This summer, you'll have plenty of chances to discuss science through natural phenomena, sites and exhibitions. Here are a few suggestions from Le Monde's Science & Medicine department.

Astronomy

A summer under the stars

You don't need to know everything about astrophysics to enjoy a beautiful summer sky. Instead, take a break from everyday life's hectic pace and be moved by the simple beauty of a colorful twilight slowly conquered by the stars.

If you're staying in an urban area, artificial lights will play spoilsport by preventing you from distinguishing the less brilliant stars and the Milky Way's ghostly trace. But you should no doubt see enough stellar flashes to discern the main constellations. Soon, the Big Dipper, Cygnus, Lyra or Sagittarius will hold no secrets for you, nor will the Moon's appointments with the planets.

After July 21's full moon, mark your calendars for the close meeting of Earth's natural satellite to Saturn on the night of July 24, toward the east-southeast. A week later, at dawn on July 30 and 31, its crescent shape will shine above the east-northeast horizon, not far from Mars' orange dot and Jupiter's intense white glow. Get used to identifying these two planets late in the night to follow their rapid reunion: By mid-August, they'll cross within half a degree of each other, meaning you'll easily be able to hide them simultaneously with the tip of your outstretched little finger. Of course, this proximity will only be apparent as Jupiter will be three and a half times further from Earth than Mars, but their conjunction promises to be genuinely superb.

At dawn on August 27 and 28, the crescent Moon will meet up with these two planets, which will have already moved far apart, but before that, don't miss the Moon's occultation of Saturn at the end of the night of August 20-21. The rings of this giant planet are not visible to the naked eye or with binoculars. If you get a chance to look through a telescope around this time, the vision of the cratered lunar surface slowly engulfing the planet, its rings and its main moons should leave you with an unforgettable memory.

The Milky Way's breathtaking spectacle

Venus, the brightest planet in our sky, will only be visible at dusk throughout the summer, which means you'll need a very clear sky to catch a glimpse of it low on the west-north-west horizon half an hour after the Sun sets; on August 5, take advantage of the young crescent moon's presence to see it with or without binoculars.

These rendezvous between the planets and the Moon will also be visible in the countryside or the mountains if your horizon is clear in the right direction. By moving away from the main sources of light pollution, you'll get to contemplate a sky dark enough to harbor myriads of stars, something that is now impossible in metropolitan areas.

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