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

  • 30/04/24

    8° 90%

  • 30/04/24

    8° 84%

  • 01/05/24

    7° 8%

  • 01/05/24

    7° 12%

Weather forecast for Rhayader (4.8 miles away) updated 30/04/24 at 20:00.

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 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
Moon phase on Fri 3rd May

Fri 3rd May

Third Quarter
33 % illuminated
Dark from 21:16 to 03:03
Dark for 5h 46m
Moon phase on Sat 4th May

Sat 4th May

Waning Crescent
23 % illuminated
Dark from 21:18 to 03:00
Dark for 5h 41m
Moon phase on Sun 5th May

Sun 5th May

Waning Crescent
14 % illuminated
Dark from 21:21 to 02:58
Dark for 5h 36m
Moon phase on Mon 6th May

Mon 6th May

Waning Crescent
6 % illuminated
Dark from 21:23 to 02:55
Dark for 5h 31m

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

  • Night Photography Workshop with Dafydd Wyn Morgan

    Friday 6th September 2024 from 19:00pm to Saturday 7th September 2024 22:00pm

    Strata Florida Abbey, Pontrhydfendigaid, SY25 6ES (10.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Newtown Astronomy Society meeting and observing

    Saturday 14th September 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Plas Dolerw, Newtown, SY16 2EH (17.6 miles away)

    More info

  • Newtown Astronomy Society meeting and observing

    Saturday 12th October 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Plas Dolerw, Newtown, SY16 2EH (17.6 miles away)

    More info

  • Night Photography Workshop with Dafydd Wyn Morgan

    Friday 1st November 2024 from 19:00pm to Saturday 2nd November 2024 22:00pm

    Strata Florida Abbey, Pontrhydfendigaid, SY25 6ES (10.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Newtown Astronomy Society meeting and observing

    Saturday 9th November 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Plas Dolerw, Newtown, SY16 2EH (17.6 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Little Hill Lodges – Llandrindod Wells

    Little Hill Barn, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5NY (12.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Little Hill Lodges

    Little Hill Barn, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5NY (12.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Tyn Cornel Hostel

    Tregaron, Ceredigion, Dyfed, SY25 6PH, Wales (14.7 miles away)

    Dark Sky Discovery Site, Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Dol Swynol Glamping

    Lisburne House, Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, Dyfed, SY23 4LA (15.0 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Caer Beris

    Builth Wells, Powys, Powys, LD2 3NP (15.1 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Cae Madog Barn

    Bont Dolgadfan, Llanbrynmair, Powys, SY19 7AP (17.2 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info