Milky Way at Gardu Pandang Selo Viewpoint

By Widhibek
Published September 10, 2021 | Adapted for NightSkyIndonesia.com

Mount Merapi stands silently wrapped in twinkling stars. Occasionally, streaks of light trace across the sky. A long white line stretches almost perpendicular to Merapi’s silhouette, forming a pillar guarding the heavens. Fortunately, no fog appeared tonight—the usual culprit during mountain hunts. Vehicle lights pass by, illuminating trees and revealing details and silhouettes before darkness returns as they round bends and disappear.

With two cameras mounted on tripods, I savored the star-filled night sky, occasionally pressing the shutter release cable as the “click” signaled the camera’s operation. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed such nights. The ongoing pandemic has kept me mostly indoors. But my determination to experience mountain air companionship with stars brought me here this evening, accompanied by my cameras.

The Journey to Selo

It’s been ages since traveling this alternative route to Magelang, flanked by Mounts Merbabu and Merapi—everything feels unfamiliar now. Numerous eateries and hangout spots line both sides of the road. Homestays and lodges dot tourist villages. Former gardens are now leveled with foundations rising. Cafes with stunning views of Merbabu and Merapi abound. Social media overflows with photos of warm coffee against breathtaking backdrops. This route reminds me of past journeys with someone once pursued long ago, but fate had other plans.

Drone Signal Issues

Sunset rays began dimming through the trees as my motorcycle navigated winding roads. Mountain chill prompted zipping my jacket to the neck. Occasional squinting against blinding sun rays hitting my glasses. As the sun neared the horizon, I turned toward the village road, launching my DJI Mavic Air drone to document the sunset.

Lately, my Mavic Air has been troublesome—frequent connection drops, blank video feeds, and even Return to Home (RTH) warnings despite flying only ~150m at 30m altitude. Anyone else experiencing similar DJI Mavic Air issues? It makes me hesitant to fly with such unreliable connections.

Signal became too unstable, so I recalled the drone. Minimal footage captured under these conditions. What a loss—the sunset between Merapi and Merbabu silhouettes was stunning.

![Sunset Rays and Merapi]

Sunset Approaches

I gunned the motorcycle along mountain roads toward a curve-side location. Google showed open views directly to Merapi. Pre-departure, I checked Stellarium and Google Earth for Milky Way positioning. Early September positioning isn’t ideal—Milky Way rises perpendicular post-sunset, then descends southwest. Optimal spot is actually before Selo, positioning Merapi southwest so Milky Way crowns directly above the peak.

Stopped briefly roadside as sunset rays struck Merapi’s ridge. Occasional smoke plumes rose from the crater.

Arrival at Gardu Pandang Selo

The viewpoint was newly renovated with parking and selfie markers. I scouted for interesting foregrounds, but Merapi’s majestic ridge seemed sufficient alone. Darkness approached quickly, making foreground hunting tricky. Settled on flat ground likely for tents. Foreground: dense trees, villages, and Merapi’s ridge ahead.

Full Gear Setup

Brought comprehensive gear: two bodies (Canon 6D, Canon EOS R), lenses (Canon 24-105 f/4, Canon 70-200 f/4, Samyang 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 35mm f/1.4), Sky Adventurer tracker (nicknamed “Transformer” by friends), two tripods, pano head, cable releases, dew heater. Pre-checked Pixel TC-252 intervalometer with EOS R failed inexplicably—left it home due to time constraints. Used Yongnuo RF603C II wireless remote (works as cable remote for EOS R but no intervalometer/continuous shooting—manual pressing required). Canon 6D with Magic Lantern handles intervalometer and >30s bulb exposures seamlessly.

Challenge: Hauling extensive gear to walk-in locations, especially mountains. Trackers usually stay home for climbs. Fortunately, only ~10m walk from parking—both cameras stood proudly on tripods.

![Canon 6D + Sky Tracker]

Star Tracker Setup

Left side: Canon 6D + Samyang 14mm on tracker. Precise polar alignment is complex, especially for telephoto deep-sky objects. For wide-angle short exposures, basic south-facing level alignment sufficed. 2-minute test showed tolerable star shift—not for large prints but adequate.

Tracker Advantages:

Longer exposures vs. standard 30s limit (Samyang 14mm shows trails without).
Achieved 2-minute exposures with minimal shift despite imperfect alignment.
Enables normal lenses (f/4+)—no need for fast apertures.
Supports telephoto for galaxies/nebulae.

![Milky Way Stretch over Merapi]

Panorama Head Setup

Right side: EOS R + Sigma 35mm on pano head for wider Merapi-Milky Way composition. Possible without pano head by shooting overlapping frames (~25% overlap) for stitching.

Pano Head Benefits: Panorama + 360° capability. Here, targeted perpendicular Milky Way beside Merapi. (360° impossible behind due to lights causing overexposure.) Future darker locations for full Milky Way 360° panoramas planned.

![EOS R + Pano Head]

![Milky Way – Merapi]

![Merapi Glowing]

360° Panorama: Milky Way at Gardu Pandang Selo

Interactive 360° panorama—rotate left/right/up/down to explore surroundings.

Packing Up

Time flies during beloved activities. 3 hours passed unnoticed. Two chocolates and a coffee bottle consumed an hour ago. Double jackets kept me warm. Spotting fast-moving white clouds rightward, I quickly packed up. Target return: 10 PM, as Milky Way descends toward horizon, fading against light pollution.

Stopped briefly near Selo market bridge for frames, but light pollution and intermittent fog ruined shots. Headed home along winding roads with Milky Way frames captured.

NightSkyIndonesia.com Additions:

Perfect Bali Alternative: Similar Merapi-like dramatic ridges with minimal pollution.
Gear Tips: Samyang 14mm + tracker combo unbeatable for Indonesian dark skies.
Join Discord: Share your Merapi/Bali Milky Way hunts and troubleshoot drone issues.

Ready for your mountain Milky Way adventure? Check our complete Milky Way guide and plan via Stellarium!bloggers.feedspot+1

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