Munich Stargazing Map: Exploring the Night Sky

“A curated map of eight stargazing spots around Munich, perfect for urban dwellers seeking the best views of the stars.”

What it is about

Our project focused on a stargazing map, showcasing the best locations around Munich to observe the night sky. We combined accessibility, minimal light pollution, and scenic value in selecting eight unique spots. This was done with the intention of providing an effective guide for serious astronomy enthusiasts and casual star gazers alike, along with raising awareness about the impact of light pollution on stargazing.

How we built it

We further downloaded and analyzed datasets on light pollution, elevation, slope, accessibility by public transport, and land use to make the map of stargazing. These datasets have been processed here in ArcGIS Pro to identify areas with the least light pollution that command higher elevations with easy access and favorable land use for stargazing. In the workflow, field validation-ensuring that the selected locations are practical and meet our criteria-was added to feedback by the local astronomy communities to finalize this selection.

Challenges we ran into

The main challenge faced was finding accurate and detailed light pollution data which would help in our analysis. Coming up with the best spots was quite challenging since there was some imperative need to have clear cut criteria that balanced minimum light pollution, accessibility, and elevation and scenic value. These calls took several reiterations and discussions.

What we're proud of

We feel proud of having been able to produce a useful and beautiful piece by merging our cartographic skills with real-world utility. We managed to merge technical precision with thoughtful design to produce a resource that would not only serve as a guide for stargazing enthusiasts but also a reminder about the importance of preserving dark skies in urban environments.

What we learned

We learned to work with several different and unique types of data, such as light pollution and elevation models, and how to integrate those into our analysis. We also became familiar with the use of ArcGIS Online mainly for the creation of functional and user-friendly interactive maps. This project developed our technical and communicational skills further and cemented the importance of clear communication and teamwork in producing quality outputs.

What's next

Future development of the stargazing map might include real-time data, such as weather and viewing conditions, which would make it even more usable. Interactive features such as information on constellations visible from each location or augmented reality visualizers could enhance the stargazing experience. Expanding the map to cover a larger area, including other cities and regions, would allow a larger audience to take advantage of this resource.

Sources

Light pollution atlas 2022 https://djlorenz.github.io/astronomy/lp2022/
MVV Journey Planner https://efa.mvv-muenchen.de/index.html#trip@enquiry
Digital Elevation - Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/
Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) https://land.copernicus.eu/en/map-viewer
Open Street Map https://www.openstreetmap.org/
Students
Matteo Dunis and Devita Remala Sari

14th intake
Supervisor
Juliane Cron, M.Sc.
Keywords
Map, stargazing, light pollution, Munich, weighted overlay, spatial analysis
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