From April 19 to April 29, 2012, the City of Nice is hosting its 4th Astronomy Week. This week is organized by the Association Life Service in collaboration with the Cosmophile Association, the Observatory of the Côte d’Azur, the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, ABC School, the Nice Cinematheque, Nice’s Cyber Espaces, and associations such as Sciences en Folie, Sudastro, the Planetarium of Collège Valéri, Provence Science and Youth Technology, and with the participation of Research and Future.
PROGRAM OF EVENTS
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Maison des Associations Garibaldi – for the general public
Conference – 7 p.m. Vira Souleou Amphitheater
Thierry Scordino-Huguenot, The Cosmophile
“Women in Astronomy”
Inauguration and presentation of the “Astronomy Week” program accompanied by the anniversary of the Apollo 16 mission.
Level: Easy, for the general public
Friday, April 20, 2012
Maison des Associations Garibaldi – for the general public
Conference – 7 p.m. Vira Souleou Amphitheater
Françoise Le Guet Tully, Researcher at the National Council of Astronomers and Physicists (CNAP) at the Observatory of the Côte d’Azur
“Algiers, La Plata, Nice, three prestigious observatories emblematic of the 1880s.”
The context of the simultaneous creation of these three observatories in the 1880s will be described. Then the similarities between the ideal observatory built in Nice by Bischoffsheim and the observatories built respectively in Algiers by the French State and in La Plata by the government of the newly designated capital of the Buenos Aires province will be discussed. Finally, the formation and recruitment of staff in these three places will be addressed, and the presence – or absence – of women astronomers in the observatories of this era will be considered.
Level: Beginner
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Maison des Associations Cessole Saint-Sylvestre – for the general public
Conference – 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Cosmophile
“Apollo 16 … 40 years”
Level: Easy, for the general public
Monday, April 23, 2012
Maison des Associations Garibaldi – for the general public
The Sudastro animations-exhibitions, throughout the week, feature motorized models, interactive experiments, commented slideshows, original videos, and an exhibition on ancient astronomy.
Sudastro – 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Luerna room
“Why Astronomy?”
Basic notions about stars and the importance of astronomy.
Level: Easy, for the general public
Sudastro – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Luerna room
“The Solar System”
Its constitution, dimensions, and place.
Level: Intermediate, for the general public
Provence Sciences et Techniques Jeunesse – 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. / 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. / 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. / 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Avelanie room (for the youngest)
Planetarium sessions under a 6-meter diameter inflatable dome. Study of most constellations and their mythological stories.
Maximum 15 people per session.
Level: 4 to 7 years old
Short animations between planetarium sessions on the Soyuz spacecraft, the first two-person spacecraft, for the anniversary of the Soyuz 1’s launch.
Cyber Espace Diables Bleus – for the general public
Provence Sciences et Techniques Jeunesse – 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Workshop introduction to the use of Stellarium software
From 11 years old – maximum 9 people
Cinémathèque de Nice – for the general public
Film screening: “Agora” at 6 p.m.
Film by Alejandro Amenábar
Fourth century A.D. Egypt is under Roman rule. In Alexandria, the Christian revolt is brewing. Sheltered in the great Library, now threatened by the insurgents’ anger, the brilliant astronomer Hypatia strives to preserve the accumulated knowledge with the help of her disciples. Among them, two men vie for Hypatia’s love: Orestes and the young slave Davus, torn between his feelings and the prospect of being freed if he joins the increasingly powerful Christians…
Duration: 2h06
Original version with French subtitles
Access conditions:
Annual subscription required
Subscriber card: 1 €
Subscriber price per session: 2 €
Student and school rate: 1.50 €
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Cyber Espace Cœur de Ville – for the general public
Provence Sciences et Techniques Jeunesse – 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Workshop introduction to the use of Stellarium software
From 11 years old – maximum 9 people
Cyber Espace Diables Bleus – for the general public
Sudastro – 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Discover, understand, verify, predict the Sky using astronomy software and related animations: visibility, position, and movement of stars, constellations, the evening sky, the moment of your birth.
From 11 years old – maximum 9 people
Maison des Associations Garibaldi – for the general public
Provence Sciences et Techniques Jeunesse – 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (for the youngest).
Planetarium sessions under a 6-meter diameter inflatable dome. Study of most constellations and their mythological stories.
Maximum 15 people per session.
Level: 4 to 7 years old
Sudastro – 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Luerna room
“And yet it turns!”
The movements of the Earth and their consequences
Level: From 11 years old – intermediate
Sciences en Folie – 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Luerna room
Build your spectroscope and test it on different light sources.
Level: From 7 years old – registration at 09 51 68 90 80 (if absent, leave a message) or contact@lessciencesenfolie.fr.
Le Cosmophile – 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Roussala room
Animation with slideshow on Soyuz missions and especially on the tragic death of Vladimir Komarov on re-entry.
