A small Mallee town is preparing to almost double in size this coming weekend — provided the flooding situation in Victoria doesn't hit it any harder than it already has.
About 450 people from across Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales are expected to pack Sea Lake, which is set to hold its largest Astro Fest between Saturday and Monday.
Astronomical Society of Victoria president Mark Iscaro said guests would view the Sun, stars and galaxies through telescopes out at Lake Tyrell.
They will also hear keynote addresses from astronomers and astrophysicists.
"We have [guests] from Swinburne University attending for kids' astronomy sessions, and learning nightscape and silo art photography," he told ABC Wimmera Breakfast.
"I've seen a lot of wonderful images from our astrophotographers from Lake Tyrell, but this will be the first time under the stars for me."
Mr Iscaro got into astronomy through the passion of his son, a budding astrophysicist.
"We'll be having a good look at Saturn and Jupiter, and hopefully if the skies are nice and clear we will get a look at our closest neighbour the Andromeda Galaxy as well, Tarantula Nebula and globular clusters like 47-Tikarne," he said.
"We've got other events happening in Sea Lake to get as many people up as possible from a tourism point of view.
"That's the main driving factor."
Mr Iscaro said the society had been closely looking at the roads into and out of Sea Lake to make sure they were safe.
Water at Sea Lake
Tyrell Creek empties into Lake Tyrrell and runs past Sea Lake, and is currently overflowing.
Tour operator Julie Pringle said Sea Lake-Swan Hill Road and the road to Lake Tyrell's viewing platform had closed as a result, but the Calder Highway was open with some detours in place.
"We are hoping the water doesn't keep everyone away," she said.
"The viewing platform is underwater, we are monitoring it daily so hopefully the water goes down as quickly as it came up.
She said it was paddocks, not the town that was affected.
"At this stage it is 100 per cent going ahead," she said.
"I know it is fining up later this week.
"The ground is dry here so it absorbs the moisture quickly."
