Telescopes for beginners | free mobile app

Cow Green Reservoir

Cow Green Reservoir

Upper Teesdale, Langdon Beck, County Durham, DL12

Best time to visit

Wonderful remote location to observe equally wonderful dark skies, at an altitude of 480m this location has free car parking all year round.

Cow Green Reservoir 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

  • 06/05/24

    9° 74%

  • 06/05/24

    8° 35%

  • 07/05/24

    7° 22%

  • 07/05/24

    7° 22%

Weather forecast for Viewing Hill (1.9 miles away) updated 06/05/24 at 04:00.

Local light pollution

Cow Green Reservoir is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to adark site dark site 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 Cow Green Reservoir

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 Mon 6th May

Mon 6th May

Waning Crescent
6 % illuminated
Dark from 21:38 to 02:29
Dark for 4h 50m
Moon phase on Tue 7th May

Tue 7th May

New Moon
2 % illuminated
Dark from 21:41 to 02:26
Dark for 4h 44m
Moon phase on Wed 8th May

Wed 8th May

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 21:44 to 02:23
Dark for 4h 38m
Moon phase on Thu 9th May

Thu 9th May

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 22:44 to 02:20
Dark for 3h 36m
Moon phase on Fri 10th May

Fri 10th May

Waxing Crescent
5 % illuminated
Dark from 00:01 to 02:17
Dark for 2h 16m
Moon phase on Sat 11th May

Sat 11th May

Waxing Crescent
10 % illuminated
Dark from 00:56 to 02:14
Dark for 1h 18m
Moon phase on Sun 12th May

Sun 12th May

Waxing Crescent
18 % illuminated
Dark from 01:31 to 02:11
Dark for 0h 40m

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

  • Reeth Informal Astronomy Group meeting & observing

    Thursday 9th May 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Fremington Village Hall, Reeth, DL11 6AR (24.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Eden Valley and Penrith Astronomy Group meeting and stargazing

    Thursday 23rd May 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Morland and Newby Village Hall, Penrith, CA10 3AS (14.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Durham Astronomical Society monthly meeting

    Friday 24th May 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Durham Botanic Garden, Durham, DH1 3TN (29.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Bishop Auckland Astronomical Society monthly meeting

    Friday 7th June 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Bishop Auckland Community Fire Station, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6RS (24.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Eden Valley and Penrith Astronomy Group meeting and stargazing

    Thursday 20th June 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Morland and Newby Village Hall, Penrith, CA10 3AS (14.2 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Yore Mill Starfall Apartment – Aysgarth

    Church Bank, Aysgarth, North Yorkshire, DL8 3SR (29.1 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • The Wensleydale Experience

    Swinithwaite, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4UH (29.5 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info