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Scutchamer Knob Car Park

Scutchamer Knob Car Park

The Ridgeway, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12, South East England

Best time to visit

Escape the light pollution from Didcot and Wantage and enjoy splendid views of the starry skies, particularly towards the South, at this car park on The Ridgeway.

Scutchamer Knob Car Park 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

  • 25/08/25

    25° 0%

  • 25/08/25

    19° 0%

  • 26/08/25

    18° 0%

  • 26/08/25

    17° 1%

Weather forecast for West Ginge (1.4 miles away) updated 25/08/25 at 20:02.

Local light pollution

Scutchamer Knob Car Park is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a semi-rural location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite.

The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.

Light pollution map of Scutchamer Knob Car Park

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 25th Aug

Mon 25th Aug

New Moon
3 % illuminated
Dark from 20:27 to 03:48
Dark for 7h 20m
Moon phase on Tue 26th Aug

Tue 26th Aug

Waxing Crescent
8 % illuminated
Dark from 20:25 to 03:50
Dark for 7h 24m
Moon phase on Wed 27th Aug

Wed 27th Aug

Waxing Crescent
14 % illuminated
Dark from 20:22 to 03:52
Dark for 7h 29m
Moon phase on Thu 28th Aug

Thu 28th Aug

Waxing Crescent
21 % illuminated
Dark from 20:20 to 03:54
Dark for 7h 33m
Moon phase on Fri 29th Aug

Fri 29th Aug

Waxing Crescent
29 % illuminated
Dark from 20:34 to 03:56
Dark for 7h 22m
Moon phase on Sat 30th Aug

Sat 30th Aug

First Quarter
38 % illuminated
Dark from 20:58 to 03:58
Dark for 7h 0m
Moon phase on Sun 31st Aug

Sun 31st Aug

First Quarter
48 % illuminated
Dark from 21:31 to 04:00
Dark for 6h 29m

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

  • Aylesbury Astronomical Society meeting

    Monday 1st September 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Aylesbury Scout Hut, Aylesbury, HP20 1LL (29.5 miles away)

    More info

  • European Conference on Amateur Radio Astronomy (EUCARA) 2025)

    Friday 5th September 2025 from 12:00pm to Sunday 7th September 2025 12:00pm

    Harwell Campus Visitor Centre, Didcot, OX11 0FA (1.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Maidenhead Astronomical Society meeting & observing

    Friday 5th September 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    St James-the-Less Church Hall, Maidenhead, SL6 6QW (24.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Newbury Astronomical Society monthly meeting

    Friday 5th September 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Fair Close Centre, Newbury, RG14 6NH (12.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Abingdon Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Monday 8th September 2025 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    All Saint's Methodist Church Hall - Abingdon, Abingdon, OX14 2AQ (8.8 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Wild Camping Wiltshire

    Dark Lane, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3FZ, South West England (19.3 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info