18ème édition du Festival d'Astronomie

Theme for 2026: ‘ECLIPSE(S)’. On 12 August 2026, for the first time since 1999, a total solar eclipse will be visible from Europe, over Spanish territory. This exceptional spectacle, during which night falls in broad daylight for a few minutes – a phenomenon that has captivated people’s imaginations since the dawn of humanity – is also a remarkable field of scientific research. A solar eclipse enables us to observe phenomena in our star’s atmosphere that have long remained invisible, thereby helping us to better understand how the Sun works. This fascinating theme of eclipses will not only allow us to (re)discover the beauty and scientific significance of solar eclipses, but will also provide an opportunity to explore the search for other planetary worlds orbiting other stars. For this eighteenth edition, we have an exceptional guest of honour: Pierre Léna of the Academy of Sciences, who spearheaded the incredible mission aboard Concorde 001 to study the total solar eclipse of 1973. DETAILS OF THE 2026 PROGRAMME ************************* Saturday 22 August - 3.00 pm (Chapelle-aux-Lys meridian time): Festival opening Stories of eclipses: A mini-lecture by Olivier Sauzereau to introduce the festival’s theme. - 3.20 pm: Screening of *Éclipse 73* – a film by G. Dassonville The solar eclipse of 30 June 1973, which was observed in Africa, south of the Sahara, was dubbed the ‘eclipse of the century’ due to its exceptionally long duration. This film shows the scale of the resources mobilised at the time by the international scientific community. The use of the supersonic Concorde 001, specially adapted by Aérospatiale for this flight, made it possible to observe an eclipse lasting 74 minutes for the first time. - 4.00 pm: Carte blanche on the eclipse of 12 August 2026 Ten days after the total eclipse on 12 August, the Astrolys festival is giving its partner astronomy clubs carte blanche to present their take on the eclipse. - 5.00 pm: Play: The Odyssey of the Mogette Some might say that the history of the mogette bean is lost in the mists of time… In this short theatrical interlude, we shall learn that it is also lost in the vastness of space, for it comes to us from beyond the horizons. But… from where? And how? At last, these mysteries are revealed by the Compagnie théâtrale des Télémaques, directed by Anne Testard – alias Cunégonde Massepain, PhD in musical astrophysicology and dandy at the University of Salvaison. - 6.00 pm: Festival opening - 9.00 pm: Eclipsed Suns. From Concorde 001 to exoplanets (adults: €4 / under 12s: free) Registration required at www.astrolys.fr. A lecture by Pierre Léna, astrophysicist, member of the Academy of Sciences, and professor emeritus (Paris Observatory & Paris-Cité University). In 1973, over Africa and on the initiative of Pierre Léna, the prototype of the Concorde 001 supersonic aircraft, piloted by André Turcat and flying at Mach 2 in the Moon’s shadow, offered the nine scientists on board the longest totality of a solar eclipse: 74 minutes. Fifty years on, the solar corona – more easily observed from space and responsible for new developments in meteorology – continues to pose questions, whilst the three exceptional total eclipses to come (2026, 2027, 2028) offer us nature’s most magnificent spectacle. The methods used to study this corona are now being applied to the search for Earth-like exoplanets. - At nightfall: Astronomical observation & ‘Stellar Music’ concert under the stars with Romuald Tual, electronic musician and creator of the musical compositions for the La Chapelle-aux-Lys planetarium. ************************* Sunday 23 August - 9.00 am: Science breakfast at Café Major Tom A ‘scientific breakfast’ with our speakers Pierre Léna, Jean-Marc Larivière and Olivier Sauzereau, to discuss, amongst other things, Europe’s current leading role in scientific discovery and to debate the sciences of the Universe. Major Tom will be offering a ‘breakfast’ set menu for €5 (pastry, hot drink and fruit juice). - 11.00 am: Latest news from the cosmos A talk by Olivier Sauzereau. During which he will report on his observations of the total solar eclipse in Spain, as well as on the ‘Stars for Europe’ adventure he is currently undertaking throughout 2026. - 2.00 pm: Screening of the film *Journey to the Black Sun*, directed by Paul Cornet and Olivier Sauzereau (56 minutes) In the style of Phileas Fogg, Olivier Sauzereau – photographer, historian and astronomer – takes us on a train journey from Nantes, Jules Verne’s birthplace, to Novosibirsk in Siberia to witness first-hand the total solar eclipse of 1 August 2008, which he will photograph on the shores of the Ob Sea. A 7,000-kilometre train journey for a handful of seconds of night in broad daylight. - 3.00 pm: Play, *The Odyssey of the Mogette* Some might say that the history of the mogette is lost in the mists of time… In this short theatrical interlude, we’ll learn that it is also lost in the vastness of space, for it comes to us from beyond the horizons. But… from where? And how? At last, these mysteries are revealed by the Compagnie théâtrale des Télémaques. - 4.30 pm: Screening of the film *Les Chasseurs d’ombre* (adults: €4 / under 12s: free) A film by Jean-Marc Larivière, produced by the National Film Board of Canada. (58 minutes) A solar eclipse captivates human beings. For some, the allure of eclipses borders on an obsessive passion… What on earth drives these shadow hunters? The camera follows four of them as they come to witness the last total eclipse visible in France, on 11 August 1999, whose path of totality stretches across Europe to the East. Screening and discussion with Quebec director Jean-Marc Larivière. - 6.00 pm: Festival closing ceremony and raffle prize-giving ************************* Throughout the festival Free admission (except for the planetarium, €2 entry). ‘A History of Space in Bricks’, a LEGO exhibition by Gervaise Philibert. The Méridienne association presents an exhibition and activities centred on navigation tools in the Largenteau Room. Virtual reality, Pop-up Library, LEGO workshop for young and old alike. Presentation of Patrice Guérin’s meteorite collection, Florilège bookshop stand, Julie Tual’s celestial embroidery stand, Le Chemin aux étoiles.