#Astro, #Winter

Frozen Reflections: Winter Milky Way over Großer Priel

The image shows the winter Milky Way rising above the striking silhouettes of the peaks next to the „Großer Priel“. The small alpine lake, called 'Schiederweiher', is located near Hinterstoder in Upper Austria and is well known across the country, having been voted Austria’s most beautiful place in 2018.

After weeks of persistent bad weather, clouds, and fog — with no opportunity to photograph the night sky throughout February — a clear window finally appeared in early March. I didn’t hesitate long and set out for a location that had been on my list for quite some time: Schiederweiher. This small lake offers a stunning view of the surrounding mountains, especially Großer Priel, and during this time of year, the winter Milky Way rises perfectly above the peaks. With its open view towards the southwest and minimal light pollution, it provides excellent conditions for astrophotography.

Arriving in the evening, the lake was not frozen, and there was a nice reflection of the stars within the water of the lake. I was almost alone and quickly found a good spot to set up my equipment. The crisp air and the silence around the lake created a special atmosphere as the first stars began to appear above the mountains.

As the night progressed, the winter Milky Way slowly arched above Großer Priel. I spent several hours capturing both the foreground and the night sky, including additional H-alpha exposures. These are taken using a special filter that isolates deep-red hydrogen emission, allowing nebulae — especially prominent in the winter sky — to stand out more clearly when combined with standard RGB images.

In the end, the trip was absolutely worth it. Moments like these, after long periods of waiting, are what make astrophotography so rewarding.

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