One thousand and one nights with Philippe Jacquot

What exactly can one observe when gazing at the heavens? The stars, the moon, the planets, the Milky Way (a concentration of stars that form white streaks in the night sky), groupings of stars (like the Pleiades/Seven Sisters), nebulas (the massive gas clouds that form when a star explodes), galaxies… With guidance from an expert, and armed with binoculars, a telescope, a laser, and a star map, learn to spot these celestial objects and gain a better appreciation of just how vast the universe truly is.

Before the gazing begins, while waiting for nautical twilight (when the sun is between 6 and 12 degrees below the horizon, the time of day when the first stars appear), enjoy a quick review of the fundamentals: the stars moving through the sky, easily identifiable constellations, including the most well-known among them, the Big Dipper… Philippe takes the time to answer your questions in depth. Once astronomical twilight arrives, revealing thousands of points of light in the sky, your eyes will widen in amazement and the practical exercise will fill you with a true sense of wonder.

Philippe also organizes outings on top of Le Parmelan. A 1-hour and 15-minute walk, starting from Chalet de l’Anglettaz, takes you to the Parmelan Hut, where Philippe will be waiting at 19:00 (7pm) for the group to arrive. After sharing a delicious meal prepared by the hut manager, the star gazing begins. We recommend spending the night at the hut, which you should reserve ahead of time, or to set up your tent somewhere in the vicinity since walking out at night can sometimes prove a more perilous adventure than expected.

philippejacquotphotography.fr