Winter Star Nights 2022: where to go to admire the sky?

No need to wait for summer to practice astronomy for free in the company of sky experts. The Nights of the Stars, traditionally organized in August each year in France, also exist in a winter version. For the third edition of the Nights of the Winter Stars, the French Astronomical Association (AFA) invites you to several starry nights, from Thursday February 9 to Sunday February 12, 2023.

You can of course contemplate the sky for yourself anytime. The Nights of the Stars are however a good opportunity to do so with clubs and associations that will guide your observations. For this winter 2022 edition, 160 events are listed on the AFA website. Go to this page to find the one organized closest to you. A map allows you to quickly identify the events planned in France.

What will you see during these Winter Star Nights?

In addition to the events organized all over France, the AFA has some online initiatives. To guide your observations, you can use the association’s website. The association offers a program to follow for your vigil, with timetables and phenomena to look for in the sky. You can even try to take up a challenge: spot the beautiful comet ZTF, visible to the naked eye in France.

Admittedly, winter is less attractive than summer for going out to look at the celestial vault, with its less pleasant temperatures. But, the Sun sets much earlier in winter than in summer, which can motivate you more. From February 9 to 12, it sets around 6 p.m.: observation of the sky can therefore begin at 5:30 p.m. to take advantage of the green ray. Warning: you should never stare at the Sun, otherwise you will burn your eyes.

Among the other astronomical spectacles of these starry nights, you should contemplate the planet Mars, which is “ the star of this winter “, according to the AFA. Jupiter and Venus are also present at the beginning of the night. These vigils are also an opportunity to locate the constellations, such as Orion and its tumultuous star Betelgeuse.