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Lancashire · England
Spiritual Blackburn
If you live in or near Blackburn, this page brings the night sky, the old sites and the seasons together in one place. It covers where to find properly dark skies, what the sun and moon are doing across the year at Blackburn's latitude (53.8°N), the heritage and folklore places nearby, and when to order so your crystals, tarot or candles arrive in time.
Pendle Hill from Weets Hill. Photo: Dominic Nelson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Region Lancashire
- Dark skies Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve
- Delivery UK delivery £3.95, free over £40, 2–5 working days
Places to visit
Real photographs, with directions. Tap a map link to open the exact spot.
History, folklore and tips
The history
Pendle Hill rises 557 metres to the north-east of Blackburn, and its villages were home to the people accused in the Lancashire witch trials of 1612. Ribchester, 20 minutes away, was the Roman fort of Bremetennacum, and a small museum displays finds from it.
Folklore and tradition
The Ribchester Helmet, a Roman cavalry parade helmet found by a boy in 1796, is now in the British Museum; a replica is in Ribchester.
Visiting tips
- Climb Pendle from Barley, with parking and a café.
- Ribchester's bath house remains are free to see.
- The Pendle Witch Trail is signposted by road.
From the shop
Shop for Blackburn
Witchy and gothic gifts inspired by Pendle, delivered to Blackburn. UK delivery £3.95, free over £40, 2–5 working days.
Sky almanac for Blackburn
Dark skies and stargazing near Blackburn
Dark skies and stargazing near Blackburn
The nearest certified dark-sky place to Blackburn is Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve, about 61 km (38 miles) away as the crow flies. The next nearest is North York Moors International Dark Sky Reserve, about 125 km (78 miles) away. The best nights are clear, moonless ones around a new moon. The next new moons are on 9 November, 9 December, 7 January, 6 February. Find event dates on the Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve website.
Sunrise, sunset and the moon in Blackburn
Sunrise, sunset and the moon in Blackburn
At the June solstice on 21 June 2027, the sun rises in Blackburn at about 04:38 and sets at about 21:44 (BST), giving 17h 5m of daylight, 27 minutes more than in London. At the December solstice on 21 December 2026 it rises at about 08:25 and sets at about 15:50 (GMT), giving only 7h 25m. Around the March equinox (20 March 2027), sunrise is about 06:15 and sunset about 18:21. Between roughly 14 May and 31 July, the sun never sinks far enough below the horizon for full astronomical darkness, so the faintest stars and the Milky Way are hard to see. In folk tradition the full moon marks the month. The next full moons fall on 24 November, 24 December, 22 January, 20 February, 22 March. Times are calculated (NOAA formulas) and approximate.
Best times of year
Best times of year
Autumn and winter give Blackburn its best skies: darkness comes early and the air is often clearer after a cold front.
On the Geminid peak night of 13–14 December 2026 the sky over Blackburn is fully dark from about 18:00, and the moon is only 21% lit, so it is a very good year for them. The Geminids are the richest shower of the year and the radiant is up almost all night.
For the Perseids in August 2027 the moon is 84% lit and sets over Blackburn at about 01:05, so the best watching is after moonset and before dawn. Full darkness on 12 August starts around 23:32 at 53.8°N.
Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve is about 61 km away if you want truly dark skies; otherwise a park or field away from streetlights will still show the brighter meteors.
On 2 August 2027 a partial solar eclipse is visible across the UK, weather permitting. Never look at the sun without certified eclipse glasses.
Blackburn: local questions
Where is the nearest dark sky reserve to Blackburn?
The nearest certified dark-sky place is Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve, roughly 61 km away in a straight line.
What time is sunrise in Blackburn on the summer solstice?
About 04:38 BST on 21 June 2027, with sunset about 21:44.
Are there ancient or sacred sites near Blackburn?
Yes. Nearby places include Pendle Hill, Ribchester Roman fort. See the heritage section for details.
How much is delivery to Blackburn?
UK delivery to Blackburn is £3.95 and free on orders over £40. Most orders arrive within 2–5 working days.
Photographs are from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown, resized and converted for the web. Folklore is described as tradition. Starseed UK makes no health claims for any product.