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Otford Solar System

Otford Solar System

Otford, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 5PQ

Best time to visit

The Otford Solar System is a scale model of the solar system constructed in and around the village of Otford in southeast England.

The model, formed of reflective domes on plinths with information plaques, accurately represents the positions of the planets at the turn of the millennium, 1st January 2000, all in relation to the Sun. The Sun and the nearby planets are all located in the village playing field with short walks to the next nearest planets.

Interestingly, the model not only extends to the distant planets Neptune, Uranus and Pluto (a couple of miles outside of the village!), it also includes four of the nearest stars, to scale and at approximately at the correct distance. Due to the vast distances involved the nearest star to the Sun, Proxima Centauri, is located in Los Angeles, Barnard’s Star in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, Sirius in Sydney, Australia and Ross 154 in Christchurch, New Zealand!

Otford Solar System is a Go Stargazing Site. The location has been identified by the Go Stargazing team as a good location for stargazing based on local light pollution levels, distance from nearby towns and cities and offers a safe place to park.

Weather forecast

  • 21/04/26

    10° 4%

  • 21/04/26

    10° 0%

  • 21/04/26

    9° 0%

  • 22/04/26

    7° 0%

Weather forecast for Sevenoaks (3.0 miles away) updated 21/04/26 at 06:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Otford Solar System 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 Otford Solar System

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 Tue 21st Apr

Tue 21st Apr

Waxing Crescent
17 % illuminated
Dark from 01:05 to 03:26
Dark for 2h 21m
Moon phase on Wed 22nd Apr

Wed 22nd Apr

Waxing Crescent
27 % illuminated
Dark from 01:49 to 03:24
Dark for 1h 35m
Moon phase on Thu 23rd Apr

Thu 23rd Apr

First Quarter
38 % illuminated
Dark from 02:18 to 03:21
Dark for 1h 3m
Moon phase on Fri 24th Apr

Fri 24th Apr

First Quarter
49 % illuminated
Dark from 02:39 to 03:19
Dark for 0h 40m
Moon phase on Sat 25th Apr

Sat 25th Apr

First Quarter
60 % illuminated
Dark from 02:54 to 03:16
Dark for 0h 22m
Moon phase on Sun 26th Apr

Sun 26th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
70 % illuminated
Dark from 03:07 to 03:13
Dark for 0h 6m
Moon phase on Mon 27th Apr

Mon 27th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
79 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS

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

  • Stargazing at Walthamstow Wetlands

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

    Walthamstow Wetlands, London, N17 9NH (21.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Orpington Astronomical Society monthly meeting

    Wednesday 22nd April 2026 from 19:45pm to 21:30pm

    St Francis of Assisi Church Hall, Petts Wood, BR6 1QW (6.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Castle Point Astronomy Club meeting

    Wednesday 22nd April 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    St Michael and All Angels Church, Hadleigh, SS7 2UW (25.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing from the Severndroog Castle Roof

    Wednesday 22nd April 2026 from 20:30pm to 22:30pm

    Severndroog Castle, London, SE18 3RT (11.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Informal observing evening with Crayford Manor Astronomical Society

    Thursday 23rd April 2026 from 19:45pm to 21:30pm

    The Dick Chambers Observatory, Dartford, DA4 9HD (7.3 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

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