the essential
Crowned with success in 2023, the “Lake of Stars” event will be back this summer: two specialists will take turns, after dark, to help the public observe the sky. As a preview, an evening open to all will take place this Friday, May 10 from 10 p.m. to midnight.
Eternal Source of fascination, open door to infinity (and beyond), the stars have never ceased to make humanity dream. In Carcassonne, the success experienced in 2023 by “The Lake of Stars” confirmed the enthusiasm of young and old alike for space and the stars that inhabit it. The principle: take advantage of the clarity of the summer sky and the privileged setting of Lake Cavayère to observe stars and planets, under the guidance of specialists. Unsurprisingly, the event will have a second edition this summer… and will even offer a very exciting preview this Friday, May 10, from 10 p.m. to midnight.
Two associations are involved in this popularization of astronomy. On the one hand “Explorarium”, represented by Guillaume Begon, an association certified at the department level as an astronomy school. On the other hand, “Instant science”, of which Carcassonnais Guy Anduze is the emblematic representative. On the occasion of the “Lake of Stars”, both offer meetings with a distinct format. “For my part, I am developing a family angleexplains Guillaume Begon. I help adults and children, from 8 years old, to discover astronomy, constellations… I let the public figure it out, and I provide support if necessary. At the beginning or end of the session, we use equipment to further observe certain deep sky objects, such as galaxies and nebulae.”.
The ISS with the naked eye
In short: a real “workshop” under the stars. Guy Anduze is more into conferences. Be careful, however: the term is misleading. Firstly because participants are invited to bring cushions, blankets, and to lie down to listen, with their eyes turned towards the heavens. Rarely do we encourage ourselves, in such circumstances, to be in the mood (literally). Then, the speaker’s presentation in no way resembles a lecture. “The public is equipped with lasers to trace lines in the sky, and point out objects that they would never have imagined discovering!” History of strengthening “the wow effect”and allow the neophyte to better visualize disproportionate scales, Guy Anduze never travels without his homemade models made from soccer balls, pins or umbrellas: another vision of the solar system.
It is Guy Anduze, precisely, who will host the session this Friday, July 10. “We will observe the spring sky, in particular the constellation Virgo which is teeming with galaxies”. Another object will also appear before the eyes of visitors, without the slightest support device: the International Space Station, in orbit at an altitude of 400 km. “This is the brightest object in the sky! We will be able to see a first feature at 10 p.m., then a second at 11:30 p.m. The station will then have already completed a complete tour of the Earth!” Other observations are on the program, offering you the opportunity to leave with stars in your eyes… literally.
