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Dunkery Beacon

Dunkery Beacon

Exmoor National Park, North West of Wheddon Cross, Somerset, TA24

Best time to visit

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

Dunkery Beacon 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

  • 17/05/24

    14° 4%

  • 17/05/24

    12° 3%

  • 18/05/24

    12° 4%

  • 18/05/24

    11° 1%

Weather forecast for Dunkery Beacon (0.6 miles away) updated 17/05/24 at 12:00.

Local light pollution

Dunkery Beacon 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 Dunkery Beacon

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 Fri 17th May

Fri 17th May

First Quarter
64 % illuminated
Dark from 02:32 to 02:39
Dark for 0h 7m
Moon phase on Sat 18th May

Sat 18th May

Waxing Gibbous
73 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Sun 19th May

Sun 19th May

Waxing Gibbous
81 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Mon 20th May

Mon 20th May

Waxing Gibbous
88 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Tue 21st May

Tue 21st May

Waxing Gibbous
93 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Wed 22nd May

Wed 22nd May

Full Moon
97 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Thu 23rd May

Thu 23rd May

Full Moon
100 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS

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

  • Barry Astronomical Society meeting

    Monday 20th January 2025 from 19:30pm to 22:00pm

    Cemetery Approach Community Centre, Barry, CF62 8BQ (22.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Landscape Astrophotography Course

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

    Lynmouth National Park Centre, Lynmouth, EX35 6EQ (12.1 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 (16.6 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Lower Whitsleigh Farm

    Roborough, Winkleigh, Devon, EX19 8TU, South West England (25.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Freshwell Camping Croyde

    Moor Lane, Braunton, Devon, EX33 1NU (28.6 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info