RENCONTRES ASTRONOMIQUES DU PRINTEMPS

The Spring Astronomical Encounters, the RAP, became the largest gathering of amateurs and astronomy enthusiasts in France! This star party in Haute-Loire, which celebrates its 20 th ^{anniversary in 2018, sees every year the converging of hundreds of observers, professionals and speakers, most often equipped with prestigious and eclectic materials, with the sole aim of making fun and exchanging information, tricks and knowledge. To manage such a gathering, its organizers play the map of the good child camping… That's why the visitor is asked for a 30 € membership, which includes the campsite (for a vehicle and tent), access to comfort facilities (showers, WC, WLAN), conferences and initiation courses (on pre-registration, depending on the places available) and even an aperitif before the evening meal! If the weather is in the game, this weekend out of time is not only extremely depressing but also and especially wonderful for the observations made, especially through very large telescopes.}