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Elan Valley - Pont Ar Elan

Elan Valley - Pont Ar Elan

Elan Valley, Rhayader, Powys, LD6, Wales

Best time to visit

Remote car park in a dark sky location. Take blankets and a thermos of hot chocolate… Perfect!

Elan Valley - Pont Ar Elan 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

  • 30/11/23

    0° 0%

  • 30/11/23

    -2° 0%

  • 01/12/23

    -2° 0%

  • 01/12/23

    -3° 0%

Weather forecast for Rhayader (4.8 miles away) updated 30/11/23 at 04:00.

Local light pollution

Elan Valley - Pont Ar Elan 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 Elan Valley - Pont Ar Elan

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 Thu 30th Nov

Thu 30th Nov

Waning Gibbous
92 % illuminated
Dark from 17:28 to 18:16
Dark for 0h 47m
Moon phase on Fri 1st Dec

Fri 1st Dec

Waning Gibbous
86 % illuminated
Dark from 17:28 to 19:29
Dark for 2h 0m
Moon phase on Sat 2nd Dec

Sat 2nd Dec

Waning Gibbous
79 % illuminated
Dark from 17:28 to 20:44
Dark for 3h 16m
Moon phase on Sun 3rd Dec

Sun 3rd Dec

Waning Gibbous
71 % illuminated
Dark from 17:27 to 21:59
Dark for 4h 31m
Moon phase on Mon 4th Dec

Mon 4th Dec

Third Quarter
62 % illuminated
Dark from 17:27 to 23:11
Dark for 5h 43m
Moon phase on Tue 5th Dec

Tue 5th Dec

Third Quarter
52 % illuminated
Dark from 17:26 to 00:22
Dark for 6h 55m
Moon phase on Wed 6th Dec

Wed 6th Dec

Third Quarter
43 % illuminated
Dark from 17:26 to 01:34
Dark for 8h 7m

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

  • Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons with Dark Sky Wales

    Tuesday 5th December 2023 from 18:00pm to 19:30pm

    Brecon - Libanus Mountain Centre, Brecon, LD3 8ER (28.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons with Dark Sky Wales

    Tuesday 5th December 2023 from 20:30pm to 22:00pm

    Brecon - Libanus Mountain Centre, Brecon, LD3 8ER (28.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons with Dark Sky Wales

    Wednesday 6th December 2023 from 18:00pm to 19:30pm

    Brecon - Libanus Mountain Centre, Brecon, LD3 8ER (28.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons with Dark Sky Wales

    Wednesday 6th December 2023 from 20:30pm to 22:00pm

    Brecon - Libanus Mountain Centre, Brecon, LD3 8ER (28.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons with Dark Sky Wales

    Thursday 7th December 2023 from 18:00pm to 19:30pm

    Brecon - Libanus Mountain Centre, Brecon, LD3 8ER (28.5 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Penbont House Tearooms, Bed and Breakfast

    Penbont House, Elan Valley, LH6 5HS (2.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Elan Valley Dark Sky Lodge

    Elan Village, Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5HP (4.5 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Cwm Clyd Bunkhouse

    Claerwen Valley, Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5HF (5.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Belan Bluebell Woods Camping & Glamping

    Pantmaenog Farm, Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6QL (7.0 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Dolgoch Hostel

    Abergwesyn, Ceredigion, Dyfed, SY25 6NR, Wales (11.3 miles away)

    Dark Sky Discovery Site, Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Hafren Forest Bunkhouse

    The Old Weather Station, Staylittle, Powys, SY19 7DB (11.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info