Lowell Discovery Telescope
Clear Sky Chart
History

This sumarizes the distribution of each different forecast outcome for the Lowell Discovery Telescope clear sky chart from 2005-11-06 to 2024-11-06.

This page is a summary of past forecasts. Even though it's based only on forecasts, some people use these pages as clue to a site's climate. But climate data based on actual observation should be preferred (if you can find it!).

Cloud, Transparency and Seeing forecasts are summarized individually. But because good observing conditions require a combination of minimum cloud cover, transparency and seeing, the individual forecast summaries can be difficult to interpret. The observing conditions section counts the combinations of conditions needed for common types of astronomical observation.

Observing Conditions

The following tables count the occurrence of the combinations of forecast and darkness conditions needed for different observations. Conditions are rated by by what percentage of the hours the observation would likely be attempted are usable.

Observation Type	Minimum conditions for hour to be usable				Out of hours
	Clear of Clouds	Transparency	Seeing	Sky Brightness
Planetary:	50%	(no limit)	Average	(no limit)	Nighttime Hours
Deep Sky:	70%	Average	(no limit)	5.9	Nighttime Hours
CCD Imaging:	70%	Below Average	Poor	(no limit)	Nighttime Hours

Percentages are of nighttime hours per month, or per year, when a particular observing conditions was met. Deep Sky percentages never exceed 50% because the moon is up half the time. Deep sky percentages are much lower for charts at high latitudes because of fewer dark hours in the summer.

Overall

By Month

Individual Forecasts

The length of each colored bar in the "occurrence of each Forecast" column is proportional to the number of times the chart forecast that color. The percentages are of the total number of hours per month, or per year, with a particular forecast. The colors as the same as those used in clear sky charts.

Note: Transparency probabilities are only counted for those hours that have 30% or less cloud cover. Seeing probabilities are only counted for those hours that have 80% or less cloud cover. If that's too tricky, try Observing Conditions instead.

Overall

		Occurrence of each Forecast	Data Points
Cloud Cover	Day	3 5% 2 5% 4 4 4 4 5% 6% 59%	105242
	Night	2 4 2 5% 3 3 4 3 5% 6% 62%	102596
Transparency	Day	25% 3 6% 17% 29% 19%	105009
	Night	22% 3 6% 18% 30% 21%	102419
Seeing	Day	12% 18% 28% 26% 12% 4	14881
	Night	7% 15% 24% 29% 20% 4	25023

