The Lothar Path (German: Lotharpfad) is located in the Schliffkopf Nature Reserve by the Black Forest High Road, between Oppenau and Baiersbronn. The name is derived from Hurricane Lothar, which tore through the forest here in 1999. The path is open to the public around the clock. A stargazer told EarthSky the following: “The Lothar trail is known for its dark, unpolluted night skies, especially in the summer months, when you can see the Milky Way. This very natural place is located in southwest Germany and can be reached by car via the Schwarzwaldhochstraße, a panoramic road of 60 kilometers [40 miles] through the Black Forest.”
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.