Darkstar Observatory
Clear Sky Chart
History

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

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	8% 6% 2 8% 6% 6% 6% 5% 7% 9% 36%	100888
	Night	8% 6% 2 7% 5% 5% 5% 4 7% 9% 42%	98204
Transparency	Day	41% 8% 16% 18% 13% 4	104614
	Night	37% 8% 18% 20% 13% 4	102604
Seeing	Day	9% 5% 17% 25% 24% 20%	15696
	Night	9% 4 17% 33% 30% 8%	25773

By Month

Percentage Cloud Cover SE (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	12% 7% 2 7% 5% 5% 4 4 5% 6% 43%	2836
	11th to 20th	Day	18% 9% 3 7% 5% 4 4 4 6% 6% 33%	2840
	21st to end	Day	12% 7% 2 7% 5% 4 4 3 6% 7% 43%	3138
February	1st to 10th	Day	12% 7% 2 7% 5% 4 5% 4 6% 7% 43%	1900
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 5% 2 6% 4 5% 5% 3 5% 7% 51%	1848
	21st to end	Day	8% 6% 2 6% 4 6% 5% 5% 5% 6% 47%	1718
March	1st to 10th	Day	8% 6% 3 9% 6% 5% 6% 5% 7% 9% 36%	3435
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 3 2 6% 4 4 5% 3 7% 11% 50%	3480
	21st to end	Day	10% 4 2 6% 4 4 4 4 6% 7% 47%	3815
April	1st to 10th	Day	6% 3 2 7% 5% 6% 5% 4 7% 7% 47%	2090
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 6% 2 7% 5% 5% 6% 5% 7% 9% 40%	2139
	21st to end	Day	4 4 2 5% 5% 5% 6% 4 7% 8% 49%	2280
May	1st to 10th	Day	4 2 1 5% 5% 4 5% 4 6% 10% 54%	3888
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 6% 2 8% 6% 5% 6% 6% 8% 9% 36%	4081
	21st to end	Day	5% 4 2 5% 5% 5% 6% 4 7% 9% 49%	4476
June	1st to 10th	Day	13% 7% 3 9% 8% 7% 7% 6% 7% 8% 24%	2470
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 6% 3 9% 8% 9% 9% 6% 8% 9% 26%	2470
	21st to end	Day	9% 8% 3 9% 7% 8% 8% 6% 7% 9% 26%	2470
July	1st to 10th	Day	6% 7% 2 11% 7% 8% 8% 7% 9% 11% 24%	4120
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 6% 3 9% 7% 8% 7% 6% 10% 12% 27%	4120
	21st to end	Day	5% 6% 3 10% 8% 8% 9% 6% 10% 13% 23%	4466
August	1st to 10th	Day	4 6% 3 10% 8% 7% 8% 7% 9% 13% 25%	4104
	11th to 20th	Day	4 5% 3 9% 7% 7% 7% 6% 9% 12% 32%	3871
	21st to end	Day	8% 6% 3 9% 7% 8% 8% 6% 9% 12% 23%	3844
September	1st to 10th	Day	9% 7% 3 10% 9% 8% 8% 6% 7% 10% 23%	2090
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 8% 3 9% 7% 8% 8% 6% 9% 9% 22%	2090
	21st to end	Day	10% 7% 3 10% 7% 7% 7% 5% 8% 9% 27%	2090
October	1st to 10th	Day	13% 6% 3 9% 8% 6% 6% 5% 7% 7% 29%	2032
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 5% 2 7% 5% 5% 6% 5% 7% 9% 43%	1900
	21st to end	Day	8% 5% 1 6% 5% 5% 5% 4 6% 9% 46%	2090
November	1st to 10th	Day	8% 5% 2 7% 6% 4 6% 5% 7% 9% 43%	1957
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 6% 3 7% 6% 5% 5% 4 6% 8% 41%	1900
