Every year in August in Munich, the stars are particularly good – literally. After the super moon was already visible in the sky in July, it is particularly worth taking a look at the night sky at the moment: one of the most beautiful and spectacular natural phenomena can be seen on the nights of August 11 and 13 – the shooting stars of the Perseids in Munich.
What are the Perseids?
The Perseids are an annual meteor shower that lights up the night sky every August. The sparkling shooting stars are actually just dust and rock particles that plunge into the Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of 60km/s. They originate from dust trails of the comet Swift-Tuttle: this trail always crosses the earth in the first half of August.
This stream of shooting stars reaches its maximum on the nights around August 12. It rains up to 100 shooting stars per hour! The name “Perseids” comes from the constellation Perseus, from whose direction the meteors appear to fall. Another nickname is “Tears of St. Lawrence”, as the feast day of St. Lawrence falls on the same date.
How and where can you best see the Perseids in Munich?
After rainy weather has already caused poor conditions in some other years, the full moon could cause problems in 2025. This will significantly brighten the night sky. However, the later the night, the more shooting stars should be visible in the sky – provided there are no clouds. Observation should be best between 11 pm and 4 am.
So look for a place that is protected from light pollution. In Munich, the Olympiaberg or the English Garden are particularly suitable for this. Or you can combine this magical night with a little excursion and drive into the beautiful surroundings of Munich: Visit one of the lakes in Upper Bavaria or the Fürstenfeldbrucker Hügelland. Insider tip: The Winklmoosalm near Munich is an official star park with a perfect night sky for astro fans.
If you miss the peak of the Perseids in Munich on the night of August 12-13, you can rest assured: The shooting stars will continue to fall from the sky until August 24. And: NASA will be broadcasting the phenomenon live on YouTube from the Marshall Space Flight Center from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. German time. Now the only question that remains is: Have you made enough wishes to watch the hundreds of shooting stars in the night sky?