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Idle Valley Nature Reserve

Idle Valley Nature Reserve

North Road, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 8RQ

Best time to visit

Idle Valley Nature Reserve 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

  • 13/09/26

    21° 5%

  • 13/09/26

    21° 5%

  • 13/09/26

    20° 5%

  • 14/09/26

    17° 7%

Weather forecast for Worksop (6.8 miles away) updated 13/09/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Idle Valley Nature Reserve 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 Idle Valley 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 Sun 13th Sep

Sun 13th Sep

Waxing Crescent
4 % illuminated
Dark from 19:42 to 04:18
Dark for 8h 35m
Moon phase on Mon 14th Sep

Mon 14th Sep

Waxing Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 19:40 to 04:20
Dark for 8h 39m
Moon phase on Tue 15th Sep

Tue 15th Sep

Waxing Crescent
16 % illuminated
Dark from 19:37 to 04:22
Dark for 8h 44m
Moon phase on Wed 16th Sep

Wed 16th Sep

Waxing Crescent
24 % illuminated
Dark from 19:34 to 04:24
Dark for 8h 49m
Moon phase on Thu 17th Sep

Thu 17th Sep

First Quarter
33 % illuminated
Dark from 20:04 to 04:26
Dark for 8h 22m
Moon phase on Fri 18th Sep

Fri 18th Sep

First Quarter
42 % illuminated
Dark from 20:50 to 04:28
Dark for 7h 38m
Moon phase on Sat 19th Sep

Sat 19th Sep

First Quarter
51 % illuminated
Dark from 21:50 to 04:30
Dark for 6h 40m

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

  • Chasing the aurora and stargazing with Wil Photography

    Sunday 13th September 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Sherwood Observatory and Science Discovery Centre, Mansfield, NG17 5LF (18.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing for beginners with Wil Photography

    Monday 14th September 2026 from 20:30pm to 22:30pm

    Sherwood Observatory and Science Discovery Centre, Mansfield, NG17 5LF (18.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Lincoln Observatory Observing Session

    Tuesday 15th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Lincoln Observatory, Lincoln, LN1 3TZ (18.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society Meeting

    Thursday 17th September 2026 from 19:45pm to 22:00pm

    St John's Church Hall - Mexborough, Mexborough, S64 0ER (16.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Rosse Observatory public open evening (and astronomy talk)

    Friday 18th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Rosse Observatory, Pontefract, WF8 3RJ (27.0 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

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