The outback of Australia draws tourists from all over the world to admire the natural environment, from the sandy red dust of the desert to the rock formations of Uluru and the MacDonnell Ranges which span east and west of Alice Springs.

The lack of population and light pollution makes the geographical location perfect to admire the billions of stars in the night sky.

Andrew Fitzgerald, an amateur astronomer, admitted the outback was already a very dark place but he wants to make the area an international dark sky reserve.

He said that meant minimising artificial light from getting into the sky.

"It's specifically reclaimed area for astronomical observing, so that there's all these light ordinances and regulations which controls how light is managed," he said.

Stargazing conditions are ideal in outback Australia given the low humidity, lack of light pollution, and no general pollution from cars and industry.

"We have arguably some of the best sky in the world possibly with the exception of some of the high mountain areas," Mr Fitzgerald said.

The conditions open up further opportunities to see details that are not visible in cities or populated areas.

"It allows you to see sort of fainter details, so particularly things like the Milky Way," he said.

"It also has an effect called the zodiacal light, it's a faint light on the ecliptic plane. We see that quite well here.

"So you get things like dark nebulae which are gas and dust clouds in space which are not lit by stars and are just like a black silhouette. You need really, really dark, and good clarity conditions to see those. And here we see that incredibly well."

There are perfect conditions in outback Australia for capturing the finer details of the Milky Way. ( Supplied by Colin McGregor )

Mr Fitzgerald said the perfect location for an international dark sky reserve would incorporate an existing tourist site in either the East or West MacDonnell Ranges either side of Alice Springs.

"It's another feather in your quiver so to speak, something else to add to your marketing," he said.

"You'd promote it within a set of activities to appeal to people who are well-heeled and travelling around and wanting to see natural areas."

Guidelines for a dark sky reserve

The International Dark Sky Association outlines the process on how to apply for an area of land that must be at least 700 square kilometres on their www.darksky.org website.

Tips for night photography Along with using a slow shutter speed, play with the different colour temperature settings on your camera to get different colour effects from the artificial lights in your shot.

Along with using a slow shutter speed, play with the different colour temperature settings on your camera to get different colour effects from the artificial lights in your shot. Set your camera on a tripod to capture the moving tail lights of a car streaking through your image, lit-up rides in motion at a local carnival, fireworks or star trails (BULB mode).

Set your camera on a tripod to capture the moving tail lights of a car streaking through your image, lit-up rides in motion at a local carnival, fireworks or star trails (BULB mode). Combine long exposure with flash or other light sources to show moments in time.

It stated that there was "a rigorous application process requiring applicants to demonstrate robust community support for dark sky protection and document designation-specific program requirements."

There are already 12 international dark sky reserve sites across the globe including Aoraki Mackenzie in New Zealand, Snowdonia National Park in the United Kingdom, and NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia.

According to the dark sky reserve guidelines, there are five requirements which must be met for eligibility as well as a set of minimum obligations including "The core of the proposed Dark Sty Reserve must be a public or a private land protected for scientific, natural, education, cultural, heritage and/or public enjoyment".

Applicants must also submit an extensive lightscape management plan in order to be considered for official accreditation.

While the Northern Territory Government did not have any plans to develop a reserve, the Department of Tourism and Culture supported the development of astro-tourism proposals.

"While we don't have any official reserves per se, anywhere further out than 10 kilometres from Alice Springs is an astronomers dream, in fact, the Northern Territory is well known among astrological groups for this, without the need for any new reserves," a spokesperson said.

"If there was interest from operators, this is something that could be considered further."

Shooting stars

Colin McGregor became interested in night photography when he moved to the Northern Territory two and a half years ago.

"I went out to Gem Tree, 140 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs, for a weekend and I looked at the night sky and thought 'OK, I've got to have a go at this', so I lined my camera up at the sky and just started shooting," he said.

Colin McGregor, amateur nature photographer has been experimenting with night photography. ( ABC Weather: Kate Doyle )

"I don't look through the viewfinder because you don't get an accurate indication of what's going on because of the colour of the sky. It's pretty dark. You know you see some stars but you don't see a lot.

"So I find on the smaller lenses the wide angle lenses you're getting a very broad spectrum of the sky."

Night photography is more complex given the light sources are limited.

"I was always of the impression my SLR wouldn't take what I wanted because it was a night sky. There was nothing to focus on," he said.

"So I started to read about it and they said you don't focus on anything you used what is called the five hundred rule which sets up your shutter speed which is 500 divided by the length of the lens you're using. And when I did that I got the effects I wanted.

"So I've developed it from there. I've now put a big lens on the camera and I'm still experimenting with that one."