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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

  • 12/09/26

    20° 5%

  • 12/09/26

    20° 5%

  • 12/09/26

    19° 5%

  • 13/09/26

    17° 6%

Weather forecast for Fordingbridge (2.0 miles away) updated 12/09/26 at 12:01. 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 Sat 12th Sep

Sat 12th Sep

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 19:42 to 04:26
Dark for 8h 43m
Moon phase on Sun 13th Sep

Sun 13th Sep

Waxing Crescent
4 % illuminated
Dark from 19:39 to 04:27
Dark for 8h 47m
Moon phase on Mon 14th Sep

Mon 14th Sep

Waxing Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 19:37 to 04:29
Dark for 8h 51m
Moon phase on Tue 15th Sep

Tue 15th Sep

Waxing Crescent
16 % illuminated
Dark from 19:34 to 04:31
Dark for 8h 56m
Moon phase on Wed 16th Sep

Wed 16th Sep

Waxing Crescent
24 % illuminated
Dark from 19:51 to 04:33
Dark for 8h 42m
Moon phase on Thu 17th Sep

Thu 17th Sep

First Quarter
33 % illuminated
Dark from 20:26 to 04:34
Dark for 8h 8m
Moon phase on Fri 18th Sep

Fri 18th Sep

First Quarter
42 % illuminated
Dark from 21:13 to 04:36
Dark for 7h 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

  • Toothill Observatory Public Open Evening – September 2026 (BACKUP)

    Friday 11th September 2026 from 19:30pm to Saturday 12th September 2026 21:30pm

    Toothill Observatory, Southampton, SO16 8AL (13.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing at Durlston Astronomy Centre

    Saturday 12th September 2026 from 20:45pm to 22:45pm

    Durlston Astronomy Centre and Observatory, Swanage, BH19 2JL (23.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Solent Amateur Astronomers meeting

    Tuesday 15th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

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

    More info

  • Fordingbridge Astronomers monthly meeting

    Wednesday 16th September 2026 from 00:00am to 00:00am

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

    More info

  • Andover Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 17th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Hurstbourne Tarrant Community Centre, Hurstbourne Tarrant, SP11 0AX (28.0 miles away)

    More info

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Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

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