SKY Β· STARGAZING Β· UK

Is Tonight Good for Stargazing in London?

Clear skies tonight (about 24% cloud) β€” but a bright Moon (81% lit) will wash out faint stars and the Milky Way tonight.

TONIGHT'S VERDICT Β· LONDON
VerdictClear skies β€” but a bright Moon
Night cloud24%
MoonWaxing Gibbous Β· 81%
Dark from9:01 PM
Until5:14 AM

Worth looking for: A great night for the Moon itself, bright planets and the brightest constellations β€” save the Milky Way and faint targets for a darker night.

Live cloud reading

READING TONIGHT'S SKY…

How dark is the sky over London?

Sky class (estimate)Bortle 9 Β· Inner-city sky

A Bortle 8–9 dome covering the whole metro; real dark sky needs a proper drive.

Even on the clearest, Moonless night, a bright city sky limits what you can see. For the Milky Way and faint stars from London, you'll want to reach a darker site β€” see the options below.

Darker skies within reach of London

~2 HR DRIVE SOUTHSouth Downs National ParkIDA-certified International Dark Sky Reserve.
~3.5 HR DRIVE WEST β€” A DESTINATIONExmoor National ParkEurope’s first International Dark Sky Reserve.

Dark-sky designations from the International Dark-Sky Association and well-recognised dark regions. Always check access, opening hours and the weather before travelling.

London right now

More sky over London

SEE IT ON THE MAP

Live cloud cover over London, on the full map.

Open the live map β†’