Mid West enters stargazing season with prime Venus visibility in Carnamah

As April begins, so does the peak season for stargazing with the Mid West transforming into a hub for astrotourism thanks to clear skies and limited light pollution. Astrophysicist Tim Young said the beginning of the month signals one of the best times to stargaze in WA, with Earth reaching its closest point to the Milky Way. Mr Young said the rule of thumb for stargazing is “if it’s a good day for the beach, it’s a good day for stargazing. You want to skip the cloudy period”. One of the highlights in the night sky for Mr Young is a constellation known as the Jewel Box. “It’s smack bang in the middle of the Southern Cross, and you can see some really beautiful bright coloured stars, hence the name,” he said. A basic pair of binoculars or an entry-level telescope is all that is needed in order to see the Jewel Box, or the Orion Nebula, which is best seen in the middle of the year between April and October. The Orion Nebula is located “on the handle of the saucepan,” said Mr Young. Venus is known as the morning or evening star, appearing in the early hours of the morning or at sunset, it is the closest in size and mass to its orbital neighbour, Earth — and best seen in Carnamah. On April 7 stargazers across the Mid West were able able to see Venus in a four planet conjunction, next to the waning Moon, Saturn and Mars. On April 11, Venus will best be spotted at 6.29am, alongside the conjunction of Mars and Saturn. Over the following mornings, watch as Saturn and Mars appear to drift apart. The beginning of April in the Mid West signals the start of Milky Way season. From April until October, the planet is positioned to look to the core of the Milky Way galaxy. The peak times for gazing at the Milky Way are between April 2 and 12, which can be observed from the Mid West’s best locations for astrotourism. Carnamah is known as a top-tier location for stargazing, including Lakes Lookout as an astrophotography hotspot, or Macpherson Homestead as an observing site with binoculars and telescopes available for use. Mingenew has some of the darkest night skies in the world, including Yandanooka Hall and its dedicated observing site for telescope users, which features free self-contained camping. Perenjori, Cervantes and Three Springs are also listed as top destinations for astrotourists in the region.