	21st to end	Day	9% 6% 2 8% 5% 6% 6% 5% 6% 8% 40%	1853
December	1st to 10th	Day	7% 6% 2 7% 5% 5% 5% 3 7% 8% 45%	1710
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 7% 3 7% 5% 5% 5% 3 5% 7% 42%	2153
	21st to end	Day	12% 7% 2 8% 6% 7% 5% 4 7% 7% 34%	3124
January	1st to 10th	Night	12% 7% 2 7% 5% 4 6% 4 5% 6% 41%	4109
	11th to 20th	Night	19% 10% 3 8% 5% 4 4 4 6% 7% 31%	4120
	21st to end	Night	10% 6% 3 7% 5% 5% 5% 4 7% 8% 41%	4500
February	1st to 10th	Night	10% 8% 2 6% 4 4 4 3 6% 7% 46%	2280
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 5% 1 5% 4 4 4 3 6% 7% 51%	2218
	21st to end	Night	8% 4 2 4 4 4 4 3 5% 8% 55%	1733
March	1st to 10th	Night	14% 7% 3 8% 4 5% 4 4 4 6% 39%	3418
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 3 1 3 3 3 4 4 8% 13% 52%	3480
	21st to end	Night	10% 5% 2 5% 4 4 4 4 6% 7% 48%	3817
April	1st to 10th	Night	6% 4 1 5% 4 3 4 4 5% 9% 55%	2090
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 4 3 6% 5% 4 5% 4 6% 8% 49%	1989
	21st to end	Night	5% 3 2 4 4 4 4 4 6% 7% 56%	1900
May	1st to 10th	Night	3 2 1 4 3 4 4 4 5% 9% 61%	3034
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 3 2 6% 4 5% 5% 4 7% 9% 46%	2812
	21st to end	Night	4 4 1 5% 4 4 4 4 6% 7% 58%	3079
June	1st to 10th	Night	10% 7% 3 8% 5% 5% 6% 6% 8% 10% 33%	1710
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 7% 3 7% 7% 7% 7% 5% 9% 11% 32%	1710
	21st to end	Night	8% 8% 3 8% 6% 5% 5% 6% 9% 12% 31%	1710
July	1st to 10th	Night	6% 5% 2 8% 7% 7% 5% 5% 9% 13% 33%	2840
	11th to 20th	Night	4 5% 2 8% 5% 6% 7% 6% 10% 15% 31%	2840
	21st to end	Night	5% 6% 3 9% 7% 7% 8% 6% 10% 13% 26%	3087
August	1st to 10th	Night	4 5% 3 8% 7% 6% 7% 5% 9% 13% 34%	2825
	11th to 20th	Night	4 5% 2 8% 6% 6% 6% 6% 9% 11% 37%	2912
	21st to end	Night	8% 5% 2 8% 5% 6% 6% 6% 9% 13% 31%	3792
September	1st to 10th	Night	8% 6% 2 9% 6% 8% 7% 5% 9% 10% 30%	2090
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 8% 4 10% 6% 6% 6% 4 7% 11% 29%	2090
	21st to end	Night	9% 6% 3 8% 5% 6% 6% 5% 7% 9% 34%	2090
October	1st to 10th	Night	10% 7% 3 8% 5% 5% 5% 5% 6% 8% 39%	2147
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 6% 2 6% 4 5% 5% 4 5% 8% 50%	2280
	21st to end	Night	8% 4 2 6% 4 4 5% 4 5% 8% 49%	2508
November	1st to 10th	Night	9% 5% 2 6% 4 5% 5% 4 6% 7% 48%	2341
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 7% 2 6% 5% 4 5% 4 6% 8% 45%	2287
	21st to end	Night	9% 5% 2 7% 5% 5% 4 4 5% 10% 43%	2322
December	1st to 10th	Night	7% 4 1 6% 5% 4 5% 4 6% 9% 49%	2470
	11th to 20th	Night	12% 7% 2 5% 5% 4 3 3 4 6% 47%	3042
	21st to end	Night	13% 8% 3 8% 5% 5% 6% 4 6% 6% 36%	4532

