Even if it's a little colder than August, there's plenty of entertainment on offer for observing the spring sky during the Nuits de l'équinoxe, formerly Winter Star Nights, from March 21 to 23, 2025.
Everyone knows about the Nuits des Étoiles in summer, held at the beginning of August. But there was also a winter event, to observe the season's sky, replaced this year by the Nuits de l'équinoxe, which takes place in spring! From March 21 to 23, 2025, theAssociation Française d'Astronomie (French Astronomy Association) invites you to contemplate the stars and constellations during a series of exceptional and convivial events, giving you the chance to observe so many little wonders!
This time, the winter chill may have left us for spring-like temperatures, but don't forget to pack your gear so you don't end up freezing to death. Dress in layers, don't forget gloves, hats, scarves and warm socks, and don't forget a flashlight! On the menu: telescope and naked-eye sky observation evenings, stories and legends about the constellations and other surprises for the whole family.
Find out more about the program in Paris and Île-de-France, on the AFA website!
A piece of the program
- Les Essarts Le Roi (78) - March 22: Planet and star observation with members of the Albireo78 astronomy club. Meeting point from 8pm at the entrance to Les Essarts Le Roi.
- Gretz-Armainvilliers (77) - March 21 & 22: conference and observation, weather permitting.
- Neuville-sur-Oise (95) - March 21: An evening of observation at the Neuville University Library, with teams from the Association Française d'Astronomie.
- Suresnes (92) - March 21: A public evening of sky observation with teams from the Association Française d'Astronomie, from the magnificent Fécheray terrace.
- Chaville (92) - March 22: Observation of the equinox sky with telescopes belonging to the club and club members.
- Cité des sciences et de l'industrie (75) - March 21: Come and discover the spring sky, with the naked eye and instruments, on the night of the spring equinox, and observe its nocturnal beauties with the scientific mediators of the Cité des Sciences. This evening will enable you to familiarize yourself with the celestial objects present, such as Mars, Jupiter or the constellations of the March sky. The event will take place on the lawn of the northern circle meadow, behind the Géode.
- Louveciennes (78) - March 22: An evening devoted to observing with a variety of instruments and taking photographs using smartphones. Presentation of the spring sky with solar system objects, followed by stars, nebulae and galaxies. Outing to the park and observation of the planets Jupiter and Mars, magnificent constellations such as Orion and Taurus, visible nebulae and galaxies including M42.
- Sannois (95) - March 22: A chance to celebrate the arrival of spring and take an overnight tour of the universe. Open from 7.30 pm to 11.00 pm, the planets Jupiter, Mars and Uranus and a few faint objects will be visible: the M42 nebula in the Orion constellation, the open clusters of the Cocher M36 and M37, etc.
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