Fête de la Science at the Observatoire de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines 2024

For the 33rd edition of the Fête de la Science en Ile-de-France on the theme Ocean and Knowledge , the Observatoire de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines is offering exciting workshops and experiments for all ages, from October 9 to 13, 2024.

The Fête de la Science is the perfect opportunity to satisfy your curiosity with professionals and scientists, in Paris and throughout the Ile-de-France region. In the Yvelines region, theObservatoire de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines is giving children the chance to discover space, climate change and the world around them, thanks to a host of fun workshops. It's also an opportunity to meet real enthusiasts, who will be delighted to share their knowledge with you, from October 9 to 13, 2024.

This observatory, founded in 2009, replaced the Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace as the Observatoire des sciences de l'univers. A higher education and research establishment located in the town of Guyancourt, it is part of theUniversité Paris-Saclay, and specializes in astronomy and space sciences.

It houses research laboratories where scientists and students work on a variety of issues related to astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology. They carry out research on subjects as varied as star formation, galaxies, black holes, exoplanets and many other topics related to the universe.

Fête de la Science 2024 in Paris and Ile-de-France, free events to discover
The Fête des Sciences returns from October 4 to 14, 2024 for its 33rd edition! What's it all about? A week dedicated to scientific culture, with numerous free events all over France. Experiments, shows, open houses, visits and a host of workshops, open to all and adapted to children, await you in the four corners of Paris and the Île-de-France region! [Read more]

The Fête de la Science program at the Observatoire de Versailles

Science in the movies
October 09 - 10
Space and astronomy are present in many films. However, not everything in these films is scientifically accurate, and the scriptwriters take a lot of liberties. In this animation, we'll take a look at a number of science-fiction films to see what's real and what's not.

We'll also take a look at a number of myths that are regularly propagated in everyday life: can Mars be seen as big as the Moon in the sky? Are extraterrestrials among us? Is global warming real? Did we really walk on the Moon? Does hair grow faster after being cut during a full Moon?
Integration and Test Platform - PIT
October 09 - 13
The observatory's technical platform is dedicated to integration and testing activities. It provides a range of tools for the integration and testing of components, satellites and probes for the study and observation of space and the planets of the solar system.
Spectroscopy, the Swiss knife of planetary research
October 09 - 13
Light is a formidable messenger for those who know how to make it speak. All you have to do is make it interact with matter, and it will manifest itself and tell us its story. Otherwise, it remains invisible.

Spectroscopy has historically been the basis for studying the composition of planetary atmospheres. With a retrospective on the SPICAM and SPICAV instruments, designed and operated at LATMOS, and a short practical demonstration, students will be introduced to the wonders of this essential Swiss knife for space exploration missions.
Discover Titan's atmosphere
October 09 - 13
An instrument from the Atmospheres and Space Observations Laboratory that simulates the atmosphere of Titan, a satellite of Saturn. The device was created in anticipation of the arrival of the Cassini Huygens probe in Titan's environment, which is said to have an atmosphere quite similar to that of the Earth. Visitors will be able to see a low-pressure radio-frequency electric discharge plasma through the instrument's porthole, which produces a pink light. The general public will be able to find out more about the history of this instrument and how it works, thanks to the scientists on hand.
JUICE and the subsurface oceans of Galilean moons
october 09 - 11
The scientific objectives are to characterize the environments of Jupiter and its icy satellites hosting subsurface oceans. The activity will focus on discovering these ocean worlds through a fun activity based on a board game developed in the laboratory.
Finding your way around the oceans
October 13
The aim here is to explain how the earth has been divided into degrees, minutes and seconds, which give the geographical coordinates.
Participants will then create a compass rose or take part in a treasure hunt.
Planetarium - Journey to the oceans of the solar system
October 13
Before we travel into space, let's discover what's behind our terrestrial oceans: oceanic ridges and zones of hydrothermal activity. The latter prove that life is possible in liquid water, even under high pressure and without light.

Then it's off to Mars, where a phantom ocean is suspected to have existed. Observe the networks of liquid flows that are still visible, and the low-lying plains that must have been ocean floors 3 billion years ago.
The journey will continue to Jupiter and its major moons, to which ESA sent the Juice mission last April, specifically to characterize the presence of an ocean beneath the surface of the moons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
The discovery will conclude with Saturn and its moons Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys and Titan.