2024-08-17 03:17:00
The planetarium at the museum of traditional arts and crafts in Salles-la-Source continues with three sessions per week.
Constellations, stars, galaxies, nebulae, or planets, under the dome of the Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts of Salles-la-Source, there is a multitude of things to discover. Adjacent to the museum is a small door that, when opened, leads to the only planetarium in Aveyron, a small bubble-shaped space where a mediator explains the night sky. Capable of accommodating about 18 people, the planetarium organizes several sessions throughout the week until the end of the summer, hour-long sessions that will make the sky hold, almost, no secrets from you. “I am not an astronomer, but I try to answer as many questions as I can; sometimes I don’t know, but I find out,” explains Valentin Soulié, cultural mediator of the Departmental Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts. Sessions for children over 6 years old take place on Mondays and Thursdays at 3 PM, and a session is organized for 3-5 year olds on Thursdays at 10:30 AM, featuring a short fun film about stars and planets.
Some tips for admiring the stars
If the Night of the Stars has passed, that doesn’t mean that there will be no more shooting stars until next year. In fact, it is possible to observe them all year round. Until the end of August, they are simply more visible, thanks to generally clearer skies. “Shooting stars are clouds of dust that enter the atmosphere, burn up and break apart; hence they shine and move very quickly. Indeed, in August, we see many more,” details the cultural mediator. To observe stars, in general, there are a few recommendations. According to Valentin Soulié, it is best to look at the sky in rural areas, far from the light of cities. “In comparison, in a lit village, on the same view, you will see about a hundred stars. In complete darkness, there are rather thousands,” he specifies.
Next, he recommends using the Stellarium app, which shows exactly, in real-time, with precise geography, what you see when looking at the sky. “It’s very practical, especially for discerning constellations, because Stellarium displays them, so you can then enjoy looking for them more easily in the sky,” suggests Valentin Soulié.
According to him, no special equipment is necessary; it is already very enjoyable to look at and play with the stars, and the naked eye is sufficient.