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Idle Valley Nature Reserve

Idle Valley Nature Reserve

North Road, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 8RQ

Best time to visit

Idle Valley Nature Reserve is a private location and is only accessible out of normal hours for stargazing by prior arrangement or when public events are scheduled.

Weather forecast

  • 27/05/25

    14° 57%

  • 27/05/25

    13° 9%

  • 28/05/25

    12° 6%

Weather forecast for Retford (1.5 miles away) updated 27/05/25 at 20:01.

Local light pollution

Idle Valley Nature Reserve is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to asemi-rural semi-rural 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 Idle Valley Nature Reserve

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 27th May

Tue 27th May

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 22:17 to 01:41
Dark for 3h 23m
Moon phase on Wed 28th May

Wed 28th May

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 22:56 to 01:39
Dark for 2h 43m
Moon phase on Thu 29th May

Thu 29th May

Waxing Crescent
5 % illuminated
Dark from 23:44 to 01:37
Dark for 1h 53m
Moon phase on Fri 30th May

Fri 30th May

Waxing Crescent
11 % illuminated
Dark from 00:12 to 01:35
Dark for 1h 23m
Moon phase on Sat 31st May

Sat 31st May

Waxing Crescent
19 % illuminated
Dark from 00:31 to 01:32
Dark for 1h 1m
Moon phase on Sun 1st Jun

Sun 1st Jun

Waxing Crescent
29 % illuminated
Dark from 00:44 to 01:30
Dark for 0h 46m
Moon phase on Mon 2nd Jun

Mon 2nd Jun

First Quarter
38 % illuminated
Dark from 00:54 to 01:28
Dark for 0h 34m

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

  • Bassetlaw Astronomical Society meeting

    Wednesday 28th May 2025 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Gateford Park Primary School, Worksop, S81 7AL (6.9 miles away)

    More info

  • Ilkeston & District Astronomical Society informal meeting

    Wednesday 28th May 2025 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Shipley Country Park Visitors Centre, Shipley, DE75 7GX (28.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society Meeting

    Thursday 29th May 2025 from 19:45pm to 22:00pm

    St John's Church Hall - Mexborough, Mexborough, S64 0ER (16.7 miles away)

    More info

  • WYAS Young Astronomers Club

    Friday 30th May 2025 from 19:30pm to 20:30pm

    Rosse Observatory, Pontefract, WF8 3RJ (27.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Chesterfield Barnett Observatory open evening (visitors welcome)

    Friday 30th May 2025 from 20:00pm to 21:30pm

    Chesterfield Barnett Observatory, Chesterfield, S41 8RH (20.8 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

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