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

  • 14/09/26

    22° 8%

  • 14/09/26

    22° 0%

  • 14/09/26

    19° 1%

  • 15/09/26

    17° 8%

Weather forecast for Fordingbridge (8.0 miles away) updated 13/09/26 at 12:01. 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 Mon 14th Sep

Mon 14th Sep

Waxing Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 19:37 to 04:30
Dark for 8h 52m
Moon phase on Tue 15th Sep

Tue 15th Sep

Waxing Crescent
16 % illuminated
Dark from 19:35 to 04:32
Dark for 8h 56m
Moon phase on Wed 16th Sep

Wed 16th Sep

Waxing Crescent
24 % illuminated
Dark from 19:52 to 04:34
Dark for 8h 42m
Moon phase on Thu 17th Sep

Thu 17th Sep

First Quarter
33 % illuminated
Dark from 20:27 to 04:35
Dark for 8h 8m
Moon phase on Fri 18th Sep

Fri 18th Sep

First Quarter
42 % illuminated
Dark from 21:14 to 04:37
Dark for 7h 23m
Moon phase on Sat 19th Sep

Sat 19th Sep

First Quarter
51 % illuminated
Dark from 22:12 to 04:39
Dark for 6h 27m
Moon phase on Sun 20th Sep

Sun 20th Sep

First Quarter
61 % illuminated
Dark from 23:21 to 04:40
Dark for 5h 19m

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 15th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

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

    More info

  • Fordingbridge Astronomers monthly meeting

    Wednesday 16th September 2026 from 00:00am to 00:00am

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

    More info

  • Moon night at Hengistbury

    Thursday 24th September 2026 from 18:00pm to 20:00pm

    Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre, Bournemouth, BH6 4EN (14.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Discovering Italy with the Amalfi Coast with Fred. Olsen and Go Stargazing

    Monday 28th September 2026 from 12:00pm to Saturday 17th October 2026 12:00pm

    Southampton Cruise Terminal, Southampton, SO14 3GG (24.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing in the New Forest with Experience Hampshire

    Tuesday 29th September 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Tilefield Equestrian, Brockenhurst, SO42 7UE (18.1 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