OBSERVATOIRE CENTRE ARDENNE

This observatory is located in the Centre Ardenne region, a few kilometres southwest of Neufchâteau, in a rather well-preserved area for light pollution, at the exit of the village of Grapfontaine. The Cercles des Naturalistes de Belgique are at the origin of this ambitious and interesting project, with the aim also of developing eco-citizenship and the discovery of nature. We quickly spot the beautiful building topped by the two main observation domes. The observatory benefits from several quality equipment, including a particularly powerful 300 mm telescope combined with a 125 mm diameter astronomical telescope. Other telescopes are also present, including a modified one allowing people with reduced mobility to observe, a 6 m diameter planetarium that can accommodate 30 people, a conference room with a capacity of 50 seats, a modular classroom, etc. Other domes installed on site host other equipment depending on the targeted activities. This set, obviously well designed and adapted, aims to offer a good diversity in the approach to popularization among the general public: learn how to operate a telescope, locate yourself in the sky, point your first celestial objects, attend a planetarium session, see exhibitions, enjoy activities and workshops (construction and launch of water rockets), etc. It is in any case imperative to contact the association in order to define a date of visit of the site. For those who want to spend a quiet night under the stars, it is also possible to sleep in the transparent Bio-Sphair bubble or under the planetarium dome (what a great idea!). In both cases, unforgettable memories.