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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

  • 13/09/26

    20° 11%

  • 13/09/26

    20° 9%

  • 13/09/26

    20° 5%

  • 14/09/26

    18° 5%

Weather forecast for Didcot (5.2 miles away) updated 13/09/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

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. 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 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 Sun 13th Sep

Sun 13th Sep

Waxing Crescent
4 % illuminated
Dark from 19:39 to 04:24
Dark for 8h 44m
Moon phase on Mon 14th Sep

Mon 14th Sep

Waxing Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 19:37 to 04:26
Dark for 8h 48m
Moon phase on Tue 15th Sep

Tue 15th Sep

Waxing Crescent
16 % illuminated
Dark from 19:34 to 04:28
Dark for 8h 53m
Moon phase on Wed 16th Sep

Wed 16th Sep

Waxing Crescent
24 % illuminated
Dark from 19:46 to 04:30
Dark for 8h 44m
Moon phase on Thu 17th Sep

Thu 17th Sep

First Quarter
33 % illuminated
Dark from 20:20 to 04:31
Dark for 8h 11m
Moon phase on Fri 18th Sep

Fri 18th Sep

First Quarter
42 % illuminated
Dark from 21:07 to 04:33
Dark for 7h 26m
Moon phase on Sat 19th Sep

Sat 19th Sep

First Quarter
51 % illuminated
Dark from 22:05 to 04:35
Dark for 6h 30m

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

  • Abingdon Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Monday 14th September 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

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

    More info

  • Astronomy for beginners with Newbury Astronomical Society

    Wednesday 16th September 2026 from 19:00pm to 20:30pm

    Stockcross Village Hall, Newbury, RG20 8LN (10.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Andover Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 17th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Hurstbourne Tarrant Community Centre, Hurstbourne Tarrant, SP11 0AX (20.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Swindon Stargazers Monthly Meeting

    Friday 18th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Liddington Village Hall, Swindon, SN4 0HB (15.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Reading Astronomical Society meeting

    Saturday 19th September 2026 from 19:00pm to 21:45pm

    St Peter's Church Hall - Earley, Earley, RG6 1EY (19.5 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

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

    Stay & Gaze

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