Witchmark Observatory
Pendle Hill, Barley, Lancashire, BB9 6LG, North West England
Witchmark Observatory is a rural stargazing venue offering guided astronomy sessions and hosted star parties, with small groups of up to ten people using high-quality telescopes to explore the night sky.
The name reflects both its location near Pendle Hill—an area associated with the historic Pendle witch trials—and the apotropaic “witch marks” carved into parts of the site’s 17th-century buildings.
Unlike traditional public observatories, Witchmark operates by pre-booking and only runs sessions when clear skies are assured, creating an intimate and relaxed stargazing experience.
Location events organiser
Witchmark Observatory organises events at this location
Please contact Witchmark Observatory directly with any enquiries relating to visiting this location
Email: [email protected]
Website: Witchmark Observatory
Facebook: Witchmark Observatory
Weather forecast
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11/05/26
11° 5% -
11/05/26
11° 5% -
11/05/26
9° 1% -
12/05/26
7° 0%
Weather forecast for Burnley (5.8 miles away) updated 11/05/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.
Local light pollution
Witchmark Observatory is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a rural location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite. For more advanced light pollution data, view this location on DarkSkySites.
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Urban
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Suburban
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Semi-rural
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Rural
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Dark site
The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.
Best time to visit
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.
Mon 11th May
Tue 12th May
Wed 13th May
Thu 14th May
Fri 15th May
Sat 16th May
Sun 17th May
Find more dates
If you are planning to visit this location check our dark sky calendar to find out when is best!
CalendarEvents nearby
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