Level: Easy, for the general public
Conference – 7 p.m. Vira Souleou Amphitheater
Hélène Frisch, Emeritus Researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the Observatory of the Côte d’Azur.
“The Sun and the measurement of its distance, mass, radius, and temperature over the centuries.”
Level: Expert
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Maison des Associations Garibaldi – for the general public
Sudastro – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Luerna room
Scientific workshops with experimental activities: sky maps, software usage, construction of mini sundials, star colors, etc.
Level: Easy, for the general public
Le Cosmophile – 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Roussala room
Conference on the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 16 mission.
Continuous display throughout the week since the mission spanned from April 16 to 27, 40 years ago.
Level: Easy, for the general public
Conference – 7 p.m. Vira Souleou Amphitheater
Martine Adrian-Scotto, Associate Professor at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis
Institute of Chemistry of Nice
“Exobiology: on the trail of Life”
The origin of life on Earth and the existence of life elsewhere than on our planet are questions that have always puzzled the human mind. Today, they can be examined through a specific scientific field, a very multidisciplinary young science: exobiology. Generally speaking, exobiology focuses on the study of life in the universe. More precisely, it includes the study of the conditions and processes that allowed the emergence of life on our planet, and that could have or could allow it elsewhere, as well as the search for living systems or their traces elsewhere than on Earth (solar system, interstellar medium, exoplanets, etc.).
The conference will present an overview of these different aspects.
Level: Beginner, for the general public
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Cyber Espace Borriglione – for the general public
Provence Sciences et Techniques Jeunesse – 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Workshop introduction to the use of Stellarium software
From 11 years old – maximum 9 people
Maison des Associations Garibaldi – for the general public
Sudastro – 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Luerna room
Celestial phenomena: legends, myths, superstitions, beliefs, and modern theories. Constellations, planets, comets, eclipses, auroras, December 21, 2012, etc. according to the Ancients and modern-day astrophysicists…
Level: From 11 years old – intermediate
Provence Sciences et Techniques Jeunesse – 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. / 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Avelanie room
Planetarium sessions under a 6-meter diameter inflatable dome. Study of most constellations and their mythological stories.
Maximum 20 people per session.
Level: From 8 years old, for the general public
Conference – 7 p.m. Vira Souleou Amphitheater
Naomi Murdoch, Associate Astronomer at the Observatory of the Côte d’Azur
“The exploration of asteroids and the weightlessness experience”
The small bodies in our Solar System are the remaining building blocks of planetary formation. During this conference, we will visit several fascinating asteroids that have already been visited by space missions. Then, we will discuss the challenges scientists face in studying these small bodies. Finally, I will explain how it is possible to fly in weightlessness like astronauts without going into space, why it is important for understanding small bodies, and, from experience, what it feels like during a weightless flight. A general public conference full of captivating images and films.
Level: Easy, for the general public
Place Garibaldi – for the general public
9 p.m. to 11 p.m., weather permitting
Evening observations of Venus, the Moon, Mars, and Saturn.
(See map on back)
Friday, April 27, 2012
Maison des Associations Garibaldi – for the general public
Sudastro – 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Luerna room
“The Life of Stars”
How stars form, create new elements, and their different endings.
Level: Intermediate to difficult
Sudastro – 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Luerna room
“The Universe has a history”
A journey through space and time, when and how the elements that constitute matter and ourselves appeared
Level: From 15 years old – difficult
Provence Sciences et Techniques Jeunesse – 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. / 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Avelanie room
Planetarium sessions under a 6-meter diameter inflatable dome. Study of most constellations and their mythological stories.
Maximum 20 people per session.
Level: From 8 years old, for the general public
Conference – 7 p.m. Vira Souleou Amphitheater
Stéphanie Godier, Astrophysicist, Director of “Research and Future”
“Pulsars or the death of an XXL star”
A supergiant star at the end of its life produces a supernova explosion. The core that collapses is composed only of neutrons, the XXL star has become a pulsar or a neutron star. This pulsar is only 20 kilometers in diameter and is characterized by extraordinary density – a teaspoon of its matter weighs hundreds of millions of tons. This rapidly rotating star emits radio pulses with a remarkably constant period ranging from 1 millisecond to a few seconds… Stéphanie Godier will tell you the extraordinary story of these celestial objects and let you listen to the rhythm of their pulses…
Level: Intermediate, for the general public
Place Garibaldi – for the general public
9 p.m. to 11 p.m., weather permitting
Evening observations of Venus, the Moon, Mars, and Saturn.
(See map on back)
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Observatory of the Côte d’Azur – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Visit of the Observatory of the Côte d’Azur on registration at 04 92 17 37 68
Free visit, limited number of seats.
