• NOVA Stargazing UK
  • Book Now - Gifts - Events
  • Reviews
  • Stargazing Experiences
    • Availability
    • Guide to booking and FAQs
    • Stargazing Locations
    • NOVA Recommended
  • Live Shows & Astro Talks
  • Monthly Night Sky Guide
    • Planetary/Lunar Calendars
    • Winter Stargazing
    • Spring Stargazing
    • Summer Stargazing
    • Autumn Stargazing
  • Look Inside of NOVA
    • Blog and Socials
    • Telescopes
    • Gallery
    • About NOVA / Contact Us

Book onto our public stargazing experience in the New Forest - Tue 29/09/26 @ 8pm

  • NOVA Stargazing UK
  • Book Now - Gifts - Events
  • Reviews
  • Stargazing Experiences
    • Availability
    • Guide to booking and FAQs
    • Stargazing Locations
    • NOVA Recommended
  • Live Shows & Astro Talks
  • Monthly Night Sky Guide
    • Planetary/Lunar Calendars
    • Winter Stargazing
    • Spring Stargazing
    • Summer Stargazing
    • Autumn Stargazing
  • Look Inside of NOVA
    • Blog and Socials
    • Telescopes
    • Gallery
    • About NOVA / Contact Us

BOOKING A NOVA STARGAZING EXPERIENCE (STEP BY STEP)

STEP 1. CHOOSE AN EXPERIENCE

STEP 1. CHOOSE AN EXPERIENCE

STEP 1. CHOOSE AN EXPERIENCE

Lunar & Planetary (1hr stargazing)

Origins (1.5hrs stargazing)

Evolution (2hrs stargazing)


 Our guided stargazing experiences are suitable for everyone. From first-time astronomers and families to seasoned stargazers. We tailor every night sky tour to match your curiosity level. 


We have high quality equipment meaning you see incredible sight

Lunar & Planetary (1hr stargazing)

Origins (1.5hrs stargazing)

Evolution (2hrs stargazing)


 Our guided stargazing experiences are suitable for everyone. From first-time astronomers and families to seasoned stargazers. We tailor every night sky tour to match your curiosity level. 


We have high quality equipment meaning you see incredible sights in the night sky - planets, the moon, star systems, star clusters, nebulae, or galaxies. 


Our astronomers will guide you throughout and make the complex, simple to understand. We aim to capture some photos of what you see during your night sky tour so you have some keepsakes to go away with. 

STEP 2. CHOOSE A DATE & TIME

STEP 1. CHOOSE AN EXPERIENCE

STEP 1. CHOOSE AN EXPERIENCE

Check our availability and then when you're ready to book, enter your chosen date/time at check-out in the box provided. 


If the date you're looking to book isn't on our calendar then contact us directly via e-mail, phone or whatsapp. Stargazing experiences are only limited by hours of darkness, clear skies and our availability.  


Payment O

Check our availability and then when you're ready to book, enter your chosen date/time at check-out in the box provided. 


If the date you're looking to book isn't on our calendar then contact us directly via e-mail, phone or whatsapp. Stargazing experiences are only limited by hours of darkness, clear skies and our availability.  


Payment Options:

Via e-mail - BACS, Spread the cost

Via website - Debit card, Credit debit, Google pay, Apple pay, PayPal


Once payment has been received you will be sent a booking/payment confirmation within 24hrs and your date for stargazing is secured.


Looking for a gift card? click here


Start times for stargazing experiences (based on sunset and sunrise):

Jan-Feb (Earliest start: 6pm-7pm) (Latest start: 5am)


Mar-Apr (Earliest start: 7pm-10pm) (Latest start: 3:30am)


May-Jun (Earliest start: 10pm-11pm) (Latest start: 2am)


Jul-Aug (Earliest start: 10pm-11pm) (Latest start: 2:30am)


Sep-Oct (Earliest start: 6pm-8pm) (Latest start: 4:30am)


Nov-Dec (Earliest start 5pm-6pm) (Latest start: 5am)

STEP 3. LOCATION

STEP 1. CHOOSE AN EXPERIENCE

STEP 4. WEATHER UPDATES

**Locations 1-50 miles from CV37 9DA are included in the standard price.**


LOCATION OPTIONS:

A: We suggest a location we have previously used.

