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Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, South East

Best time to visit

Operated by the Science and Technologies Facilities Council the famous Rutherford Appleton Laboratory provides is a world class centre of excellence for research across a diverse and numerous range of sciences. Occasionally the centre is opened to the public for stargazing events.

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory 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

  • 08/09/24

    18° 13%

  • 08/09/24

    16° 8%

  • 09/09/24

    15° 18%

  • 09/09/24

    14° 15%

Weather forecast for West Ginge (2.0 miles away) updated 08/09/24 at 04:00.

Local light pollution

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to asemi-rural semi-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 Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

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 8th Sep

Sun 8th Sep

Waxing Crescent
20 % illuminated
Dark from 19:58 to 04:16
Dark for 8h 18m
Moon phase on Mon 9th Sep

Mon 9th Sep

Waxing Crescent
29 % illuminated
Dark from 20:18 to 04:18
Dark for 8h 0m
Moon phase on Tue 10th Sep

Tue 10th Sep

First Quarter
38 % illuminated
Dark from 20:48 to 04:20
Dark for 7h 32m
Moon phase on Wed 11th Sep

Wed 11th Sep

First Quarter
48 % illuminated
Dark from 21:32 to 04:21
Dark for 6h 49m
Moon phase on Thu 12th Sep

Thu 12th Sep

First Quarter
58 % illuminated
Dark from 22:33 to 04:23
Dark for 5h 50m
Moon phase on Fri 13th Sep

Fri 13th Sep

First Quarter
68 % illuminated
Dark from 23:52 to 04:25
Dark for 4h 33m
Moon phase on Sat 14th Sep

Sat 14th Sep

Waxing Gibbous
78 % illuminated
Dark from 01:21 to 04:27
Dark for 3h 6m

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

  • Swindon Stargazers Club Star Party 2024

    Friday 6th September 2024 from 19:00pm to Monday 9th September 2024 23:00pm

    Rouselands Farm, Chippenham, SN15 5AT (29.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Abingdon Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Monday 9th September 2024 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    All Saint's Methodist Church Hall - Abingdon, Abingdon, OX14 2AQ (7.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Practical Astronomy with Basingstoke Astronomical Society

    Thursday 12th September 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Cliddesden Primary School, Basingstoke, RG25 2QU (25.5 miles away)

    More info

  • The Night Sky Show in Oxford

    Saturday 14th September 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:15pm

    New Theatre - Oxford, Oxford, OX1 2AG (12.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Astronomy for beginners with Newbury Astronomical Society

    Wednesday 18th September 2024 from 19:00pm to 20:30pm

    Stockcross Village Hall, Newbury, RG20 8LN (11.2 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

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