Journey to the SKA telescope and beyond the Milky Way

The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, a joint venture between The University of Western Australia and Curtin University, worked with WA production company White Spark Pictures to create new virtual reality documentary Beyond the Milky Way.

Guided by scientists, experts and Wajarri Yamaji, the traditional owners of the region and descendants of some of the world’s first astronomers — the documentary allows viewers to step on to the future West Australian site of the Square Kilometre Array telescope and shows the sky in 360°.

Pete Wheeler, ICRAR’s Communications, Outreach & Education Manager, has been working with White Spark Pictures since the start of last year to create the VR documentary about the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory.

“White Spark already had an award-winning production under their belt called The Antarctica Experience, which has become one of the top 10 highest-grossing, theatrically released Australian documentaries ever made,” Mr Wheeler said. 

Image: White Spark Pictures producer Jess Black on site at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory with ICRAR astronomer Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker and the 360-degree camera used to shoot the documentary. Credit: Pete Wheeler, ICRAR.

“I had always wanted to do something in VR and the ICRAR outreach team had been dabbling in the domain for several years with content like GLEAMOSCOPE VR. 

“I saw a natural parallel between Antarctica – a remote location, most people will never get to meet, doing science – and the observatory in the Murchison."

Mr Wheeler went on to help shoot the 25-minute film, which features ICRAR scientists and is narrated by British physicist and TV science presenter Professor Brian Cox.

"I even helped capture some of the overnight astrophotography time lapses, holed up in a Prado every night for the best part of a week despite temperatures getting down to a couple of degrees,” Mr Wheeler said.

“Even with bad weather all year, COVID lockdowns, technical problems and hordes of flies, we’ve been on a fantastic journey to film the telescopes at the observatory and capture the deep indigenous culture of the Murchison region.”

The film screens at WA Museum Boola Bardip from Saturday December 11 to Monday February 14.  For young visitors and those unable to wear a VR headset, the film is also projected in a 2D cinema format.

Beyond the Milky Way is a White Spark Pictures production with principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest & Lotterywest. Financed with support from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, ICRAR, CSIRO- Australia’s national science agency, the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre, Scitech and Inspiring Australia, SKA Observatory, ASTRO 3D- the ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions and WA Museum.