B: We can find a location based on your postcode (normally a 5-20 mins drive of your home). 

If you're in a town/city this may be further).

C: We can stargaze from your garden (if suitable - minimal obs

**Locations 1-50 miles from CV37 9DA are included in the standard price.**


LOCATION OPTIONS:

A: We suggest a location we have previously used.

B: We can find a location based on your postcode (normally a 5-20 mins drive of your home). 

If you're in a town/city this may be further).

C: We can stargaze from your garden (if suitable - minimal obstructions).

D: Recommend a location to us if you know of one (we can check it's suitability). 



To lower additional travel costs we can offer a location that is between you and us. 

STEP 4. WEATHER UPDATES

STEP 1. CHOOSE AN EXPERIENCE

STEP 4. WEATHER UPDATES

Two days before: 

We contact you with an update on the weather. At this point we'll have an idea as to whether we can go stargazing on your chosen date or not.


The weather is unpredictable, so we don't confirm that we can go ahead until the morning of your booked date. If we can't go ahead then we will look at alternative dates and try agai

Two days before: 

We contact you with an update on the weather. At this point we'll have an idea as to whether we can go stargazing on your chosen date or not.


The weather is unpredictable, so we don't confirm that we can go ahead until the morning of your booked date. If we can't go ahead then we will look at alternative dates and try again.


We confirm on the morning of the day as the forecasts are most accurate then.

STEP 5A. TOO CLOUDY?

STEP 5B. CLEAR SKIES AND GOOD TO GO STARGAZING

STEP 5B. CLEAR SKIES AND GOOD TO GO STARGAZING

If the night of your booking is a no-go due to bad weather, we simply re-book until we have been successful in completing your stargazing experience.


Rescheduling is common and on average it takes 1-6 attempts to complete a stargazing experience due to the weather, however most stargazing experiences are done in only 1-3 attempts. 

STEP 5B. CLEAR SKIES AND GOOD TO GO STARGAZING

STEP 5B. CLEAR SKIES AND GOOD TO GO STARGAZING

STEP 5B. CLEAR SKIES AND GOOD TO GO STARGAZING

Excellent! Let's go stargazing! 


We will meet you at the predetermined location and the arranged time. Our astronomer will have the equipment ready for when you arrive (unless we are coming to your home then we will require 30 mins prior to the start time). 

READY TO BOOK?

STEP 5B. CLEAR SKIES AND GOOD TO GO STARGAZING

READY TO BOOK?

CLICK BELOW TO BOOK NOW

*PERSONAL / COUPLES / FAMILY / FRIENDS (1-12 PEOPLE)*

*CORPORATE / WEDDING / GROUPS (12+ PEOPLE)*

*SCHOOLS / SCOUTS (VARYING NUMBERS)*

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

WEATHER (Cloud Coverage)

WEATHER (Cloud Coverage)

WEATHER (Cloud Coverage)

IMPORTANT - Cloud coverage dictates when we can run our stargazing experiences.


PLEASE NOTE:

When booking there is no guarantee of clear skies on any given date. This is why it takes 1-6 attempts on average to complete your stargazing experience.


How we update you:

1) Two days before your booking, you will receive an update on the forecast. This will give us an idea of how likely we are to go stargazing.

2) On the morning of your booking we will confirm if we can go stargazing or not.

(Typically <50%  cloud means your experience is feasible to go ahead.)  

3) If the night of your booking is a no-go due to bad weather then we will simply re-book until we have been successful in completing your stargazing experience.


***Please let us know if you are flexible on dates as if we have an available night when it's clear then we can notify you and offer the date to you.***


click here to check the cloud forecast

RECOMMENDED CLOTHING

WEATHER (Cloud Coverage)

WEATHER (Cloud Coverage)

Warm clothing is essential for stargazing and not just in the winter.


The clearest nights are often the coldest ones for stargazing and even during the summer, temperatures can drop. The warmer you are dressed, the more comfortable you will be to enjoy your night under the stars.


