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Ashbury Hill Ridgeway Car Park

Ashbury Hill Ridgeway Car Park

Ashbury, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN6 8DB

Best time to visit

This car park offering access to the Ridgeway makes for an excellent spot for stargazing. This location is recommended by the North Wessex Downs National Landscape as a recommended place to stargaze.

Ashbury Hill Ridgeway Car Park has been recommended as a great place to stargaze by the local authority, national park, community organisation or property owner. May require payment for access or parking.

Weather forecast

  • 21/04/26

    13° 5%

  • 21/04/26

    13° 1%

  • 21/04/26

    12° 0%

  • 22/04/26

    7° 0%

Weather forecast for Faringdon (7.0 miles away) updated 21/04/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Ashbury Hill Ridgeway Car Park is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a semi-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 Ashbury Hill Ridgeway 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 Tue 21st Apr

Tue 21st Apr

Waxing Crescent
17 % illuminated
Dark from 01:14 to 03:32
Dark for 2h 18m
Moon phase on Wed 22nd Apr

Wed 22nd Apr

Waxing Crescent
27 % illuminated
Dark from 01:58 to 03:30
Dark for 1h 32m
Moon phase on Thu 23rd Apr

Thu 23rd Apr

First Quarter
38 % illuminated
Dark from 02:27 to 03:27
Dark for 1h 0m
Moon phase on Fri 24th Apr

Fri 24th Apr

First Quarter
49 % illuminated
Dark from 02:47 to 03:24
Dark for 0h 37m
Moon phase on Sat 25th Apr

Sat 25th Apr

First Quarter
60 % illuminated
Dark from 03:02 to 03:22
Dark for 0h 20m
Moon phase on Sun 26th Apr

Sun 26th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
70 % illuminated
Dark from 03:15 to 03:19
Dark for 0h 4m
Moon phase on Mon 27th Apr

Mon 27th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
79 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS

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

  • Abingdon Astronomical Society beginners meeting

    Monday 27th April 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    All Saint's Methodist Church Hall - Abingdon, Abingdon, OX14 2AQ (16.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Newbury Astronomical Society monthly meeting

    Friday 1st May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Fair Close Centre, Newbury, RG14 6NH (17.1 miles away)

    More info

  • East Oxford Astronomy Club meeting and observing

    Tuesday 5th May 2026 from 19:00pm to 20:00pm

    Leys College and African School, Oxford, OX4 6HN (20.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Wiltshire Astronomical Society meeting

    Tuesday 5th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Pewsham Community Centre, Chippenham, SN15 3SY (22.6 miles away)

    More info

  • Wiltshire Astronomical Society observing session

    Friday 8th May 2026 from 21:00pm to Saturday 9th May 2026 00:00am

    Lacock Playing Fields, Chippenham, SN15 2LQ (24.2 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 (14.4 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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