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Pewsey Downs Car Park

Pewsey Downs Car Park

Alton Barnes, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 4JX

Best time to visit

This countryside car park, used by walkers during the day, makes for an excellent stargazing spot by night! This location is recommended for stargazing by the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.

Pewsey Downs Car Park has been recommended as a great place to stargaze by the local authority, national park, community organisation or property owner. May require payment for access or parking.

Weather forecast

  • 24/09/25

    14° 0%

  • 24/09/25

    10° 0%

  • 25/09/25

    7° 0%

  • 25/09/25

    7° 0%

Weather forecast for Clench Common (3.9 miles away) updated 24/09/25 at 20:02.

Local light pollution

Pewsey Downs Car Park is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a 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 Pewsey Downs Car Park

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 Wed 24th Sep

Wed 24th Sep

Waxing Crescent
4 % illuminated
Dark from 19:13 to 04:46
Dark for 9h 32m
Moon phase on Thu 25th Sep

Thu 25th Sep

Waxing Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 19:11 to 04:48
Dark for 9h 36m
Moon phase on Fri 26th Sep

Fri 26th Sep

Waxing Crescent
16 % illuminated
Dark from 19:08 to 04:50
Dark for 9h 41m
Moon phase on Sat 27th Sep

Sat 27th Sep

Waxing Crescent
23 % illuminated
Dark from 19:32 to 04:51
Dark for 9h 19m
Moon phase on Sun 28th Sep

Sun 28th Sep

First Quarter
31 % illuminated
Dark from 20:12 to 04:53
Dark for 8h 41m
Moon phase on Mon 29th Sep

Mon 29th Sep

First Quarter
40 % illuminated
Dark from 21:07 to 04:55
Dark for 7h 48m
Moon phase on Tue 30th Sep

Tue 30th Sep

First Quarter
50 % illuminated
Dark from 22:14 to 04:56
Dark for 6h 42m

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

  • Bath Astronomers monthly meeting

    Wednesday 24th September 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, BA1 2BL (23.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Friends of the Marlborough Telescope observing session

    Friday 26th September 2025 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Blackett Observatory, Marlborough, SN8 1PA (5.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing at Lansdown

    Friday 26th September 2025 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Lansdown Park & Ride, Bath, BA1 9BJ (24.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Wiltshire Astronomical Society observing session (back up)

    Friday 26th September 2025 from 20:30pm to 23:30pm

    Lacock Playing Fields, Chippenham, SN15 2LQ (12.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Steaming and Stargazing at Crofton Beam Engines

    Saturday 27th September 2025 from 18:30pm to 22:00pm

    Crofton Beam Engines, Marlborough, SN8 3DW (9.1 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Wild Camping Wiltshire

    Dark Lane, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3FZ, South West England (8.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • DreamAcres – Cranborne Chase

    Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4LP (24.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info