Telescopes for beginners | free mobile app

County Gate Car Park

County Gate Car Park

County Gate, Oare, Somerset, TA24

Best time to visit

Car park location listed as a great place to stargaze in Exmoor National Park, as mentioned in the Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve pocket guide.

County Gate Car Park is a Dark Sky Discovery Site, an officially recognised place where anyone can stargaze. Most such locations have overnight parking (sometimes with a fee); however, many do not allow overnight camping. There may or may not be toilet facilities.

Weather forecast

  • 11/05/24

    20° 1%

  • 11/05/24

    16° 0%

  • 12/05/24

    16° 1%

  • 12/05/24

    14° 3%

Weather forecast for Caddow Combe (2.6 miles away) updated 11/05/24 at 16:00.

Local light pollution

County Gate Car Park is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to arural rural location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite.

The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.

Light pollution map of County Gate Car Park

Best time to visit

The Moon has a big impact on the visibility of celestial bodies in the night sky. Try to plan your stargazing when there is no bright Moon at night as this is when the skies will be at their darkest.

The below chart shows when the skies will be at their darkest at this location and therefore the best time to visit. Moonlight is shown in light yellow and the Sun's twilight in light blue. Midnight on the date shown is shown as a white line with sunset to the left and sunrise the next morning to the right. A black background with stars shows the best times for stargazing. See our dark sky calendar for more details.

Moon phase on Sat 11th May

Sat 11th May

Waxing Crescent
10 % illuminated
Dark from 00:32 to 02:52
Dark for 2h 20m
Moon phase on Sun 12th May

Sun 12th May

Waxing Crescent
18 % illuminated
Dark from 01:11 to 02:50
Dark for 1h 39m
Moon phase on Mon 13th May

Mon 13th May

Waxing Crescent
26 % illuminated
Dark from 01:38 to 02:48
Dark for 1h 10m
Moon phase on Tue 14th May

Tue 14th May

First Quarter
36 % illuminated
Dark from 01:57 to 02:45
Dark for 0h 48m
Moon phase on Wed 15th May

Wed 15th May

First Quarter
45 % illuminated
Dark from 02:11 to 02:43
Dark for 0h 32m
Moon phase on Thu 16th May

Thu 16th May

First Quarter
55 % illuminated
Dark from 02:22 to 02:41
Dark for 0h 19m
Moon phase on Fri 17th May

Fri 17th May

First Quarter
64 % illuminated
Dark from 02:33 to 02:39
Dark for 0h 6m

Find more dates

If you are planning to visit this location check our dark sky calendar to find out when is best!

Calendar

Events nearby

Display nearby events on a calendar

  • Landscape Astrophotography Course

    Saturday 25th January 2025 from 13:00pm to 14:30pm

    Lynmouth National Park Centre, Lynmouth, EX35 6EQ (4.5 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Newhouse Farm Cottages – Witheridge

    Witheridge, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 8QB (20.5 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Freshwell Camping Croyde

    Moor Lane, Braunton, Devon, EX33 1NU (22.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Lower Whitsleigh Farm

    Roborough, Winkleigh, Devon, EX19 8TU, South West England (24.7 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info