Frequently asked
Is tonight good for stargazing at Cradle Mountain?
The live score above pulls today's forecast and runs it through StarCast's scoring model, factoring in cloud cover, moon illumination, Bortle class, humidity, and atmospheric transparency. Above 70 is an excellent night. Below 40, conditions are poor. The score updates daily.
What makes Cradle Mountain good for astrophotography?
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in the Tasmanian highlands is one of the southernmost major dark sky destinations in the world at 42 degrees south latitude. Dove Lake at the base of Cradle Mountain is the signature night composition: the jagged dolerite peaks reflect in the glacial lake on calm nights, with the galactic center visible overhead and the Magellanic Clouds prominent in the southern sky. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area surrounds the park with some of the darkest terrain in the Southern Hemisphere. Hobart is 150 kilometers to the south and produces very little light interference.
When is the Milky Way visible at Cradle Mountain?
The galactic core is visible from February through October. The Tasmanian highlands are known for highly variable weather: clear nights can appear suddenly and disappear just as fast. June and July offer the darkest skies and longest nights, with the galactic center high overhead, but these months also bring the most unsettled weather and snow at elevation. Autumn (March through May) tends to give the most consistent clear spells. The Dove Lake circuit is accessible year-round for night photography, and the boatshed on the lake shore is the most popular foreground element.
