Astronomy
The starry sky, a passion to share
Aux Cinq Sens is an ideal place to sleep under the stars, in the heart of the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve. Located in the heart of nature, we have received the Friend of the Dark Sky for our exemplary lighting practices, a unique recognition in Quebec!
Our observing conditions are ideal for viewing the celestial vault, shooting stars, the Milky Way, planets, and other wonders of the starry sky. Join us for our observing evenings with Benoit, co-host of the site and amateur astronomer for over 40 years, who shares his knowledge and passion for the sky!
To maximize the quality of your starry nights during your stay, consult Benoit's recommendations and advice below to find out the best observation dates according to the phases of the moon and meteor showers!
The phases of the Moon
Here's how to choose your dates of stay Aux Cinq Sens depending on what you want to observe:
To see the starry vault with the darkest possible sky in order to best distinguish the Milky Way and perhaps see shooting stars, choose the period located 8 days before a new moon and up to 4 days after it.
To see the moon in all its dazzling clarity, which is impressive in a dark sky reserve, choose the period from 3 days before a full moon to 3 days after it.
-
January 18
, February
17, March
18, April 17
, May 16,
June 14
, July 14
, August 12
,
September 10
, October 10,
November 9, December 10
, January 7, 2027
, February 6, 2027,
March 8, 2027 -
January 3
, February
1, March
3, April
1, May 1
, May 31
, June 29
, July 29
28
, September 26
, October
26, November
24, December
23, January 22, 2027
, February 20, 2027
, March 22, 2027
Meteor showers
The Perseids are a fascinating spectacle not to be missed around August 12th each year. However, they are not the only meteor shower visible in the sky! Several other showers occur throughout the year. For optimal viewing, however, the moon must not interfere with the view due to its bright light.
The list of major meteor showers is below, including the period of activity, peak visibility, and an indication of optimal conditions at the peak with a thumbs up 👍 (moon not interfering) or a thumbs down 👎 (moon interfering with observation). For conditions outside the peak activity period, refer to the lunar phase chart further up this page.
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✨ Lyrids
→ April 16-25
→ Peak: night of April 22-23 👎✨ Eta Aquarides
→ April 19 to May 28
→ Peak: night of May 5-6 👎 -
✨ Delta Aquarides South
→ July 12 to August 23
→ Peak: night of July 29-30 👎✨ Perseids
→ July 17 to August 24
→ Peak: night of August 12-13 👍 -
✨ Draconids
→ October 2 to November 7
→ Peak: night of October 21-22 👎✨ Orionids
→ October 6-10
→ Peak: night of October 8-9 👍✨ Geminids
→ December 4-17
→ Peak: night of December 13-14 👍 -
✨ Quadrantids
→ December 28 to January 12
→ Peak: night of January 3-4 👍
How to book a night under the stars
The stargazing activity is selected when booking lodging or a campsite, during the options selection stage. The evening under the stars, led by Benoit, lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and is entitled "The Sky as Told."
You can book directly via the shortcuts below.
Four-season lodging
Yarha · Yahndawa · Ehta · Yurt
Three-season lodging and camping
Le Chevreuil Deer Campsite
Other activity options
To discover our other on-site and nearby activities, explore the page dedicated to them.
