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Dunstable Downs Chilterns Gateway Centre

Dunstable Downs Chilterns Gateway Centre

Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedforshire, LU6 2GY

Best time to visit

National Trust Visitor Centre atop the Dunstable Downs with fantastic views of the skies above and clear horizons all round.

Dunstable Downs Chilterns Gateway Centre is a private location and is only accessible out of normal hours for stargazing by prior arrangement or when public events are scheduled.

Location events organiser

National Trust

National Trust organises events at this location

Please contact National Trust directly with any enquiries relating to visiting this location

Email: [email protected]
Website: National Trust
Twitter: @nationaltrust
Facebook: National Trust

Weather forecast

  • 03/05/24

    10° 79%

  • 03/05/24

    9° 7%

  • 04/05/24

    8° 0%

  • 04/05/24

    7° 0%

Weather forecast for Dunstable (1.6 miles away) updated 03/05/24 at 12:00.

Local light pollution

Dunstable Downs Chilterns Gateway Centre is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to asuburban suburban 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 Dunstable Downs Chilterns Gateway Centre

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 3rd May

Fri 3rd May

Third Quarter
33 % illuminated
Dark from 21:00 to 02:54
Dark for 5h 53m
Moon phase on Sat 4th May

Sat 4th May

Waning Crescent
23 % illuminated
Dark from 21:03 to 02:51
Dark for 5h 47m
Moon phase on Sun 5th May

Sun 5th May

Waning Crescent
14 % illuminated
Dark from 21:05 to 02:49
Dark for 5h 43m
Moon phase on Mon 6th May

Mon 6th May

Waning Crescent
6 % illuminated
Dark from 21:08 to 02:46
Dark for 5h 38m
Moon phase on Tue 7th May

Tue 7th May

New Moon
2 % illuminated
Dark from 21:10 to 02:44
Dark for 5h 33m
Moon phase on Wed 8th May

Wed 8th May

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 21:12 to 02:41
Dark for 5h 28m
Moon phase on Thu 9th May

Thu 9th May

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 22:14 to 02:39
Dark for 4h 25m

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

  • St Neots Astronomy Association monthly meeting

    Monday 3rd June 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Little Paxton, PE19 6ET (29.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Open University Astronomy Club

    Tuesday 4th June 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Open University Robert Hooke Building, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA (13.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Maidenhead Astronomical Society meeting & observing

    Friday 7th June 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    St James-the-Less Church Hall, Maidenhead, SL6 6QW (25.4 miles away)

    More info

  • West of London Astronomical Society meeting – Uxbridge

    Monday 10th June 2024 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Christ Church Chapel - Uxbridge, Uxbridge, UB8 1SZ (22.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Hertford Astronomy Group meeting

    Wednesday 12th June 2024 from 20:00pm to 21:30pm

    University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AA (14.8 miles away)

    More info

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