By Month

Percentage Cloud Cover SW (2006-)
Color Meanings: Overcast 90% covered 80% covered 70% covered 60% covered 50% covered 40% covered 30% covered 20% covered 10% covered Clear
Month	Days in Month		Occurrence of each Forecast	Data Points
January	1st to 10th	Day	2 5% 4 9% 4 3 4 3 4 5% 57%	2858
	11th to 20th	Day	2 5% 2 6% 4 4 5% 3 4 6% 59%	2860
	21st to end	Day	5% 11% 4 8% 3 2 4 3 4 7% 48%	3146
February	1st to 10th	Day	2 9% 4 5% 4 2 3 3 5% 6% 57%	1714
	11th to 20th	Day	2 8% 4 4 3 3 3 3 5% 7% 58%	1850
	21st to end	Day	2 8% 3 7% 5% 4 3 2 4 6% 55%	1598
March	1st to 10th	Day	2 7% 2 4 3 3 4 4 5% 6% 62%	3444
	11th to 20th	Day	3 12% 4 8% 5% 5% 4 4 5% 6% 43%	3490
	21st to end	Day	2 5% 3 6% 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 59%	3825
April	1st to 10th	Day	2 4 2 5% 4 3 4 4 5% 7% 62%	2090
	11th to 20th	Day	1 4 2 4 3 2 2 3 4 6% 68%	2214
	21st to end	Day	2 5% 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 6% 67%	2436
May	1st to 10th	Day	2 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 78%	4110
	11th to 20th	Day	2 4 2 5% 4 4 5% 4 6% 6% 59%	4071
	21st to end	Day	2 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 3 4 81%	4477
June	1st to 10th	Day	1 2 3 2 2 3 3 3 7% 74%	2470
	11th to 20th	Day	1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 4 83%	2470
	21st to end	Day	2 2 1 4 4 3 4 4 4 6% 66%	2470
July	1st to 10th	Day	3 2 1 4 4 4 4 3 5% 5% 65%	4110
	11th to 20th	Day	4 3 2 6% 6% 7% 8% 8% 10% 10% 35%	4110
	21st to end	Day	4 4 2 6% 6% 6% 8% 6% 8% 9% 40%	4454
August	1st to 10th	Day	4 5% 2 9% 8% 8% 9% 6% 8% 8% 34%	4092
	11th to 20th	Day	3 3 1 5% 5% 6% 7% 6% 8% 9% 47%	4028
	21st to end	Day	4 4 2 7% 6% 6% 5% 5% 6% 7% 48%	4247
September	1st to 10th	Day	5% 5% 2 6% 6% 6% 5% 5% 6% 6% 47%	2090
	11th to 20th	Day	4 2 1 4 3 3 4 3 4 5% 66%	2090
	21st to end	Day	3 3 1 4 2 3 4 3 4 6% 67%	2090
October	1st to 10th	Day	3 4 2 4 3 3 4 3 4 4 67%	3367
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 4 1 4 2 2 2 2 3 6% 70%	3150
	21st to end	Day	1 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 5% 75%	3438
November	1st to 10th	Day	2 3 2 3 2 2 3 3 4 6% 70%	1909
	11th to 20th	Day	1 3 1 3 2 3 4 3 4 6% 70%	1739
	21st to end	Day	3 7% 3 3 2 2 3 2 4 5% 65%	1710
December	1st to 10th	Day	5% 7% 2 5% 3 3 3 3 5% 7% 57%	1710
