Telescopes for beginners | free mobile app | Smart telescopes

Portsmouth History Dockyard

Portsmouth History Dockyard

Victory Gate, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3LJ, South East

Best time to visit

Portsmouth History Dockyard 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

  • 05/07/26

    25° 5%

  • 05/07/26

    24° 5%

  • 05/07/26

    22° 5%

  • 06/07/26

    20° 5%

Weather forecast for Portsmouth (0.9 miles away) updated 05/07/26 at 06:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Portsmouth History Dockyard 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 Portsmouth History Dockyard

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 5th Jul

Sun 5th Jul

Waning Gibbous
78 % illuminated
Dark from 22:11 to 22:43
Dark for 0h 31m
Moon phase on Mon 6th Jul

Mon 6th Jul

Third Quarter
69 % illuminated
Dark from 22:10 to 22:55
Dark for 0h 44m
Moon phase on Tue 7th Jul

Tue 7th Jul

Third Quarter
59 % illuminated
Dark from 22:09 to 23:09
Dark for 0h 59m
Moon phase on Wed 8th Jul

Wed 8th Jul

Third Quarter
48 % illuminated
Dark from 22:07 to 23:26
Dark for 1h 18m
Moon phase on Thu 9th Jul

Thu 9th Jul

Third Quarter
37 % illuminated
Dark from 22:06 to 23:47
Dark for 1h 40m
Moon phase on Fri 10th Jul

Fri 10th Jul

Waning Crescent
26 % illuminated
Dark from 22:05 to 00:18
Dark for 2h 12m
Moon phase on Sat 11th Jul

Sat 11th Jul

Waning Crescent
17 % illuminated
Dark from 22:03 to 01:04
Dark for 3h 0m

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 the Island Planetarium

    Tuesday 7th July 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Island Planetarium, Yarmouth, PO41 0RR (19.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Southampton Astronomical Society meeting

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

    Isaac Watts Memorial Church Hall, Southampton, SO16 6TS (16.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Isle of Wight Observatory open night

    Thursday 9th July 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:30pm

    The Isle of Wight Observatory, Newchurch, PO36 0LX (11.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Hampshire Astronomical Group meeting and talk

    Friday 10th July 2026 from 20:00pm to 21:30pm

    Clanfield Memorial Hall, Clanfield, PO8 0RB (11.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Sun Live! At Clanfield Observatory

    Saturday 11th July 2026 from 14:00pm to 16:00pm

    Clanfield Observatory, Clanfield, PO8 (10.3 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Littleton Farm Campsite

    Upwaltham, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LX (21.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info