Telescopes for beginners | free mobile app

Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre

Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre

Rainton Meadows, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne & Wear, DH4 6PU

Best time to visit

Nature reserve located between Sunderland and Durham.

Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre 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

  • 03/05/24

    10° 14%

  • 03/05/24

    9° 16%

  • 04/05/24

    9° 20%

  • 04/05/24

    9° 30%

Weather forecast for Houghton Le Spring (1.3 miles away) updated 03/05/24 at 04:00.

Local light pollution

Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to asuburban suburban 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 Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre

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 Fri 3rd May

Fri 3rd May

Third Quarter
33 % illuminated
Dark from 21:27 to 02:34
Dark for 5h 6m
Moon phase on Sat 4th May

Sat 4th May

Waning Crescent
23 % illuminated
Dark from 21:30 to 02:31
Dark for 5h 0m
Moon phase on Sun 5th May

Sun 5th May

Waning Crescent
14 % illuminated
Dark from 21:33 to 02:28
Dark for 4h 54m
Moon phase on Mon 6th May

Mon 6th May

Waning Crescent
6 % illuminated
Dark from 21:36 to 02:25
Dark for 4h 48m
Moon phase on Tue 7th May

Tue 7th May

New Moon
2 % illuminated
Dark from 21:39 to 02:22
Dark for 4h 42m
Moon phase on Wed 8th May

Wed 8th May

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 21:42 to 02:18
Dark for 4h 35m
Moon phase on Thu 9th May

Thu 9th May

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 22:42 to 02:15
Dark for 3h 33m

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

  • Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society meeting

    Friday 10th May 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Wynyard Planetarium & Observatory, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3JG (15.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Cygnus Observatory public open evening

    Sunday 12th May 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Cygnus Observatory at Washington Wetland Centre, Washington, NE38 8LE (4.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Cygnus Observatory public open evening

    Thursday 16th May 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Cygnus Observatory at Washington Wetland Centre, Washington, NE38 8LE (4.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Newcastle Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Thursday 16th May 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Summerhill Bowling Club, Newcastle, NE4 6EH (11.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Family star show at Wynyard Planetarium and Observatory

    Friday 17th May 2024 from 18:45pm to 20:30pm

    Wynyard Planetarium & Observatory, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3JG (15.8 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Sycamore Cottage & Glamping

    Barrasford, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 4AG (29.6 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • The High Force Hotel

    Alston Road, Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, DL12 0XH (29.9 miles away)

    Go Stargazing Site, Stay & Gaze

    More info