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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

  • 21/04/26

    13° 4%

  • 21/04/26

    13° 0%

  • 21/04/26

    12° 1%

  • 22/04/26

    8° 0%

Weather forecast for Winchester (8.0 miles away) updated 21/04/26 at 06:01. 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 Tue 21st Apr

Tue 21st Apr

Waxing Crescent
17 % illuminated
Dark from 01:08 to 03:33
Dark for 2h 25m
Moon phase on Wed 22nd Apr

Wed 22nd Apr

Waxing Crescent
27 % illuminated
Dark from 01:53 to 03:30
Dark for 1h 37m
Moon phase on Thu 23rd Apr

Thu 23rd Apr

First Quarter
38 % illuminated
Dark from 02:22 to 03:28
Dark for 1h 6m
Moon phase on Fri 24th Apr

Fri 24th Apr

First Quarter
49 % illuminated
Dark from 02:43 to 03:26
Dark for 0h 43m
Moon phase on Sat 25th Apr

Sat 25th Apr

First Quarter
60 % illuminated
Dark from 02:59 to 03:23
Dark for 0h 24m
Moon phase on Sun 26th Apr

Sun 26th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
70 % illuminated
Dark from 03:12 to 03:21
Dark for 0h 9m
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

  • Solent Amateur Astronomers meeting

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

    Oasis Academy, Southampton, SO16 8FA (14.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Mindful Stargazing Retreat at Bailifscourt

    Thursday 23rd April 2026 from 16:00pm to Friday 24th April 2026 12:00pm

    Bailiffscourt Hotel, Climping, BN17 5RW (28.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Isle of Wight Observatory open night

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

    The Isle of Wight Observatory, Newchurch, PO36 0LX (24.1 miles away)

    More info

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

    Friday 24th April 2026 from 19:30pm to Saturday 25th April 2026 21:30pm

    Toothill Observatory, Southampton, SO16 8AL (13.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Vectis Astronomical Society monthly meeting

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

    Newchurch Pavilion, Newchurch, PO36 0LX (24.1 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