Calling all lovers of celestial phenomena, cosmic curious minds, and dreamers. Bègles will fill your eyes with stars during its first Astronomy Festival. On October 17 and 18, 2026, the event invites young and old alike to look up at the sky and unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. This free event was organized bythe Bègles Astronomy Association (ABERA) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its observatory dome.
A free festival to discover the universe in a new way
Head to ChapitÔ for two days dedicated to space exploration. The goal? To show that astronomy isn’t just for experts and that anyone can learn, observe, experiment, and, above all, satisfy their curiosity.
For this first edition, ABERA has put together a program accessible to all ages. Popular science lectures, exhibits, science workshops, and stargazing sessions will punctuate the weekend. A wonderful opportunity to discover the history of astronomy or to explore exoplanets, Mars, black holes, and the most powerful phenomena in the universe
A Journey to Mars and Stargazing
It’s impossible to get bored during this interstellar journey! Among the activities on offer, several highlights stand out.
On Saturday, put on a virtual reality headset to travel to Mars and take a walk around the Perseverance rover. And if you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, get hands-on by building a sundial, creating a star chart, or even building a propelled micro-rocket.
The most curious visitors will also have the opportunityto observe the Sun using ABERA’s specialized instruments or to scan the evening sky. Weather permitting, Saturn and its famous rings should be particularly visible.
Both children and adults can test their knowledge with a quiz or discover the constellations through a “Seven Families” card game. Finally, the festival will showcase stunning images with an exhibition of astrophotographs taken by members of the association.
Lectures to unravel the mysteries of the universe
The event also features a series of fascinating lecturesled by professionals in the field. Want to learn more about the history of astronomy? Are you fascinated by black holes or exoplanets? Do you wonder about the role of French women in astronomy? Check out the full program put together by ABERA and take this opportunity to satisfy your curiosity.
Practical information:
📍 ChapitÔ, 17 Avenue Robert Schuman, 33130 Bègles
📆 Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, 2026
🎫 Free admission
