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South Park - Oxford

South Park - Oxford

Morrell Avenuue, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1NG, South East England

Best time to visit

Science Oxford nominated South Park as the best place to stargaze near Oxford city centre. The best visibility is in the lower area, accessed via Morrell Avenue or Headington Hill gates. The public open space has 24-hour access and good visibility.

South Park - Oxford is a Dark Sky Discovery Site, an officially recognised place where anyone can stargaze. Most such locations have overnight parking (sometimes with a fee); however, many do not allow overnight camping. There may or may not be toilet facilities.

Weather forecast

  • 24/01/25

    6° 4%

  • 24/01/25

    5° 4%

  • 25/01/25

    5° 6%

  • 25/01/25

    4° 55%

Weather forecast for Oxford Botanic Garden (0.6 miles away) updated 24/01/25 at 04:01.

Local light pollution

South Park - Oxford is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to arural 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 South Park - Oxford

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 24th Jan

Fri 24th Jan

Waning Crescent
30 % illuminated
Dark from 17:57 to 05:12
Dark for 11h 14m
Moon phase on Sat 25th Jan

Sat 25th Jan

Waning Crescent
22 % illuminated
Dark from 17:59 to 06:19
Dark for 12h 19m
Moon phase on Sun 26th Jan

Sun 26th Jan

Waning Crescent
14 % illuminated
Dark from 18:01 to 06:32
Dark for 12h 31m
Moon phase on Mon 27th Jan

Mon 27th Jan

Waning Crescent
8 % illuminated
Dark from 18:02 to 06:31
Dark for 12h 28m
Moon phase on Tue 28th Jan

Tue 28th Jan

New Moon
3 % illuminated
Dark from 18:04 to 06:30
Dark for 12h 25m
Moon phase on Wed 29th Jan

Wed 29th Jan

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 18:05 to 06:29
Dark for 12h 23m
Moon phase on Thu 30th Jan

Thu 30th Jan

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 18:07 to 06:27
Dark for 12h 19m

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

  • Stargazing 2025 at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

    Friday 24th January 2025 from 17:30pm to 20:30pm

    Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX (12.9 miles away)

    More info

  • Reading Astronomical Society Friday Club for Beginners

    Friday 24th January 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    1st Wokingham Scout Hut, Wokingham, RG41 4DX (29.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Abingdon Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Monday 27th January 2025 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    All Saint's Methodist Church Hall - Abingdon, Abingdon, OX14 2AQ (5.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Little Acorns Starry Skies

    Friday 31st January 2025 from 17:30pm to 19:00pm

    Earth Centre - Wittenham Clumps, Didcot, OX14 4QZ (8.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Milton Keynes Astronomical Society meeting

    Friday 31st January 2025 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Rectory Cottages - Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK63 6BJ (26.7 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • George’s Getaway

    Shenington Road, Banbury, Warwickshire, CV35 0TH (26.0 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info