	11th to 20th	Day	3 10% 4 7% 4 4 4 4 7% 7% 46%	2169
	21st to end	Day	4 9% 4 9% 4 3 4 3 4 5% 51%	3146
January	1st to 10th	Night	1 5% 3 7% 5% 4 4 4 5% 6% 57%	4097
	11th to 20th	Night	1 5% 2 7% 3 2 2 2 5% 7% 64%	4110
	21st to end	Night	5% 10% 4 10% 3 4 4 3 4 5% 48%	4521
February	1st to 10th	Night	1 7% 3 5% 3 3 2 3 4 5% 63%	2461
	11th to 20th	Night	2 7% 3 5% 3 3 3 4 4 6% 61%	2218
	21st to end	Night	3 8% 3 6% 3 4 4 3 5% 6% 56%	1856
March	1st to 10th	Night	1 4 3 9% 3 3 3 3 6% 7% 58%	3430
	11th to 20th	Night	2 8% 4 7% 5% 5% 5% 3 5% 7% 49%	3490
	21st to end	Night	3 7% 3 5% 4 3 4 3 6% 6% 57%	3828
April	1st to 10th	Night	1 5% 2 4 3 3 3 3 4 6% 65%	2090
	11th to 20th	Night	1 4 1 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 70%	1912
	21st to end	Night	1 2 1 2 3 3 2 2 4 6% 74%	1741
May	1st to 10th	Night	1 1 2 2 2 3 1 3 3 82%	2860
	11th to 20th	Night	1 2 1 3 2 2 3 2 4 6% 75%	2834
	21st to end	Night	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 4 85%	3110
June	1st to 10th	Night	2 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 5% 5% 74%	1710
	11th to 20th	Night	1 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 3 85%	1710
	21st to end	Night	2 2 1 3 3 3 3 2 4 4 72%	1710
July	1st to 10th	Night	1 2 1 3 2 3 4 4 6% 7% 67%	2860
	11th to 20th	Night	2 3 2 7% 6% 7% 9% 7% 10% 12% 35%	2860
	21st to end	Night	3 4 2 5% 5% 6% 6% 6% 8% 11% 45%	3109
August	1st to 10th	Night	3 4 2 8% 7% 8% 7% 5% 8% 11% 37%	2847
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 3 3 3 4 4 7% 11% 59%	2811
	21st to end	Night	2 3 1 5% 4 5% 5% 5% 6% 9% 56%	3414
September	1st to 10th	Night	3 4 2 5% 4 4 5% 3 7% 8% 57%	2090
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 76%	2090
	21st to end	Night	2 2 1 3 2 3 3 2 4 5% 72%	2090
October	1st to 10th	Night	2 3 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 5% 75%	3609
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 3 2 2 2 2 4 7% 72%	3778
	21st to end	Night	2 3 1 3 2 2 3 2 4 5% 73%	4120
November	1st to 10th	Night	3 4 1 3 2 3 3 4 4 5% 69%	2292
	11th to 20th	Night	1 2 1 3 2 3 3 3 4 5% 72%	2436
	21st to end	Night	3 6% 2 5% 3 3 3 3 4 5% 63%	2470
December	1st to 10th	Night	4 6% 3 5% 3 3 4 3 5% 6% 58%	2470
	11th to 20th	Night	3 8% 3 8% 4 3 4 4 5% 8% 49%	3041
	21st to end	Night	3 7% 3 8% 4 4 4 3 4 4 55%	4521

