This is the easiest astronomical observation to make but also the most spectacular! Discovering the Moon for the first time in a telescope is a moment that is very often engraved in the memory of anyone who has tried it. Offering this chance to everyone is the objective of the participatory event On the Moon again imagined by French scientists in 2019 to celebrate the fifty years of the first step of man on the precious satellite of the Earth.

The principle of this kind of Moon Festival, the fourth edition of which is scheduled for June 23, 24 and 25 (that of 2020 having been canceled due to the Covid epidemic), is to invite all those who have a telescope or an astronomical telescope, whatever their level of practice and the power of their instrument, to make it available to the public by creating their own event in a place passing near their home: whether on a waterfront sea, a village square or a busy city center street.

It couldn’t be simpler: just fill out an online form on the On the Moon Again initiative’s website to have your public observation session listed wherever it takes place in the world. Thanks to this, it will appear on the interactive map accessible online to all those who do not have a telescope and who are looking for an observation proposal. This is how last year, in July, no less than 425 events were organized in 49 countries.

“Depending on whether you are, like me, in a square in a small village or, like others, installed along a Parisian avenue, the atmosphere will be different: between neighbors’ party, music festival and invitation to the encounter with curious passers-by who are often unaware of the event”, says the astronomer. As for city dwellers who imagine that they cannot enjoy the night sky because of light pollution, they will no doubt be surprised. “That’s one of the lessons of On the Moon Again: wherever you are, you can see the sky through a telescope. Including under a lamppost in Paris. Of course, you won’t see as many stars, but you can easily see the Moon and the planets of the solar system! »

Newsletter sciences et tech

Great interviews, major discoveries, innovations and behind the scenes… Every Saturday, dive into the latest science and technology news.

The editorial staff of Le Point advises you