Two free visits of the Nice Observatory (by registration). Come discover astronomical instruments over 100 years old and still in use, with the largest functional telescope in the world, housed in the largest mobile dome in Europe built by Gustave Eiffel.
Maison des Associations Garibaldi – for the general public
Sudastro – 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Luerna room
“The sky in music”
Reception of children (20 per session) duration 15 minutes with image explanations.
Level: From 4 years old
Provence Sciences et Techniques Jeunesse – 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. / 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (sessions for the youngest) Avelanie room
Planetarium sessions under a 6-meter diameter inflatable dome. Study of most constellations and their mythological stories.
Maximum 15 people per session.
Level: 4 to 7 years old
Short animations between planetarium sessions on the anniversary of French astronaut Léopold Eyharts on April 28, 1957.
Conference – 7 p.m. Vira Souleou Amphitheater
Merieme CHADID, Astronomer at the Observatory of the Côte d’Azur and Lecturer at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis
“Antarctica: Star Hunting”
Level: Easy, for the general public
Place Garibaldi – for the general public
9 p.m. to 11 p.m., weather permitting
Evening observations of Venus, the Moon, Mars, and Saturn.
(See map on back)
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Observatory of the Côte d’Azur – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Visit of the Observatory of the Côte d’Azur on registration at 04 92 17 37 68
Free visit, limited number of seats.
Kockzur Ferry Stadium – for the general public
With Le Cosmophile – P.S.T.J – Les Sciences en Folie – Planétarium Valeri
Alternating animations from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To understand how it is possible to move in space:
– Launches of micro rockets
– Fabrication and launches of water rockets.
– Tables and benches will be available from 11 a.m. for a friendly picnic where everyone will bring their meal.
And for everything to know about the most important star for us:
Observations of the Sun with numerous adapted instruments.
Contact details of partners and host locations:
– Maison des Associations Nice Est Saint-Roch
50 Boulevard Saint Roch – 06300 Nice
04 97 13 49 20
maisonassociations.saintroch@ville-nice.fr
[https://associations.nice.fr](https://associations.nice.fr)
Tramway Saint Roch
– Maison des Associations Garibaldi
12 ter Place Garibaldi – 06300 Nice
04 97 13 41 71
maisonassociations.garibaldi@ville-nice.fr
[https://associations.nice.fr](https://associations.nice.fr)
Tramway Garibaldi
– Cyber Espace Cœur de Ville
16 Rue d’Italie – 06000 Nice
04 97 20 18 30
[https://www.cyber-espaces-nice.fr](https://www.cyber-espaces-nice.fr)
Tramway Jean Médecin
– Cyber Espace Borriglione
7 Avenue Xavier de Maistre – 06100 Nice
04 92 03 01 70
[https://www.cyber-espaces-nice.fr](https://www.cyber-espaces-nice.fr)
Tramway Borriglione
– Cyber Espace Diables Bleus
26 Avenue des Diables Bleus – 06300 Nice
04 97 08 22 60
[https://www.cyber-espaces-nice.fr](https://www.cyber-espaces-nice.fr)
Tramway Saint Jean d’Angély Université
– Cinémathèque de Nice
Acropolis – 3 Esplanade Kennedy – 06300 Nice
04 92 04 06 66
[https://www.cinematheque-nice.com/index.php](https://www.cinematheque-nice.com/index.php)
Tramway Acropolis
– Observatory of the Côte d’Azur
[https://www.oca.eu](https://www.oca.eu)
Bus No. 84
– Kockzur Ferry Stadium
35 Av du Ray – 06100 Nice
04 93 52 39 63
[https://www.nice.fr/Sport-loisirs](https://www.nice.fr/Sport-loisirs)
Tramway Le Ray
– Le Cosmophile
26 Avenue Mirabeau – 06000 NICE
06 80 82 17 16 / 04 93 54 01 88
contact@cosmophile.fr
[https://lecosmophile.free.fr/](https://lecosmophile.free.fr/)
All observation sessions and activities offered at the KOCKZUR FERRY stadium are weather-dependent.
All proposed animations are free except for the screening at the cinematheque on Monday, April 23, 2012.
Please note that the number of spots is limited for Observatory visits (50 people per visit), so the public is asked to reserve at 04 92 17 37 68 or directly at the reception of the Maison des Associations Garibaldi, 12 ter place Garibaldi, Nice.
Transportation is possible with the ABC School bus, which will take non-motorized persons to the Observatory (limited to 35 places, upon registration for both ways). The meeting point will be at Place Garibaldi in front of the Maison des Associations at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
For further information:
Caroline Del Puppo
Service Life Associative
04 92 17 37 68 (in case of absence 04 97 13 41 71)
caroline.del-puppo@ville-nice.fr
Thierry Scordino-Huguenot
Association Le Cosmophile
06 80 82 17 16
contacto@cosmophile.fr
