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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

  • 11/07/26

    32° 0%

  • 11/07/26

    32° 0%

  • 11/07/26

    30° 0%

  • 12/07/26

    24° 0%

Weather forecast for Fordingbridge (2.0 miles away) updated 11/07/26 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 11th Jul

Sat 11th Jul

Waning Crescent
17 % illuminated
Dark from 22:07 to 01:06
Dark for 2h 58m
Moon phase on Sun 12th Jul

Sun 12th Jul

Waning Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 22:05 to 02:12
Dark for 4h 6m
Moon phase on Mon 13th Jul

Mon 13th Jul

New Moon
3 % illuminated
Dark from 22:04 to 02:23
Dark for 4h 18m
Moon phase on Tue 14th Jul

Tue 14th Jul

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 22:02 to 02:25
Dark for 4h 22m
Moon phase on Wed 15th Jul

Wed 15th Jul

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 22:00 to 02:27
Dark for 4h 26m
Moon phase on Thu 16th Jul

Thu 16th Jul

New Moon
4 % illuminated
Dark from 21:59 to 02:28
Dark for 4h 28m
Moon phase on Fri 17th Jul

Fri 17th Jul

Waxing Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 21:57 to 02:30
Dark for 4h 32m

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

  • Fordingbridge Astronomers monthly meeting

    Wednesday 15th July 2026 from 00:00am to 00:00am

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

    More info

  • Isle of Wight Observatory open night

    Thursday 16th July 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:30pm

    The Isle of Wight Observatory, Newchurch, PO36 0LX (29.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Solent Amateur Astronomers meeting

    Tuesday 21st July 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

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

    More info

  • Isle of Wight Observatory open night

    Thursday 23rd July 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:30pm

    The Isle of Wight Observatory, Newchurch, PO36 0LX (29.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Vectis Astronomical Society monthly meeting

    Friday 24th July 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

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

    More info

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Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

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    Stay & Gaze

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

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