Travel tips

Bromo Milky Way: The Best Time and Tips To Capture It

03 September 2024
Blog Author David Junior

Mount Bromo has become one of the favorite natural destinations in East Java, Indonesia. Many international and domestic tourists visit Mount Bromo to trek and view the sunrise. But, did you know that there is one attraction in Mount Bromo that you should not miss out on?

Everyone might be coming for the Sea of Sand, white-cloudy scenery, or sunrise. Yet, many people also come for Mount Bromo Milky Way. Yes! You should not miss out on the Bromo Milky Way when you visit this mountain.  

The Milky Way galaxy, which encompasses the Solar System, gets its name from how it appears in the night sky from Earth: a fuzzy strip of light made up of stars too close to be seen separately.

This article will guide you to enjoy the Bromo Milky Way, including tips for taking the best pictures of the Milky Way in the Bromo area. 

Best Time to Witness the Bromo Milky Way

The best time to view the Milky Way in Mount Bromo is at night. This is because, at noon, the sunlight is more dominant than the galaxy, making it invisible to the naked eye. 

Then, you must ensure that the sky is clear, meaning that there is no full moonlight or cloud. This means that the best time to see the Bromo Milky Way is on the new moon so that there is no light distracting the Milky Way. 

Not only that, make sure that you know the Bromo Milky Way’s rising time and its direction. An application like Stellarium will help you figure out when and from where it will rise. 

It is important to know that the Bromo Milky Way always moves from east to west with the south as the axis. The rising time is also different each month. At some moment, the Milky Way can rise at 1-4 am, but it is possible for it to rise at 7-11 pm. 

Where to Capture the Bromo Milky Way?

Actually, you can choose any spot on Mount Bromo for Milky Way hunting as long as the sky is clear. But, it is best to choose a place where there is no dominant light from the food stall, villagers, etc.

If you are confused about where to capture the Bromo Milky Way, here are some recommended spots for you. 

1. Mentigen Hill

The first spot is Mentigen Hill which is located in Ngadisari, Probolinggo. This hill has a height of 2,273 meters above sea level, making it appropriate for the Bromo Milky Way hunting. 

On this hill, you can see the sea of sand, Mount Batok, and Mount Semeru. Most importantly, you can set a camp here as you hunt the Milky Way pictures. To get to Mentigen Hill, you can walk from Cemara Lawang for 8 km or ride a jeep. 

2. Love Hill

The next Bromo Milky Way spot is Love Hill. Love Hill is one of the popular sunrise viewpoints in Mount Bromo. But, you can also view the Milky Way here. 

3. Pananjakan 1

Pananjakan 1 is the highest peak on Mount Bromo with a height of 2,770 above sea level. No wonder that Pananjakan 1 is believed to be the best sunrise and Milky Way viewpoint. 

Since it is the highest peak, the temperature on Pananjakan 1 can be lower than other viewpoints, especially at night. Thus, it is best to wear warm and thick attire.

4. Pananjakan 2

As popular as Pananjakan 1, Pananjakan 2 can also be on your Bromo Milky Way viewpoint. Pananjakan 2 is located in Seruni Village, Sukapura. This spot can be cramped during holiday, so make sure you choose the best time for Bromo Milky Way hunting. 

How to Capture the Perfect Shot of the Bromo Milky Way?

After knowing the best time to see the Bromo Milky Way, let’s learn about the tips for capturing the perfect shot of the Bromo Milky Way. 

You can capture the galaxy using a phone, mirrorless camera, or DSLR camera. Also, you cannot miss a tripod in your Bromo Milky Way hunting to stabilize your camera. A tripod is important because your phone or camera will take the picture in long exposure, meaning that it will capture the light for a long time in a static position. Therefore, if your camera or phone moves even an inch, the result can be blurry. 

Besides bringing a tripod, you should know other photo tips to get the best picture of the Bromo Milky Way. Here are the details. 

1. Get the Best Spot and Time

As mentioned before, the best time for Bromo Milky Way hunting is at night, when the sky is clear, and when there is no dominant light. Therefore, you must choose the best spot where the light is less. 

2. Set Your Camera

The next tip for Bromo Milky Way hunting is to set your camera up for taking photos. If you are using a phone, you can set the camera to manual mode. Then, you must make some adjustments to the setting since you will capture a far object in a dark area: 

  • Set your aperture (f5.0, f4.0, f3.0). The smaller the aperture number, the wider the window on the camera opens. which means it is also more sensitive to receiving incoming light.
  • Set your ISO. ISO is the sensitivity of the camera sensor in receiving incoming light. The number varies from 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, etc. The larger the number, the more sensitive the camera sensor is in receiving light.
  • Set your shutter speed. Shutter speed is the rate at which the camera's shutter closes. A photographer can get a longer exposure time with a slow shutter speed and a shorter exposure time with a fast shutter speed.

3. Edit Your Photo

After catching the Bromo Milky Way, you can edit it with tools like Adobe Lightroom to make it more captivating. You can adjust the contrast, color, and details of the photo through the photo editing application to make it more attractive.

Those are the ins and outs of the Bromo Milky Way that you must know. If you plan to visit this mountain, do not forget to enjoy the Milky Way. Then, make sure that you prepare your trip neatly to get the best experience. 

In this case, you can trust Cheap Bromo! You can choose your desired Mount Bromo packages with us. Book your trip now!