A new virtual reality film is the next best thing to visiting Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory. Join Chris Brayton behind-the-scenes in filming Beyond the Milky Way.

Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory sits on the ancient landscape of Wajarri Yamaji Country in the remote Western Australian outback.

The site is home to high-tech radio telescopes, which require extreme radio quiet. This means there are rare opportunities to experience it in-person.

Setting the scene Beyond the Milky Way

Chris Brayton is one of the lucky few who gets to visit the observatory. He manages the site, working to protect the radio quiet.

“People and the gadgets they bring with them – from cameras, to phones, to smart watches, to cars – can all interrupt the radio quietness that makes Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory such a great place to do radio astronomy,” Chris said.

“The human-created radio waves from these devices can drown out the signals from space. So having as few people as possible on site is vital to the goals of the radio telescopes we host.”

Chris ensures that his activity doesn’t interfere with the radio telescopes on site.

“Even me going out with a camera and snapping a photo can interrupt telescope operations, so we have to be careful,” he said.

A landscape of red dirt and a pale blue sky with a large white radio telescope dish in the centre-background. The foreground has a young woman bending over a piece of filming equipment and an unusual many-eyed camera on a tripod to the left and another pair of women to the right with one adjusting the microphone attached to the scarf of the second woman.
White Spark Pictures’ Jess Black (left) checks sound levels and camera settings while Beyond the Milky Way‘s writer and director Briege Whitehead (middle) adjusts the microphone on one of the stars of the film, Leonie Boddington (right). Credit: Pete Wheeler, ICRAR.

A rare opportunity

Chris recently jumped at the opportunity to see the site in a whole new light. He spent a few weeks helping White Spark Pictures film the observatory in 360 degrees.

Knowing the site’s unique conditions needed to be protected, writer and director Briege Whitehead worked with Chris and team CSIRO to capture the experience.

“Beyond the Milky Way will give people a chance to explore a remote and extraordinary part of the world which few ever get to visit,” Briege said.

Filmed in coordination with all the telescopes on site, the crew took great advantage of special access and pulled out all the stops. Everything from drone flights carrying specialised 360 cameras, through to staying on the site all night to film the star-lit sky above the telescopes.

Briege is founder and creative director at White Spark Pictures and has filmed in many exotic locations such as Antarctica. However, being on the observatory site was a special experience.

“Filming on the observatory will stay with me for a long time. To see the night sky in such incredible detail and watch the ASKAP telescope follow the Milky Way across the sky was a sight to behold,” she said.

Beyond the Milky Way features many radio telescopes at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, from our ASKAP radio telescope, to the Murchison Widefield Array and, of course, the upcoming SKA.

Starry-eyed viewing

Despite the radio telescopes’ ability to operate 24/7, having permission to be on site overnight is extremely rare. Chris was glad to take advantage of this rare opportunity.

“Being on the observatory after dark was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see the night sky above these amazing instruments. While there I couldn’t pass up the chance to have a crack at some astrophotography myself,” said Chris.

Beyond the Milky Way is showing at the WA Museum Boola Bardip from December 2021 into early 2022. It will then tour nationally, including a stop at the Museum of Geraldton. Keep an eye out for the film at a venue near you!

We acknowledge the Wajarri Yamaji as the Traditional Owners and native title holders of the observatory site.

Beyond the Milky Way is a White Spark Pictures production. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest & Lotterywest. Financed with support from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), CSIRO – Australia’s national science agency, the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre, Scitech and Inspiring Australia, SKA Observatory (SKAO), ASTRO3D and Western Australian Museum.

  • A circular camera with many lenses is in the foreground centre of the image in sharp focus, while the background is out of focus and vaguely shows two women talking to the right of the camera and a red dirt landscape with a pale blue sky.
    One of the high resolution 360-degree virtual reality cameras used to film Beyond the Milky Way. Credit: Pete Wheeler, ICRAR.
  • Picture taken on a cloudy day has multiple large white radio telescope dishes in the foreground and a double rainbow in the background.

    Spoiler alert! A double rainbow guest stars in the film alongside our ASKAP radio telescope. Credit: Chris Brayton, CSIRO.
  • A man in a hat and jacket to the left of the frame against a background of red dirt and pale blue sky.

    Chris Brayton helps manage the site, but even his activities are restricted to protect the radio quietness that makes Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory the perfect place for radio astronomy. Credit: Pete Wheeler, ICRAR.
  • A photo taken at night shows a field of stars stretching across the sky above a few radio telescope dishes lit with green lights.

    Chris’ first ever attempt at astrophotography. Not bad, Chris, not bad!

 

Can’t go see the film? Explore Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory and the telescopes online

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