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Scutchamer Knob Car Park

Scutchamer Knob Car Park

The Ridgeway, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12, South East England

Best time to visit

Escape the light pollution from Didcot and Wantage and enjoy splendid views of the starry skies, particularly towards the South, at this car park on The Ridgeway.

Scutchamer Knob Car Park 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

  • 10/07/25

    25° 0%

  • 11/07/25

    22° 0%

Weather forecast for West Ginge (1.4 miles away) updated 10/07/25 at 20:01.

Local light pollution

Scutchamer Knob Car Park is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a 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 Scutchamer Knob 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 Thu 10th Jul

Thu 10th Jul

Full Moon
99 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Fri 11th Jul

Fri 11th Jul

Full Moon
100 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Sat 12th Jul

Sat 12th Jul

Full Moon
99 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Sun 13th Jul

Sun 13th Jul

Waning Gibbous
95 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Mon 14th Jul

Mon 14th Jul

Waning Gibbous
89 % illuminated
Dark from 22:07 to 22:09
Dark for 0h 1m
Moon phase on Tue 15th Jul

Tue 15th Jul

Waning Gibbous
82 % illuminated
Dark from 22:05 to 22:20
Dark for 0h 14m
Moon phase on Wed 16th Jul

Wed 16th Jul

Waning Gibbous
72 % illuminated
Dark from 22:04 to 22:32
Dark for 0h 27m

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

  • Aylesbury Astronomical Society meeting

    Monday 4th August 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Aylesbury Scout Hut, Aylesbury, HP20 1LL (29.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Friends of the Marlborough Telescope Perseids meteor shower

    Tuesday 12th August 2025 from 22:00pm to Wednesday 13th August 2025 00:00am

    Blackett Observatory, Marlborough, SN8 1PA (19.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Basingstoke Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 14th August 2025 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Cliddesden Primary School, Basingstoke, RG25 2QU (25.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Sun Chaser Family Astronomy

    Sunday 17th August 2025 from 15:30pm to 17:00pm

    The Lucy Pygott Centre, Hartley Wintney, RG27 8EB (26.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Solar Gazing with UK Astronomy at Live in the Park

    Saturday 23rd August 2025 from 12:00pm to 21:30pm

    Vale Park - Aylesbury, Aylesbury, HP20 1RJ (28.9 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 (19.3 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info