Astrotourism

Stargazing Locations

If you've brought your telescope, only a few minutes drive out of town on Menzies Cemetery Road, is a fantastic location for stargazing. Mount Owen is a small hill that has a great view of the surrounding area. After sunset, set yourself up on the base of the northeast side, which is well protected from the wind. The hill also acts as a shield from the town street lights which makes it lovely and dark for a great evening of stargazing.

For astrophotography enthusiasts, you can't miss the iconic Antony Gormley Inside Australia statues that are dotted across Lake Ballard. The opportunities for nighttime photography are endless. The incredible 51 black chromium steel statues are spread out over 10km2. Before the sun goes down, take your time to plan what angles you'd like to capture in relation to the stunning scenery.

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Extend your stay in Menzies and discover more stargazing locations at Kookynie and Lake Niagara. Find us on the Astrotourism Towns Map and discover how the Shire of Menzies is helping to protect the dark night sky in Western Australia.

Where to stay in Menzies

What's Up in the Night Sky?

There is so much to see in the night sky no matter when you're travelling to Menzies. Check out these handy month by month tips on what to see when you're visiting.

What Makes WA So Special?

Stargazing in Western Australia is a world-class experience, and WA is home to some of the darkest night skies in the world. The beautiful Milky Way sparkles directly overhead in the Southern Hemisphere and the views are magnificent.

From the Southern Hemisphere, you can see the Southern Cross, the Magellanic Clouds and the beautiful Aboriginal constellation of the "Emu in the Sky".

On a moonless night, the stunning Milky Way Galaxy stretches across the night sky in all its glory. It feels like you could almost touch it! It's something that everyone on Earth should experience more often.

Another advantage WA has is that Perth is the world's most isolated capital city on a continent. This means it's very easy to escape bright city lights to experience wonderful dark night skies full of stars.

Country WA is uncrowded, and its welcoming small towns have low levels of artificial light pollution. The nights are darker for astrophotography, and the air is clean and pure for crystal clear stargazing.

How to Get to Menzies

Stargazing Tips for Beginners

If you're new to stargazing, there are a few things you can do to have a fantastic experience under our amazing night sky:

  • Turn out the lights - light pollution hides the stars from view. The more light pollution there is, the fewer stars we can see in the night sky. Turn out as many lights as you can so you can see the Milky Way above.
  • Get your night vision - after turning out the lights, it takes your eyes about 10-15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. This is called your night vision. As your eyes become adapted to the dark, you'll start to see more and more stars!
  • Avoid white light - most streetlights, torches, camera flashes and car headlights produce white light which will reduce your night vision. If you need light, try using a red-filtered light which doesn't interfere with your night vision.
  • You don't need a telescope - thanks to country WA's low light pollution, there is plenty to see with the naked eye. If you have a pair of binoculars, try using these to take a closer look at the Milky Way.
  • Download a stargazing app - there are a variety of helpful stargazing apps available. Try to identify and learn about stars, constellations and other objects in the night sky.
  • Arrive before sunset - enjoy a beautiful sunset before an evening of stargazing. Who can spot the first star to appear after sunset?
  • Look up! - there is so much to see. Look out for some favourites depending on the time of year:
    • The Moon! Is it a full Moon, a quarter Moon or a beautiful crescent Moon?
    • Different coloured stars.
    • The Southern Cross constellation.
    • The thick band of stars across the sky, which is the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy. Best seen on a dark and moonless night.
    • The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are two galaxies in the Milky Way neighbourhood. They look like two faint clouds in the southern sky.
    • Meteors (or shooting stars) will appear as bright streaks of light that flash briefly across the sky.
    • A satellite, like the International Space Station, will look like a star that slowly and steadily moves across the night sky.
    • Notice how the stars appear to move across the sky from east to west as Earth spins on its axis.

    Enjoy your night out under the stars in Menzies.Snake Hill Astrotourism