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Hertford Castle

Hertford Castle

Water Lane, Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG14 1HR, East of England

Best time to visit

Hertford Castle is a private location and is only accessible out of normal hours for stargazing by prior arrangement or when public events are scheduled.

Weather forecast

  • 17/05/26

    14° 6%

  • 17/05/26

    14° 56%

  • 17/05/26

    12° 11%

  • 18/05/26

    10° 3%

Weather forecast for Potters Bar (7.9 miles away) updated 17/05/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Hertford Castle 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 Hertford Castle

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 Sun 17th May

Sun 17th May

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 21:40 to 02:20
Dark for 4h 40m
Moon phase on Mon 18th May

Mon 18th May

New Moon
2 % illuminated
Dark from 22:54 to 02:18
Dark for 3h 24m
Moon phase on Tue 19th May

Tue 19th May

Waxing Crescent
7 % illuminated
Dark from 23:48 to 02:16
Dark for 2h 28m
Moon phase on Wed 20th May

Wed 20th May

Waxing Crescent
14 % illuminated
Dark from 00:23 to 02:13
Dark for 1h 50m
Moon phase on Thu 21st May

Thu 21st May

Waxing Crescent
24 % illuminated
Dark from 00:46 to 02:11
Dark for 1h 25m
Moon phase on Fri 22nd May

Fri 22nd May

First Quarter
34 % illuminated
Dark from 01:03 to 02:09
Dark for 1h 6m
Moon phase on Sat 23rd May

Sat 23rd May

First Quarter
45 % illuminated
Dark from 01:16 to 02:07
Dark for 0h 51m

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

  • Havering Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Wednesday 20th May 2026 from 19:15pm to 21:00pm

    Thames Chase Forest Centre, Upminster, RM14 3NS (22.9 miles away)

    More info

  • Wycombe Astronomical Society meeting

    Wednesday 20th May 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Coleshill Village Hall, Coleshill, HP7 0LN (25.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Informal observing evening with Crayford Manor Astronomical Society

    Thursday 21st May 2026 from 19:45pm to 21:30pm

    The Dick Chambers Observatory, Dartford, DA4 9HD (29.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Loughton Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Thursday 21st May 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Theydon Bois Scout Hall, Epping, CM16 7EJ (11.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Bedford Astronomical Society monthly meeting

    Wednesday 27th May 2026 from 19:15pm to 21:30pm

    Bedford School, Bedford, MK40 2TU (29.0 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

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