Telescopes for beginners | free mobile app

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

  • 26/04/24

    8° 11%

  • 26/04/24

    6° 13%

  • 27/04/24

    5° 20%

  • 27/04/24

    4° 20%

Weather forecast for Rhayader (4.8 miles away) updated 26/04/24 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 Fri 26th Apr

Fri 26th Apr

Waning Gibbous
96 % illuminated
Dark from 20:59 to 23:11
Dark for 2h 11m
Moon phase on Sat 27th Apr

Sat 27th Apr

Waning Gibbous
91 % illuminated
Dark from 21:02 to 00:23
Dark for 3h 20m
Moon phase on Sun 28th Apr

Sun 28th Apr

Waning Gibbous
84 % illuminated
Dark from 21:04 to 01:23
Dark for 4h 18m
Moon phase on Mon 29th Apr

Mon 29th Apr

Waning Gibbous
76 % illuminated
Dark from 21:06 to 02:05
Dark for 4h 58m
Moon phase on Tue 30th Apr

Tue 30th Apr

Third Quarter
66 % illuminated
Dark from 21:09 to 02:34
Dark for 5h 24m
Moon phase on Wed 1st May

Wed 1st May

Third Quarter
55 % illuminated
Dark from 21:11 to 02:55
Dark for 5h 43m
Moon phase on Thu 2nd May

Thu 2nd May

Third Quarter
44 % illuminated
Dark from 21:14 to 03:06
Dark for 5h 51m

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

    Sunday 28th April 2024 from 23:00pm to Monday 29th April 2024 00:30am

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

    More info

  • Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons with Dark Sky Wales

    Monday 29th April 2024 from 23:00pm to Tuesday 30th April 2024 00:30am

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

    More info

  • Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons with Dark Sky Wales

    Tuesday 30th April 2024 from 23:00pm to Wednesday 1st May 2024 00:30am

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

    More info

  • Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons with Dark Sky Wales

    Wednesday 1st May 2024 from 23:00pm to Thursday 2nd May 2024 00:30am

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

    More info

  • Cambrian Mountains Stargazing Weekend – May 2024

    Friday 3rd May 2024 from 16:00pm to Sunday 5th May 2024 12:00pm

    Wigwam Holidays Hafren, Staylittle, SY19 7BY (13.2 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Llanerchindda Farm

    Cynghordy, Llandovery, Dyfed, SA20 0NB (18.2 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Cambrian Escapes Dark Skies Camping

    Penstacan, Cilycwm, Dyfed, SA20 0TF (21.3 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Basel Cottage – Little Hall

    Little Hall, Llandovery, Dyfed, SA20 0YW (22.3 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • The Bull Pens – Brecon

    Llanfihangel Nant Bran, Brecon, Powys, LD3 9LY (23.7 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Aberyscir Coach House – Brecon

    Aberyscir, Brecon, Powys, LD3 9NP (26.2 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Pengenffordd Barn – Brecon

    Upper Trewalkin Farm, Talgarth, Powys, LD3 0HA (29.6 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info