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Beacon Hill Car Park

Beacon Hill Car Park

Beacon Hill Lane, Southampton, Hampshire, SO32 3LG, South East England

Best time to visit

Beacon Hill Car Park offers access to the nearby Beacon Hill Viewpoint, a location offering stunning views towards the South and the starry skies of the South Downs Dark Sky Reserve above.

Beacon Hill 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.

Weather forecast

  • 11/05/26

    13° 56%

  • 11/05/26

    12° 4%

  • 11/05/26

    12° 0%

  • 12/05/26

    7° 0%

Weather forecast for Winchester (8.0 miles away) updated 11/05/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Beacon Hill 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 Beacon Hill 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 11th May

Mon 11th May

Third Quarter
39 % illuminated
Dark from 21:14 to 02:18
Dark for 5h 3m
Moon phase on Tue 12th May

Tue 12th May

Waning Crescent
29 % illuminated
Dark from 21:16 to 02:31
Dark for 5h 14m
Moon phase on Wed 13th May

Wed 13th May

Waning Crescent
19 % illuminated
Dark from 21:18 to 02:40
Dark for 5h 21m
Moon phase on Thu 14th May

Thu 14th May

Waning Crescent
11 % illuminated
Dark from 21:21 to 02:38
Dark for 5h 16m
Moon phase on Fri 15th May

Fri 15th May

Waning Crescent
5 % illuminated
Dark from 21:23 to 02:36
Dark for 5h 12m
Moon phase on Sat 16th May

Sat 16th May

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 21:25 to 02:34
Dark for 5h 8m
Moon phase on Sun 17th May

Sun 17th May

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 21:39 to 02:31
Dark for 4h 52m

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

  • Explore Italy’s Scenic Riveria with Fred. Olsen and Go Stargazing

    Tuesday 5th May 2026 from 12:00pm to Friday 22nd May 2026 12:00pm

    Southampton Cruise Terminal, Southampton, SO14 3GG (13.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Farnham Astronomical Society meeting

    Tuesday 12th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Aldershot Cricket Club, Aldershot, GU12 4BP (23.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Inkpen Stargazers meeting and observing

    Wednesday 13th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Inkpen Memorial Ground and Pavilion, Hungerford, RG17 9QA (29.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Practical Astronomy with Basingstoke Astronomical Society

    Thursday 14th May 2026 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Cliddesden Primary School, Basingstoke, RG25 2QU (16.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Southampton Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 14th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Isaac Watts Memorial Church Hall, Southampton, SO16 6TS (12.8 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Littleton Farm Campsite

    Upwaltham, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LX (22.4 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info