Keep Warm Checklist:

  • Boots or hiking type shoes 
  • 2-3 Pairs of thick socks (thicker the better) - THIS IS A MUST!
  • Thermal undergarments
  • Thick coat
  • USB heated jackets
  • Thin layered tops/jumpers
  • Scarf/gloves/hat/ear muffs
  • Hot water bottle
  • Flask with a delicious hot drink of choice
  • A mat to stand on 
  • Hand warmers

OPERATING AREA

OPERATING TIMES

OPERATING TIMES

Looking for "stargazing near me"?

 

Great! Although our home base is Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, our observatory is mobile and we are able to run stargazing experiences in your home county and across England & Wales.  


In the standard price we include the cost of travel to any location ≤50 miles from Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 9DA. This covers a number of locations in Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Oxfordshire. 


We often travel to different locations across England & Wales for any one of our stargazing experiences so our customers can be closer to home. Previous customers have found this more convenient to be able to fit an experience around their busy lives. We do require additional travel costs which apply to any location further than 50 miles from CV37 9DA. 

OPERATING TIMES

OPERATING TIMES

OPERATING TIMES

Night owl or early riser? 

We've got you covered.


We operate all year round! Every single month from sunset to sunrise, whenever the skies are clear enough to go stargazing. 

Some objects are visible all night and others rise and set, so anytime it's dark is a great time to explore the night sky. 

When you book your stargazing experience you can choose a time to suit you. Times for your chosen date will only be limited by hours of darkness and clear skies available (or if your booking involves observing specific objects). 

(Please let us know if you have something in particular you want to observe and we will advise on the best time of year whether that's Jupiter, Saturn, the Andromeda galaxy, Ring Nebula, Hercules Cluster, Bode's galaxies, etc).  


Welcome to the late nights and early mornings of astronomy.

SUITABLE LOCATIONS

Do Darker Skies Matter?

The image above shows the Bortle Scale and how light pollution affects the night sky. Darker skies locations are recommended to help see more naked eye stars, constellations better, meteors, aurora, the Milky Way and anything that doesn't require optical equipment. 


To get the absolute best out of naked eye celesital sights:

1. Get away from light polluted areas (towns/cities).

2. Allow 20-30 mins for your eyes to become dark eye adapted away from any sources of white light. 


Even driving a few miles away from local dwellings will make a huge difference. Head to www.gostargazing.co.uk and enter your postcode to find a dark sky spot near you.


We can research good locations that have darker skies but can't always guarantee they will be close to your home if you live in a town or city. If you're outside our normal radius (50 miles from CV37 9DA) we work hard to find a suitable spot that has dark skies but it may be a 30min-1hr drive from your home.

UNOBSTRUCTED VIEWING

When looking for a location with a good night sky view you need to think about a clear 360 degree view from the location you are considering. This is not always possible but the less obstructions there are, the better. Our image shows you a good location and a bad one.

If you are fortunate enough to have a garden / piece of land with an unobstructed view of the night sky and would like to do your stargazing experience at home, then please let us know. 

LOCATIONS PERMISSIONS

If you have a location in mind that isn't on your property, then please make sure you have permission to use the site. 

This is less of a consideration when it comes to public spaces such as parks, public green areas and other areas but some places still require permission to access the area.  If you would like us to help then please pass on the information of the location and we will  do our best to check this for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at novastargazinguk@gmail.com or whatsapp us on 07490706911 if you cannot find an answer to your question.

NOVA provides stargazing experiences :

-For private, 1-2-1, couples, families

-Small groups (up to 12), Large groups (12-40+) 

-Corporate events

-Weddings 

-Stargazing at schools

-Scout associations 


We also host public stargazing events with our various partners (Experience Hampshire, Blyth Hall, Missions Astro) across England and Wales.


Live shows with our partners NOVA Astro & Earth.


NOVA operates its stargazing experiences across England & Wales. We operate in every county and are happy to go where our customers want us to go. Check out where we have been before.


In our standard pricing we cover the cost of travel to any location within 50 miles of CV37 9DA and only require additional travel costs if a location is further than 50 miles from this postcode. To find out about additional travel costs - click here


Recommended area to avoid - Central city locations such as London (most locations inside of the M25), Birmingham, Manchester or any other city centre. This is due to the heavy light pollution that greatly diminishes celestial objects, in particular deep sky objects and constellations. We always want to give our stargazers the best time not an average time. 