Transparency (when cloud cover <= 30%)
Color Meanings: Too cloudy to forecast Poor Below Average Average Above average Transparent
Month	Days in Month		Occurrence of each Forecast	Data Points
January	1st to 10th	Day	30% 1 3 21% 30% 13%	2859
	11th to 20th	Day	29% 2 8% 27% 23% 12%	2860
	21st to end	Day	38% 2 3 17% 33% 8%	3146
February	1st to 10th	Day	28% 2 7% 16% 27% 20%	1714
	11th to 20th	Day	27% 4 4 21% 25% 19%	1860
	21st to end	Day	32% 2 4 17% 28% 19%	1598
March	1st to 10th	Day	24% 3 2 23% 37% 11%	3444
	11th to 20th	Day	42% 2 2 23% 23% 8%	3490
	21st to end	Day	27% 2 3 29% 33% 7%	3825
April	1st to 10th	Day	23% 3 4 21% 37% 13%	2090
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 2 2 17% 39% 21%	2217
	21st to end	Day	20% 2 4 17% 41% 15%	2436
May	1st to 10th	Day	12% 1 4 14% 46% 23%	4110
	11th to 20th	Day	26% 2 3 13% 37% 19%	4074
	21st to end	Day	10% 1 2 9% 34% 45%	4477
June	1st to 10th	Day	13% 2 2 14% 36% 33%	2470
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 2 1 7% 31% 51%	2470
	21st to end	Day	20% 2 3 10% 31% 33%	2470
July	1st to 10th	Day	20% 4 6% 10% 13% 47%	4046
	11th to 20th	Day	33% 9% 12% 25% 14% 6%	4041
	21st to end	Day	36% 7% 18% 21% 16% 3	4314
August	1st to 10th	Day	42% 8% 18% 14% 11% 8%	4078
	11th to 20th	Day	31% 6% 13% 20% 20% 10%	4067
	21st to end	Day	32% 5% 12% 19% 23% 8%	4246
September	1st to 10th	Day	35% 5% 8% 14% 21% 18%	2090
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 2 3 15% 36% 22%	2090
	21st to end	Day	20% 3 3 15% 34% 25%	2090
October	1st to 10th	Day	21% 3 3 12% 23% 38%	3367
	11th to 20th	Day	16% 3 3 12% 47% 20%	3150
	21st to end	Day	12% 3 3 12% 39% 32%	3438
November	1st to 10th	Day	17% 3 3 24% 34% 19%	1909
	11th to 20th	Day	16% 3 5% 18% 37% 22%	1739
	21st to end	Day	23% 2 3 17% 35% 19%	1710
December	1st to 10th	Day	27% 3 6% 19% 26% 19%	1710
	11th to 20th	Day	37% 2 6% 21% 21% 13%	2168
	21st to end	Day	37% 2 3 19% 27% 12%	3146
January	1st to 10th	Night	29% 2 4 16% 38% 11%	4097
	11th to 20th	Night	22% 2 7% 28% 31% 10%	4110
	21st to end	Night	40% 2 3 15% 32% 9%	4521
February	1st to 10th	Night	24% 2 6% 18% 26% 23%	2461
	11th to 20th	Night	25% 2 5% 22% 25% 20%	2219
	21st to end	Night	29% 4 2 15% 30% 20%	1856
March	1st to 10th	Night	26% 2 2 21% 36% 13%	3430
	11th to 20th	Night	33% 1 2 24% 29% 10%	3490
	21st to end	Night	27% 2 5% 33% 26% 8%	3828
April	1st to 10th	Night	21% 2 5% 20% 36% 16%	2090
	11th to 20th	Night	17% 2 3 16% 38% 25%	1912
	21st to end	Night	13% 2 4 22% 41% 18%	1741
May	1st to 10th	Night	9% 1 4 15% 44% 25%	2860
	11th to 20th	Night	14% 1 2 15% 43% 25%	2835
	21st to end	Night	6% 1 2 9% 36% 45%	3110
June	1st to 10th	Night	13% 2 1 12% 36% 36%	1710
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 1 1 6% 30% 53%	1710
	21st to end	Night	16% 3 3 9% 27% 41%	1710
July	1st to 10th	Night	15% 4 7% 11% 16% 47%	2815
	11th to 20th	Night	32% 8% 15% 25% 13% 7%	2806
	21st to end	Night	29% 6% 21% 25% 14% 5%	3011
August	1st to 10th	Night	36% 7% 24% 12% 11% 10%	2838
	11th to 20th	Night	19% 4 19% 26% 21% 11%	2838
	21st to end	Night	22% 5% 13% 22% 28% 10%	3414
September	1st to 10th	Night	23% 5% 11% 18% 25% 18%	2090
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 3 5% 19% 33% 28%	2090
	21st to end	Night	15% 4 3 14% 34% 29%	2090
October	1st to 10th	Night	13% 3 4 13% 27% 40%	3609
	11th to 20th	Night	12% 2 3 17% 44% 23%	3778
	21st to end	Night	12% 4 3 10% 38% 33%	4120
November	1st to 10th	Night	18% 3 3 22% 35% 19%	2292
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 2 5% 17% 37% 23%	2436
	21st to end	Night	25% 3 2 16% 32% 22%	2470
December	1st to 10th	Night	27% 3 5% 19% 26% 20%	2470
	11th to 20th	Night	34% 3 5% 17% 26% 14%	3041
	21st to end	Night	34% 2 4 17% 23% 19%	4521

