Every year around 12 August, I watch the sky in anticipation. It is the night of the Perseids, the most intense meteor shower of summer, as the Earth crosses the trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle. In Provence, far from the light pollution of big cities, the skies above the Verdon, the Luberon or the Alpilles offer a clarity that allows you to count 50 to 100 shooting stars per hour at the peak of the swarm.
The best observation sites in PACA
For optimal viewing, you need to get away from town centres. In PACA, the best sites are: the Valensole Plateau (360° open horizon), the heights of the Verdon Gorges, the Sainte-Baume summit, the Alpilles away from the Rhône valley lights. The Observatoire de Haute-Provence offers guided evenings with professional astronomers.
Planning your stargazing night with MR Taxi
An observation night starts late (after 10pm) and finishes in the small hours. To reach a remote site like the Verdon or Valensole plateau from Marseille or Aix, MR Taxi is the ideal solution. We offer night-time rides for your Provençal stargazing outings.