Book here and include your preferred date/location at checkout. 


Check our current availability.


Alternatively whatsapp, text or call us on 07490 706911 if you have any questions. 


Yes, we offer Stargazing Gift Vouchers that are valid for 12 months. 


If your gift recipient's location is beyond the 50 miles we include in the price, then you can decide to cover the additional travel costs. 


CANCELLATION POLICY

We require a minimum of 72 hours notice for cancellations. If you decide to cancel after this time then no refund will be offered. Please see below for our refund policy.


REFUND POLICY

  • Gift experiences are NON-REFUNDABLE - gift cards contain an expiry date on the card. (This is usually post-dated to the time you will receive or another specified date that has been agreed).
  • Direct bookings for stargazing (non-gift card related) - When will a refund be offered? After 6 unsuccessful attempts have been made to complete your stargazing experience (within a 12 month period) as it typically takes 1-6 attempts to complete an experience due to the weather. If you’ve had 6 unsuccessful attempt within 12 months, and you’d like a refund then please contact us directly, otherwise we can continue to re-book and try again. 
  • When won’t a refund be offered? If you fail to re-book at least 6 times within a 12 month period then unfortunately we won’t offer a refund. Also, if you decide to cancel any bookings less than 72 hours before a booked date. 
  • No use of service - if you have paid and fail to contact us to rebook a date within 12 months of your original booking, no refund will be offered. 


No, you do not need any equipment. Feel free to bring your own telescope if you'd like and we will tour the night sky with our high-end equipment that we have invested in and our astronomer will guide you through the entire evening.


Yes we do. Please contact us directly via novastargazinguk@gmail.com or Whatsapp, text or call us to get a quote. 


Included in the standard price of a stargazing experience is space for an additional 5 friends & family to join you on your experience. You can add an extra 6 people (12 people max) for a small additional cost. 


We also offer group stargazing events/sessions (+12 people) as well as stargazing for schools, corporate events and weddings. Contact us for more information.


We require full payment up front at the time of booking unless you are paying via BACS then payment is required upon receiving an invoice. Once payment is made you will receive a booking confirmation and your date is secured. 


If you have arranged a 'spread the cost' option then your T&Cs and payment dates will be on the invoice. Any outstanding payments are required to be settled prior to the go ahead of your experience date. 


We provide a clear skies guarantee, so if your experience can't go ahead due to heavy cloud coverage (>50%) or extreme weather events then we will simply re-book a new date with you and continue to do so until we are able to complete your experience. 


The average number of attempts is 1-6 before we are able to complete someone's experience due to the weather. If your number of attempts goes beyond 6 then please refer to our refund policy above, as we will either offer another date or a refund if your circumstances fit our policy. 


We are happy to run your stargazing experience from home. If you need any advice on the suitability of your garden then please get in touch and we can assess it for you. 


Gift cards are valid for 12 months and each gift card has an expiry date found at the bottom of the card. This can be set to a date in the future if you are looking to buy your gift card in advance for a special occasion. This allows your recipient 365 days (366 if it's a leap year), that's 8750 hours, or 525,600 minutes to get booked in with us.


If your recipient books in their stargazing session with us and due to bad weather their rescheduled date goes beyond the expiry date then the recipient needn't worry as we will extend the expiry date to include the additional time. 


Unfortunately we don't offer the hiring of telescopes. Please check our telescopes page as you can hire from our recommended partners Rother Valley Optics. 


Forecasting systems are not perfect, so if when we arrive the weather isn't matching up to the forecasts we will reschedule and try again. 


However if during your experience it becomes too cloudy to continue then we will simply refund you for the time not completed, minus any direct costs (i.e. fuel). Refunds are only applicable to direct bookings.


Our spread the cost option can be useful if you don't have the money straight away or want to spread the cost to make a stargazing experience more affordable. There is 0% interest on the overall cost and this option is only available via BACS payments or for experiences that are booked 2 months in advance and for gift cards. Any outstanding payment are required prior to the date or booking. Click here to find out more. 


Copyright © 2026 NOVA - Night of Visual Astronomy - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

  • Reviews

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

DeclineAccept
Contact Us via Whatsapp - +447490706911