Stargazing in Mingenew

Stargazing in Western Australia is a world-class experience and Mingenew is home to some of the darkest night skies in the world! Find out more below or visit Astrotourism WA to discover further information on Stargazing in Mingenew and the wider Mid West Region.

Thanks to a very generous donation, the Shire has available a telescope for hire. Please contact the Shire office on (08)9928 1102 or email enquiries@mingenew.wa.gov.au to find out more.

Stargazing & astrophotography locations in Mingenew

Yandanooka Hall is one of the best locations in Mingenew to gaze at the beautiful night sky, so be sure to bring your telescopes and binoculars. Yandanooka features a dedicated observation site that is ideal for telescope users and free camping at the location is available for self-contained campers.

If you’re an astrophotographer, you can’t miss seeing the Mingenew WA Space Centre! It’s an amazing location – perfect for taking images of the night sky over this unique landscape.

Find us on the Astrotourism WA Map and discover how WA communities like Mingenew are aiming to keep their night sky as dark as possible so that you can always visit to enjoy the wonder and beauty of the brilliant Milky Way stars.

What makes Mingenew so special?

The beautiful Milky Way sparkles directly overhead in the Southern Hemisphere, allowing for magnificent views of the Southern Cross, the Magellanic Clouds (satellite galaxies to our own Milky Way Galaxy) and the Aboriginal constellation of the “Emu in the Sky”. On a moonless night, the Milky Way Galaxy stretches across the night sky in all its glory – feeling so close that you could almost touch it!

Mingenew is the perfect place to enjoy stargazing all year round. As a small country town, Mingenew enjoys the benefits of low levels of artificial light pollution, so the nights are darker for astrophotography and the air is clean and pure for crystal clear stargazing. You can enjoy breathtaking night skies almost anywhere in the Shire, but we have some places which are designated astrotourism sites, including Yandanooka Hall.

When you head out to do some stargazing, remember to turn out all your lights as artificial light destroys your ability to see the stars. The darker the night sky, the more stars you’ll be able to see.

Mingenew is also home to a growing number of satellite tracking facilities, including the WA Space Centre which is responsible for a range of both national and international research and commercial applications.

Photo Credit: Stanley Tang
Photo Credit: Angela Teale
Photo Credit: Nils Hay
Photo Credit: Stanley Tang
Photo Credit: Angela Teale
Photo Credit: Angela Teale