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Otford Solar System

Otford Solar System

Otford, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 5PQ

Best time to visit

The Otford Solar System is a scale model of the solar system constructed in and around the village of Otford in southeast England.

The model, formed of reflective domes on plinths with information plaques, accurately represents the positions of the planets at the turn of the millennium, 1st January 2000, all in relation to the Sun. The Sun and the nearby planets are all located in the village playing field with short walks to the next nearest planets.

Interestingly, the model not only extends to the distant planets Neptune, Uranus and Pluto (a couple of miles outside of the village!), it also includes four of the nearest stars, to scale and at approximately at the correct distance. Due to the vast distances involved the nearest star to the Sun, Proxima Centauri, is located in Los Angeles, Barnard’s Star in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, Sirius in Sydney, Australia and Ross 154 in Christchurch, New Zealand!

Otford Solar System is a Go Stargazing Site. The location has been identified by the Go Stargazing team as a good location for stargazing based on local light pollution levels, distance from nearby towns and cities and offers a safe place to park.

Weather forecast

  • 12/07/26

    24° 0%

  • 12/07/26

    23° 0%

  • 12/07/26

    21° 1%

  • 13/07/26

    18° 1%

Weather forecast for Sevenoaks (3.0 miles away) updated 12/07/26 at 06:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Otford Solar System is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a suburban location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite. For more advanced light pollution data, view this location on DarkSkySites.

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

Light pollution map of Otford Solar System

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 Sun 12th Jul

Sun 12th Jul

Waning Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 22:02 to 02:01
Dark for 3h 58m
Moon phase on Mon 13th Jul

Mon 13th Jul

New Moon
3 % illuminated
Dark from 22:01 to 02:11
Dark for 4h 9m
Moon phase on Tue 14th Jul

Tue 14th Jul

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 21:59 to 02:13
Dark for 4h 13m
Moon phase on Wed 15th Jul

Wed 15th Jul

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 21:57 to 02:15
Dark for 4h 17m
Moon phase on Thu 16th Jul

Thu 16th Jul

New Moon
4 % illuminated
Dark from 21:55 to 02:17
Dark for 4h 21m
Moon phase on Fri 17th Jul

Fri 17th Jul

Waxing Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 21:53 to 02:19
Dark for 4h 25m
Moon phase on Sat 18th Jul

Sat 18th Jul

Waxing Crescent
17 % illuminated
Dark from 21:51 to 02:21
Dark for 4h 29m

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

  • Planetarium Go! at Zip World London

    Sunday 12th July 2026 from 10:00am to 18:00pm

    Zip World London at ArcelorMittal Orbit, London, E20 2AD (17.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience at the Science Museum

    Sunday 12th July 2026 from 10:00am to 17:00pm

    Science Museum, London, SW7 2DD (20.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Solar viewing at Hampstead Observatory(free!)

    Sunday 12th July 2026 from 10:00am to 13:00pm

    Hampstead Observatory, Hampstead, NW3 1DU (23.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Planetarium Go! at Zip World London

    Monday 13th July 2026 from 10:00am to 18:00pm

    Zip World London at ArcelorMittal Orbit, London, E20 2AD (17.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience at the Science Museum

    Monday 13th July 2026 from 10:00am to 17:00pm

    Science Museum, London, SW7 2DD (20.0 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

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