Telescopes for beginners | free mobile app | Smart telescopes

Knowlton Church and Earthworks - English Heritage

Knowlton Church and Earthworks - English Heritage

Knowlton, Wimbourne, Dorset, BH21 5AE

Best time to visit

This English Heritage property is an officially recognised Dark Sky Discovery Site in the Cranbourne Chase Dark Sky Reserve. The location has limited parking with only a small lay-by, however offers fantastic dark skies and a building making an excellent subject for astrophotography. Photo used with kind permission from Anthony Young.

Knowlton Church and Earthworks - English Heritage is a Dark Sky Discovery Site, an officially recognised place where anyone can stargaze. Most such locations have overnight parking (sometimes with a fee); however, many do not allow overnight camping. There may or may not be toilet facilities.

Weather forecast

  • 08/07/26

    30° 0%

  • 08/07/26

    29° 0%

  • 08/07/26

    27° 0%

  • 09/07/26

    21° 0%

Weather forecast for Fordingbridge (8.0 miles away) updated 08/07/26 at 06:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Knowlton Church and Earthworks - English Heritage 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 Knowlton Church and Earthworks - English Heritage

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 8th Jul

Wed 8th Jul

Third Quarter
48 % illuminated
Dark from 22:12 to 23:29
Dark for 1h 16m
Moon phase on Thu 9th Jul

Thu 9th Jul

Third Quarter
37 % illuminated
Dark from 22:10 to 23:50
Dark for 1h 39m
Moon phase on Fri 10th Jul

Fri 10th Jul

Waning Crescent
26 % illuminated
Dark from 22:09 to 00:21
Dark for 2h 11m
Moon phase on Sat 11th Jul

Sat 11th Jul

Waning Crescent
17 % illuminated
Dark from 22:08 to 01:07
Dark for 2h 58m
Moon phase on Sun 12th Jul

Sun 12th Jul

Waning Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 22:06 to 02:13
Dark for 4h 6m
Moon phase on Mon 13th Jul

Mon 13th Jul

New Moon
3 % illuminated
Dark from 22:04 to 02:24
Dark for 4h 19m
Moon phase on Tue 14th Jul

Tue 14th Jul

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 22:03 to 02:26
Dark for 4h 22m

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

  • Southampton Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 9th July 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Isaac Watts Memorial Church Hall, Southampton, SO16 6TS (23.9 miles away)

    More info

  • Weymouth Astronomy Club meeting

    Friday 10th July 2026 from 19:30pm to 17:00pm

    Aldhelm's Church Centre, Weymouth, DT3 5EW (28.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Fordingbridge Astronomers monthly meeting

    Wednesday 15th July 2026 from 00:00am to 00:00am

    The Elm Tree - Ringwood, Ringwood, BH24 3DY (9.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Solent Amateur Astronomers meeting

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

    Oasis Academy, Southampton, SO16 8FA (22.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Wessex Astronomical Society monthly meeting

    Tuesday 4th August 2026 from 00:00am to 00:00am

    Allendale Centre - Wimborne, Wimborne, BH21 1AS (6.3 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Cosy Oak Yurt – Cranborne Chase

    Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4LP (9.7 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Old Harry – Swanage

    Burlington Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1LT, South West England (18.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info