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Knowlton Church and Earthworks - English Heritage

Knowlton Church and Earthworks - English Heritage

Knowlton, Wimbourne, Dorset, BH21 5AE

Best time to visit

This English Heritage property is an officially recognised Dark Sky Discovery Site in the Cranbourne Chase Dark Sky Reserve. The location has limited parking with only a small lay-by, however offers fantastic dark skies and a building making an excellent subject for astrophotography. Photo used with kind permission from Anthony Young.

Knowlton Church and Earthworks - English Heritage 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

  • 09/08/22

    24° 4%

  • 09/08/22

    17° 0%

  • 10/08/22

    16° 0%

  • 10/08/22

    16° 0%

Weather forecast for Cranborne Manor Gardens (2.6 miles away) updated 09/08/22 at 20:00.

Local light pollution

Knowlton Church and Earthworks - English Heritage is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to arural rural location based on data from the VIIRS satellite.

The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.

Light pollution map of Knowlton Church and Earthworks - English Heritage

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.

Tue 9th Aug

Waxing Gibbous
87% illuminated
Dark from 01:49 to 03:21
Dark for 1h 32m

Wed 10th Aug

Waxing Gibbous
94% illuminated
Dark from 03:14 to 03:23
Dark for 0h 9m

Thu 11th Aug

Full Moon
98% illuminated
NO DARKNESS

Fri 12th Aug

Full Moon
100% illuminated
NO DARKNESS

Sat 13th Aug

Full Moon
99% illuminated
NO DARKNESS

Sun 14th Aug

Waning Gibbous
95% illuminated
Dark from 20:55 to 20:58
Dark for 0h 2m

Mon 15th Aug

Waning Gibbous
88% illuminated
Dark from 20:53 to 21:13
Dark for 0h 19m

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

  • Perseids Meteors at Durlston Astronomy Centre

    Friday 12th August 2022 from 21:00pm to 23:00pm

    Durlston Astronomy Centre and Observatory, Swanage, BH19 2JL (20.5 miles away)

    More info

  • See the Perseids at Toothill Observatory

    Friday 12th August 2022 from 21:30pm to Saturday 13th August 2022 00:30am

    Toothill Observatory, Southampton, SO16 8AL (22.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Perseids Meteors at Durlston Astronomy Centre

    Saturday 13th August 2022 from 21:00pm to 23:00pm

    Durlston Astronomy Centre and Observatory, Swanage, BH19 2JL (20.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Solent Amateur Astronomers meeting

    Tuesday 16th August 2022 from 19:15pm to 20:15pm

    Oasis Academy, Southampton, SO16 8FA (22.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Toothill Observatory Public Open Evening – August 2022

    Friday 26th August 2022 from 20:30pm to 23:30pm

    Toothill Observatory, Southampton, SO16 8AL (22.7 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

  • DreamAcres – Cranborne Chase

    Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4LP (9.7 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info