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Boscombe Overcliff Nature Reserve

Boscombe Overcliff Nature Reserve

Boscombe Cliff Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH5 1LN

Best time to visit

Public venue - public location used for stargazing events.

Weather forecast

  • 02/09/26

    20° 14%

  • 02/09/26

    20° 7%

  • 02/09/26

    19° 5%

  • 03/09/26

    18° 9%

Weather forecast for Bournemouth (2.1 miles away) updated 01/09/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Boscombe Overcliff Nature Reserve is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a suburban 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 Boscombe Overcliff Nature Reserve

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 Wed 2nd Sep

Wed 2nd Sep

Waning Gibbous
75 % illuminated
Dark from 20:06 to 20:23
Dark for 0h 16m
Moon phase on Thu 3rd Sep

Thu 3rd Sep

Third Quarter
65 % illuminated
Dark from 20:04 to 20:57
Dark for 0h 52m
Moon phase on Fri 4th Sep

Fri 4th Sep

Third Quarter
54 % illuminated
Dark from 20:01 to 21:45
Dark for 1h 43m
Moon phase on Sat 5th Sep

Sat 5th Sep

Third Quarter
42 % illuminated
Dark from 19:59 to 22:51
Dark for 2h 51m
Moon phase on Sun 6th Sep

Sun 6th Sep

Third Quarter
31 % illuminated
Dark from 19:56 to 00:12
Dark for 4h 15m
Moon phase on Mon 7th Sep

Mon 7th Sep

Waning Crescent
21 % illuminated
Dark from 19:54 to 01:40
Dark for 5h 45m
Moon phase on Tue 8th Sep

Tue 8th Sep

Waning Crescent
12 % illuminated
Dark from 19:51 to 03:08
Dark for 7h 16m

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

    Friday 4th September 2026 from 21:00pm to Saturday 5th September 2026 23:00pm

    Toothill Observatory, Southampton, SO16 8AL (23.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Cranborne Chase Astronomy Club meeting

    Wednesday 9th September 2026 from 19:15pm to 21:00pm

    Grosvenor Arms Hotel - Shaftesbury, Shaftesbury, SP7 8JA (25.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Southampton Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 10th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Isaac Watts Memorial Church Hall, Southampton, SO16 6TS (23.1 miles away)

    More info

  • 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 (23.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Weymouth Astronomy Club meeting

    Friday 11th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 17:00pm

    Aldhelm's Church Centre, Weymouth, DT3 5EW (28.4 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Old Harry – Swanage

    Burlington Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1LT, South West England (8.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Cosy Oak Yurt – Cranborne Chase

    Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4LP (20.1 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info