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The Paris Observatory – PSL at Explor’Espace: three days to share our passion for the sky and science

30 October 2025

From November 7 to 9, 2025, the Explor’Espace festival returns to the Beffroi de Montrouge for its third edition, organized by the French Astronomy Association (AFA). Three days of scientific discoveries, sharing, and excitement, where researchers, engineers, students, and staff from the Paris Observatory – PSL will bring science to life for the public in a different way—through sound, vibration, touch, games, and virtual reality.

Gems from the Paris Observatory laboratories

Affiche Explor'Espace
Affiche Explor’Espace
crédit : L’Association Française d’Astronomie

This year, the teams at the Paris Observatory – PSL are drawing on all their expertise to help visitors experience the universe rather than just hear about it. Five experiments, developed directly in the laboratories, will invite the public to explore the cosmos with all their senses.

🎧 Listening to the sounds of space

In the vacuum of space, no sound travels... but certain cosmic phenomena emit waves that can be transformed into sound. This immersive experience, led by Philippe Zarka (Paris Observatory-PSL, LIRA), invites you to hear vibrations from space, accompanied by videos and clear explanations.
🪐 Where? Grand Salon — an isolated room to preserve the listening experience.

🌟 The melody of the stars

Stars vibrate like giant musical instruments! Led by Daniel Reese (Paris Observatory-PSL, LIRA), the audience will discover how scientists decipher the internal structure of stars through their oscillations. An asteroseismology workshop combining real sounds from stars and visualizations of their life cycles.
🌍 Where? Ginoux Room

✋ Touching Space

Explore the solar system in a way other than by sight: here, the planets touch, compare, and feel each other. The workshop designed by Ludovic Petitdemange (Paris Observatory-PSL, LIRA) offers a sensory experience accessible to all, to understand the sizes, distances, and textures of the cosmos.
🌍 Where? Ginoux Room

🎲 Measure the universe and more if you like

How far away is the Moon? The Sun? The nearest galaxy? With a delegation from the Laboratory for Instrumentation and Research in Astrophysics (LIRA): Alain Doressoundiram, Estelle Salibur, Sylvestre Taburet, Paul Huet, and Raphaël Peralta. The public will be able to play a board game designed at the Observatory to understand the dizzying scales of the Universe.
🌍 Where? Ginoux Room

🪩 Immersion in the Universe

Thanks to Amaury Solignac (Orbital Views), the VR experience “Immersion in the Universe” will offer a 360° journey from Earth to the Milky Way. Designed using data from NASA and other space agencies, this virtual exploration will allow the public to experience space as if they were there.
🚀 Where? Grand Salon — open space for virtual reality movement.

A collective commitment to scientific outreach

Through these experiences, the Paris Observatory – PSL showcases the diversity of its knowledge and talents: researchers, engineers, students, and staff will join forces to make science meaningful, lively, and accessible to all.

📅 Explor’Espace 2025 – November 7, 8, and 9 – Beffroi de Montrouge
🎟️ Free admission, reservation required
🔗 Full program

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