12^Aug Sat
18:00

You must read the instructions carefully before joining!

Tentative date, depending on the weather! Alternative date is Sun 13th August.

Our goal is to get the best view of the starlit sky near Munich, combined with an easy afterwork hike, watching the sunset and Alpenglow at the peak. The sky will be very dark as it is nearly New Moon and moonset is at 18:48. Furthermore the date is close to the maximum of the Perseids shower (13.8).

Event from 2021: https://www.hiking-buddies.com/routes/events/3579/

The star park at Winklmoosalm https://www.abenteuer-sterne.de/sternenpark-winklmoosalm/, currently the only one in the Alps, offers guaranteed very low light pollution which makes it possible to see the Milky Way and much more stars with the naked eye than in Munich. At the Steinplatte peak there is a viewing platform at the Triassic park https://www.triassicpark.at (free entry) and a small lake (swimming possible).

Plan: We will meet at Winklmoosalm, hike to the Steinplatte, watch the sunset, and return to Winklmoosalm. There we will watch the stars, milky way and perseids.

The hike will be postponed or cancelled if the weather forecast 24 hours before the event does not predict a clear sky.

Transport: We will go by car as the starting point is not accessible by public transport. The road is curvy and steep. The toll fee to Winklmoosalm is 5€/car (?). The driver(s) may require passengers to pay in advance. Please read the car instructions carefully. If the hike or lift is cancelled or postponed, the drivers must reimburse the prepaid payments. Otherwise a passenger dropping out before departure must only be reimbursed if the driver can find a replacement. Car drivers must contact me first if they drop out.

Technical difficulty: This hike is suitable for fit beginners. You should be fit enough to hike at least 300m gain/hour and feel comfortable walking in the dark with a headlamp. The last meters to the peak are rocky and require surefootedness, especially at dusk. If you are unsure, please stop before the section.

Preliminary schedule:

• ca. 16:00 start in Munich
• ca. 17:45 arrival at Winklmoosalm
• 18:00 (sharp!) start hiking
• 20:28 sunset at Steinplatte, return
• 21:46 nautical dusk (some stars visible)
• ca 22:30 back at Winklmoosalm
  
• 22:36 astronomic dusk (max. darkness)
• ca. 23:30 departure from Winklmoosalm (up to each car)
• window of best visibility/max. rate if there is a clear sky: between midnight and 1:30 (moon rise)
• ca. 1:00 arrival in Munich

Astronomy: The following objects will be visible at that night (TBD):

• meteor showers: Perseids, Alpha Capricornids, Kappa Cygnids, Delta Aquariids
  
• constellations: TBD
• objects: Saturn, Neptun, TBD

Recommended apps to install before the hike (one is sufficient): Mobile Observatory 3 Pro, SkyView (Lite), SkySafari

Astronomers are encouraged to bring their telescopes and guide participants through the night sky.

weather forecast TBD

Legal disclaimer: This is not a guided tour. I merely organize the trip to the starting point with like-minded, qualified, properly equipped and reliable persons. Every participant must be able to navigate her/himself on the suggested route. If you join, you acknowledge that hiking is dangerous, you are fully responsible for yourself and that you have sufficient insurance (DAV, Bergrettung or similar).