Telescopes for beginners | free mobile app | Smart telescopes

Abbots Well Car Park

Abbots Well Car Park

Frogham, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 2QJ, South East England

Best time to visit

The Abbots Well Car Park is the favoured observing location for the Fordingbridge Astronomers.

Note that as of 20/04/2026, Forestry England are enforcing the purchase of parking tickets at their New Forest car parks, and limiting visiting times from 04:00 to 23:00. If you are visiting this car park, please check for parking restrictions.

Abbots Well 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.

Location events organiser

Fordingbridge Astronomers

Fordingbridge Astronomers organises events at this location

Please contact Fordingbridge Astronomers directly with any enquiries relating to visiting this location

Email: [email protected]
Website: Fordingbridge Astronomers
Facebook: Fordingbridge Astronomers

Weather forecast

  • 17/08/26

    25° 5%

  • 17/08/26

    25° 1%

  • 17/08/26

    23° 4%

  • 18/08/26

    18° 5%

Weather forecast for Fordingbridge (2.0 miles away) updated 17/08/26 at 06:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Abbots Well Car Park is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a rural location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite. For more advanced light pollution data, view this location on DarkSkySites.

The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.

Light pollution map of Abbots Well 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 Mon 17th Aug

Mon 17th Aug

Waxing Crescent
21 % illuminated
Dark from 20:47 to 03:36
Dark for 6h 48m
Moon phase on Tue 18th Aug

Tue 18th Aug

Waxing Crescent
30 % illuminated
Dark from 21:01 to 03:38
Dark for 6h 37m
Moon phase on Wed 19th Aug

Wed 19th Aug

First Quarter
39 % illuminated
Dark from 21:23 to 03:40
Dark for 6h 17m
Moon phase on Thu 20th Aug

Thu 20th Aug

First Quarter
49 % illuminated
Dark from 21:52 to 03:42
Dark for 5h 50m
Moon phase on Fri 21st Aug

Fri 21st Aug

First Quarter
58 % illuminated
Dark from 22:31 to 03:44
Dark for 5h 13m
Moon phase on Sat 22nd Aug

Sat 22nd Aug

First Quarter
68 % illuminated
Dark from 23:23 to 03:46
Dark for 4h 23m
Moon phase on Sun 23rd Aug

Sun 23rd Aug

Waxing Gibbous
76 % illuminated
Dark from 00:25 to 03:48
Dark for 3h 23m

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

  • 2026 Solar Eclipse Cruise to Spain from Southampton with Fred. Olsen Cruises

    Monday 10th August 2026 from 12:00pm to Thursday 20th August 2026 12:00pm

    Southampton Cruise Terminal, Southampton, SO14 3GG (15.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Solent Amateur Astronomers meeting

    Tuesday 18th August 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Oasis Academy, Southampton, SO16 8FA (12.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Fordingbridge Astronomers monthly meeting

    Wednesday 19th August 2026 from 00:00am to 00:00am

    The Elm Tree - Ringwood, Ringwood, BH24 3DY (5.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Partial lunar eclipse at Knowlton Observatory

    Friday 28th August 2026 from 03:00am to 05:00am

    Knowlton Observatory, Knowlton, BH21 5AE (9.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Vectis Astronomical Society monthly meeting

    Friday 28th August 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Newchurch Pavilion, Newchurch, PO36 0LX (29.4 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Cosy Oak Yurt – Cranborne Chase

    Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4LP (8.2 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Old Harry – Swanage

    Burlington Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1LT, South West England (22.2 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info