Seeing (when cloud cover <= 80%)
Color Meanings: Too cloudy to forecast Bad 1/5 Poor 2/5 Average 3/5 Good 4/5 Excellent 5/5
Month	Days in Month		Occurrence of each Forecast	Data Points
January	1st to 10th	Day	15% 27% 33% 17% 8%	270
	11th to 20th	Day	15% 24% 30% 22% 7% 2	270
	21st to end	Day	12% 30% 29% 18% 10% 1	297
February	1st to 10th	Day	20% 24% 27% 20% 7% 1	274
	11th to 20th	Day	24% 27% 30% 15% 4	455
	21st to end	Day	27% 30% 27% 13% 2	382
March	1st to 10th	Day	25% 30% 26% 15% 3	460
	11th to 20th	Day	20% 24% 27% 20% 7% 3	460
	21st to end	Day	24% 30% 29% 11% 4 1	506
April	1st to 10th	Day	14% 29% 33% 17% 6% 2	460
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 31% 31% 13% 5% 2	452
	21st to end	Day	16% 29% 28% 18% 7% 2	460
May	1st to 10th	Day	12% 26% 37% 19% 5% 1	463
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 20% 33% 25% 9% 3	488
	21st to end	Day	12% 23% 34% 21% 8% 2	529
June	1st to 10th	Day	4 16% 36% 31% 10% 2	490
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 18% 41% 21% 10% 3	490
	21st to end	Day	3 12% 34% 38% 10% 3	490
July	1st to 10th	Day	5% 5% 31% 38% 17% 3	486
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 3 19% 37% 26% 9%	484
	21st to end	Day	8% 4 13% 38% 27% 10%	531
August	1st to 10th	Day	6% 4 19% 42% 21% 8%	487
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 6% 16% 45% 21% 7%	477
	21st to end	Day	5% 5% 18% 37% 25% 10%	539
September	1st to 10th	Day	7% 7% 20% 36% 22% 8%	490
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 12% 33% 32% 12% 6%	490
	21st to end	Day	10% 11% 26% 33% 15% 5%	490
October	1st to 10th	Day	10% 21% 25% 26% 14% 5%	419
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 18% 27% 25% 16% 5%	300
	21st to end	Day	14% 17% 28% 24% 14% 3	330
November	1st to 10th	Day	16% 22% 25% 22% 12% 4	285
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 19% 27% 24% 13% 5%	270
	21st to end	Day	20% 17% 29% 20% 11% 3	270
December	1st to 10th	Day	14% 24% 27% 24% 10% 1	270
	11th to 20th	Day	14% 21% 33% 23% 7% 3	270
	21st to end	Day	23% 23% 30% 18% 6% 2	297
January	1st to 10th	Night	9% 19% 26% 28% 14% 4	760
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 20% 31% 23% 14% 2	760
	21st to end	Night	11% 25% 26% 26% 10% 2	836
February	1st to 10th	Night	11% 19% 28% 28% 11% 2	760
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 22% 31% 26% 10% 1	744
	21st to end	Night	13% 25% 27% 24% 9% 2	628
March	1st to 10th	Night	14% 26% 28% 23% 8% 1	760
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 17% 28% 27% 15% 3	760
	21st to end	Night	10% 22% 29% 27% 11% 1	836
April	1st to 10th	Night	8% 24% 29% 26% 12% 1	760
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 20% 32% 28% 8% 1	598
	21st to end	Night	6% 21% 29% 27% 14% 3	570
May	1st to 10th	Night	5% 18% 33% 32% 11% 1	570
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 14% 27% 31% 20% 3	561
	21st to end	Night	6% 16% 31% 30% 15% 2	617
June	1st to 10th	Night	3 10% 33% 37% 16% 1	570
	11th to 20th	Night	2 11% 32% 36% 18% 1	570
	21st to end	Night	3 5% 24% 41% 25% 3	570
July	1st to 10th	Night	2 1 17% 44% 33% 4	555
	11th to 20th	Night	4 1 9% 37% 42% 7%	552
	21st to end	Night	5% 3 8% 28% 43% 13%	624
August	1st to 10th	Night	4 2 9% 30% 42% 12%	567
	11th to 20th	Night	4 2 7% 35% 42% 11%	564
	21st to end	Night	3 2 7% 29% 47% 12%	655
September	1st to 10th	Night	4 4 10% 28% 45% 9%	760
	11th to 20th	Night	3 5% 18% 33% 36% 5%	760
	21st to end	Night	4 11% 16% 30% 32% 8%	760
October	1st to 10th	Night	6% 15% 22% 31% 23% 3	760
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 11% 25% 35% 20% 4	760
	21st to end	Night	5% 17% 22% 28% 21% 7%	836
November	1st to 10th	Night	8% 15% 25% 28% 18% 5%	764
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 17% 24% 30% 18% 5%	760
	21st to end	Night	12% 18% 26% 26% 15% 3	760
December	1st to 10th	Night	13% 17% 25% 29% 16% 1	760
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 20% 28% 28% 13% 2	760
	21st to end	Night	13% 21% 28% 28% 8% 2	836

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