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Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium

Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium

Telegraph Way, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HZ

Best time to visit

Fantastic tourist location with numerous science exhibits, frequently scheduled events and a planetarium equipped with state of the art full dome projection system. Car park accessible to the public free of charge (most of the time) from which to explore the skies above.

Photo courtesy of Winchester Science Centre.

Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium 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.

Location events organiser

Winchester Science Centre

Winchester Science Centre organises events at this location

Please contact Winchester Science Centre directly with any enquiries relating to visiting this location

Email: [email protected]
Website: Winchester Science Centre

Weather forecast

  • 08/09/26

    17° 61%

  • 08/09/26

    18° 1%

  • 08/09/26

    16° 0%

  • 09/09/26

    14° 2%

Weather forecast for Winchester (1.9 miles away) updated 08/09/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium 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 Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium

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 8th Sep

Tue 8th Sep

Waning Crescent
12 % illuminated
Dark from 19:50 to 03:05
Dark for 7h 14m
Moon phase on Wed 9th Sep

Wed 9th Sep

Waning Crescent
6 % illuminated
Dark from 19:47 to 04:18
Dark for 8h 30m
Moon phase on Thu 10th Sep

Thu 10th Sep

New Moon
2 % illuminated
Dark from 19:45 to 04:20
Dark for 8h 34m
Moon phase on Fri 11th Sep

Fri 11th Sep

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 19:43 to 04:22
Dark for 8h 39m
Moon phase on Sat 12th Sep

Sat 12th Sep

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 19:40 to 04:23
Dark for 8h 42m
Moon phase on Sun 13th Sep

Sun 13th Sep

Waxing Crescent
4 % illuminated
Dark from 19:38 to 04:25
Dark for 8h 46m
Moon phase on Mon 14th Sep

Mon 14th Sep

Waxing Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 19:35 to 04:27
Dark for 8h 51m

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

  • Farnham Astronomical Society meeting

    Tuesday 8th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Aldershot Cricket Club, Aldershot, GU12 4BP (25.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Inkpen Stargazers meeting and observing

    Wednesday 9th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Inkpen Memorial Ground and Pavilion, Hungerford, RG17 9QA (23.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Practical Astronomy with Basingstoke Astronomical Society

    Thursday 10th September 2026 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Cliddesden Primary School, Basingstoke, RG25 2QU (13.9 miles away)

    More info

  • Southampton Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 10th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Isaac Watts Memorial Church Hall, Southampton, SO16 6TS (11.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Toothill Observatory Public Open Evening – September 2026 (BACKUP)

    Friday 11th September 2026 from 19:30pm to Saturday 12th September 2026 21:30pm

    Toothill Observatory, Southampton, SO16 8AL (10.9 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 (25.6 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Cosy Oak Yurt – Cranborne Chase

    Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4LP (25.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Littleton Farm Campsite

    Upwaltham, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LX (28.4 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info