Earlier this year, the Warrumbungle National Park in north-west New South Wales was named Australia's first Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association for unrivalled star-gazing conditions created by a lack of artificial light.

For the same reason, nearby town Coonabarabran has long been known as the Astronomy Capital of Australia, with extensive research carried out at Siding Spring Observatory.

The observatory is home to the southern hemisphere's largest optical telescope, and a place close to the heart of this writer, a Coonabarabran native.

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But you don't need to be a local or even have access to the telescope to appreciate the immense beauty of the Milky Way, captured above at the annual OzSky Star Party in April 2016.

The breathtaking time-lapse sequence shows views north, east, south, and west of the park, shot over a course of four nights. Like the sun, stars "rise" in the east and set in the west, though they move across the sky at a much more prominent angle.

"The Warrumbungle National Park in country and outback NSW has long been renowned for its star-gazing opportunities, due to its crystal-clear skies, low humidity, high altitude and world-class optical astronomy research facility at neighbouring Siding Spring Observatory," NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Major Events Stuart Ayers has said in the past.

Weather permitting, astro-tourists to the area can enjoy an astronomer-led 90-minute viewing of the Milky Way through the Warrumbungle Observatory's telescopes, which are open to the public Tuesday to Saturday (including public holidays). Keen star-gazers can even hire the main telescope to take pictures of the night sky with their own cameras.