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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

  • 16/04/24

    8° 5%

  • 16/04/24

    6° 1%

  • 17/04/24

    5° 1%

  • 17/04/24

    4° 3%

Weather forecast for West Ginge (2.0 miles away) updated 16/04/24 at 04:01.

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 Tue 16th Apr

Tue 16th Apr

First Quarter
52 % illuminated
Dark from 03:27 to 03:42
Dark for 0h 15m
Moon phase on Wed 17th Apr

Wed 17th Apr

First Quarter
62 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Thu 18th Apr

Thu 18th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
71 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Fri 19th Apr

Fri 19th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
79 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Sat 20th Apr

Sat 20th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
86 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Sun 21st Apr

Sun 21st Apr

Waxing Gibbous
92 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Mon 22nd Apr

Mon 22nd Apr

Full Moon
96 % 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

  • Wycombe Astronomical Society monthly meeting

    Wednesday 19th June 2024 from 20:00pm to 21:00pm

    Coleshill Village Hall, Coleshill, HP7 0LN (29.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Friends of the Marlborough Telescope observing session

    Thursday 20th June 2024 from 22:00pm to Friday 21st June 2024 00:00am

    Blackett Observatory, Marlborough, SN8 1PA (20.9 miles away)

    More info

  • Swindon Stargazers Monthly Meeting

    Friday 21st June 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Liddington Village Hall, Swindon, SN4 0HB (17.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Abingdon Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Monday 24th June 2024 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

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

    More info

  • Basingstoke Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 27th June 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

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

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

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