Grossmugl Star Walk is located in a small town about 20 miles (35 km) north of Austria’s capital, Vienna. In spite of its nearness to a metropolis of 2 million, the night sky there is largely preserved. The Grossmugl Star Walk is a self-guided tour for all ages that includes nine stations educating walkers on what to look for with their unaided eye, including star colors, artificial satellites, the Milky Way and more. The .9 mile (1.5 km) -long tour is free with no need for reservations and is open year round, day and night. Although some light pollution leaks in near the horizon, you can often see the night sky to the limit of viewing with the unaided eye.
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.