasion)
  • Use red light for lighting: white light greatly reduces visual acuity for several tens of minutes
  • Sit comfortably in an open area, lying on the ground if possible
  • Face northwest, where the sun sets
  • Be ready around 10pm, as soon as night falls.
  • Locate the constellation Perseus: it lies below the W formed by the constellation Cassiopeia
Perséides nuit des étoiles 2022
www.stelvision.com

What's in store for the Orres night sky?

Admire the celestial spectacle

The Nuits des étoiles event kicks off with the shooting stars of the Perseids (a swarm of meteors). Between 80 and 100 meteors can usually be seen every hour. It's one of the most beautiful astronomical spectacles of the summer.

Weather permitting, the planets Jupiter, Mars and Saturn will also be visible.

So that we can all enjoy this connection with nature, the stars, the moon, the planets, nebulae and the galaxy, public lighting will be turned off. Remember to bring your flashlight if you're out and about!

Whether you're in the company of a specialist, or sitting quietly on a patch of grass, terrace or balcony, this is a unique opportunity to admire our Milky Way far from light pollution, and to listen to nature and the night.

Nuit ciel etoile terrasse

8 tools
for observing the night sky

What are the best free apps for observing the sky over Les Orres?

Numerous apps let you navigate the cosmos

  • STAR WALK 2: The app is dense but simple and easy to use. Completely free, it's the Swiss army knife of astronomy apps. Identify constellations, track the movement of stars, planets, nebulae and live daily astronomical events observable from Earth, such as meteor showers or transits.

) and Play Store (Android)

  • SKYSAFARI: as well as exploring the Milky Way in augmented reality planetarium mode, and illustrating the constellations with their mythological representations, SkySafari lets you travel back in time: you can find out what the sky looked like millennia ago and relive a meteor shower, but also take a leap into the future. The app also indicates the evening's highlights and the best place to position yourself.

Free on Play Store (Android)

  • SKY MAP : one of the most comprehensive apps available. Explore the universe using augmented reality to discover the surprises the sky has to offer. Carte du ciel calculates the position of stars in relation to your GPS position in real time. By clicking on the star of your choice, you'll get complete information on its diameter, distance from the earth or sun, azimuth... You can also rediscover the Apollo 11 astronomical mission. A downloadable version is also available.

) and Play Store (Android)

  • STELLARIUM: on PC and/or phone, complete, easy-to-use, the reference for amateur astronomers. A planetarium with infinite possibilities on your screen.

Download Stellarium

How do I prepare for my night out?
  • LIGHTPOLLUTION MAP: even when the sky is clear, excessive light pollution is a major obstacle to observing celestial structure, whether with the naked eye or through telescopes. Light Pollution Map uses a color-coded system to map the most polluted areas to the least polluted. Les Orres is one of the areas least affected by this type of pollution, and public lighting will be turned off during the Nuits des étoiles. But it's worth identifying the best places for stargazing.

  • SKYLIVE : to find out the conditions for observing the coming night. A percentage indicates the quality of the night. For 99 cents, you can obtain the humidity level, wind speed, star movement and climate evolution over the course of the night.

Available only on theApp Store (iPhone)

Where are the best spots for sky-watching in Les Orres?

Here are a few suggestions for comfortable, open spaces where you can put your head in the stars:

Parking: shortly after the hamlet of Haut Forest. Easy 10-minute walk to the meadows.

See itinerary

Parking: all along the allée des Chamois. Easy 3-minute walk to the meadows.

See itinerary

En images
Nuit des étoile observation téléscope famille Les Orres
©Tintin-photo