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Loch Venachar North Shore

Loch Venachar North Shore

Venachar, Callander, Perthshire, FK17 8HP

Best time to visit

Enjoy incredible views of star-filled skies above Loch Venachar at this free car park, set on the north shore with views across the water and recommended as an excellent place for stargazing by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The location forms part of the Callander’s Landscape Dark Skies Project.

Loch Venachar North Shore 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

  • 10/12/24

    -2° 0%

  • 10/12/24

    -3° 0%

  • 11/12/24

    -3° 1%

  • 11/12/24

    -3° 1%

Weather forecast for Aberfoyle (4.1 miles away) updated 10/12/24 at 16:01.

Local light pollution

Loch Venachar North Shore 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 Loch Venachar North Shore

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 10th Dec

Tue 10th Dec

First Quarter
65 % illuminated
Dark from 03:18 to 07:03
Dark for 3h 45m
Moon phase on Wed 11th Dec

Wed 11th Dec

Waxing Gibbous
76 % illuminated
Dark from 04:56 to 07:04
Dark for 2h 8m
Moon phase on Thu 12th Dec

Thu 12th Dec

Waxing Gibbous
85 % illuminated
Dark from 06:38 to 07:05
Dark for 0h 27m
Moon phase on Fri 13th Dec

Fri 13th Dec

Waxing Gibbous
92 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Sat 14th Dec

Sat 14th Dec

Full Moon
97 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Sun 15th Dec

Sun 15th Dec

Full Moon
100 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Mon 16th Dec

Mon 16th Dec

Full Moon
99 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS

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

  • Airdrie Observatory Open Evening

    Tuesday 10th December 2024 from 17:30pm to 19:00pm

    Airdrie Observatory, Airdrie, ML6 0AG (28.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Falkirk Astronomers monthly meeting

    Wednesday 11th December 2024 from 19:30pm to 22:00pm

    Old Peoples' Welfare Hall, Falkirk, FK2 9PS (27.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Airdrie Astronomical Association club meeting

    Friday 13th December 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    New Wellwynd Church - Airdrie, Airdrie, ML6 0AG (28.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing at Mugdock (Geminids Meteor Shower)

    Friday 13th December 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Mugdock Country Park, Milngavie, G62 8EL (17.6 miles away)

    More info

  • Stirling Astronomical Society / Falkirk Astronomers lecture meeting

    Friday 13th December 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Stirling Highland Hotel Observatory, Stirling, FK8 1DU (16.3 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

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