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	41% 5% 8% 18% 21% 8%	2837
	11th to 20th	Day	51% 3 5% 18% 16% 7%	2840
	21st to end	Day	41% 5% 8% 18% 19% 9%	3138
February	1st to 10th	Day	38% 6% 10% 15% 22% 8%	1900
	11th to 20th	Day	31% 6% 9% 21% 23% 10%	1858
	21st to end	Day	35% 5% 9% 17% 25% 8%	1718
March	1st to 10th	Day	43% 8% 14% 18% 14% 5%	3435
	11th to 20th	Day	28% 6% 13% 30% 19% 5%	3480
	21st to end	Day	32% 6% 11% 27% 16% 7%	3815
April	1st to 10th	Day	34% 6% 12% 24% 16% 8%	2090
	11th to 20th	Day	38% 8% 11% 18% 19% 6%	2139
	21st to end	Day	30% 7% 12% 21% 22% 9%	2280
May	1st to 10th	Day	20% 9% 16% 31% 18% 5%	3923
	11th to 20th	Day	39% 10% 18% 21% 11% 1	4085
	21st to end	Day	27% 9% 14% 33% 16% 1	4489
June	1st to 10th	Day	53% 9% 18% 16% 4	2470
	11th to 20th	Day	49% 11% 20% 17% 2	2470
	21st to end	Day	51% 10% 22% 13% 3 1	2470
July	1st to 10th	Day	49% 10% 26% 13% 3	4055
	11th to 20th	Day	46% 10% 34% 9%	4051
	21st to end	Day	47% 13% 28% 11% 1	4324
August	1st to 10th	Day	46% 11% 30% 11% 2	4091
	11th to 20th	Day	42% 11% 25% 14% 8%	3910
	21st to end	Day	49% 11% 26% 13% 2	3844
September	1st to 10th	Day	53% 13% 19% 10% 4	2090
	11th to 20th	Day	52% 12% 20% 13% 3	2090
	21st to end	Day	49% 9% 16% 13% 10% 2	2090
October	1st to 10th	Day	57% 8% 15% 9% 7% 3	3370
	11th to 20th	Day	31% 6% 7% 24% 27% 5%	3140
	21st to end	Day	29% 4 7% 24% 29% 7%	3428
November	1st to 10th	Day	36% 7% 11% 19% 19% 8%	1957
	11th to 20th	Day	40% 7% 8% 20% 18% 7%	1900
	21st to end	Day	40% 6% 9% 20% 19% 5%	1853
December	1st to 10th	Day	36% 7% 13% 24% 15% 5%	1710
	11th to 20th	Day	40% 6% 11% 16% 17% 9%	2150
	21st to end	Day	45% 8% 11% 17% 12% 7%	3124
January	1st to 10th	Night	41% 6% 10% 17% 19% 6%	4109
	11th to 20th	Night	51% 5% 8% 19% 12% 5%	4120
	21st to end	Night	39% 6% 12% 18% 16% 9%	4500
February	1st to 10th	Night	36% 6% 12% 18% 17% 11%	2280
	11th to 20th	Night	31% 6% 12% 21% 20% 10%	2219
	21st to end	Night	27% 5% 14% 21% 24% 8%	1733
March	1st to 10th	Night	45% 6% 14% 18% 13% 4	3418
	11th to 20th	Night	21% 7% 24% 28% 14% 5%	3480
	21st to end	Night	32% 8% 10% 24% 20% 5%	3817
April	1st to 10th	Night	25% 6% 20% 25% 16% 8%	2090
	11th to 20th	Night	31% 7% 14% 24% 19% 6%	1989
	21st to end	Night	25% 7% 15% 24% 22% 7%	1900
May	1st to 10th	Night	17% 9% 21% 34% 14% 5%	3064
	11th to 20th	Night	31% 9% 24% 26% 9% 1	2813
	21st to end	Night	23% 7% 16% 36% 17% 1	3087
June	1st to 10th	Night	43% 9% 23% 20% 4	1710
	11th to 20th	Night	41% 12% 22% 22% 2	1710
	21st to end	Night	42% 13% 25% 15% 5%	1710
July	1st to 10th	Night	39% 11% 31% 18% 1	2795
	11th to 20th	Night	38% 15% 38% 9%	2786
	21st to end	Night	44% 13% 31% 11% 1	2988
August	1st to 10th	Night	39% 11% 36% 12% 2	2814
	11th to 20th	Night	37% 11% 28% 17% 7%	2939
	21st to end	Night	41% 12% 33% 12% 2	3792
September	1st to 10th	Night	44% 18% 20% 14% 4	2090
	11th to 20th	Night	48% 12% 22% 16% 2	2090
	21st to end	Night	43% 10% 19% 17% 8% 2	2090
October	1st to 10th	Night	55% 7% 15% 13% 7% 3	3576
	11th to 20th	Night	34% 5% 8% 27% 23% 4	3779
	21st to end	Night	31% 5% 9% 22% 28% 6%	4120
November	1st to 10th	Night	34% 6% 12% 20% 20% 8%	2341
	11th to 20th	Night	36% 6% 12% 21% 16% 8%	2287
	21st to end	Night	37% 6% 10% 23% 18% 5%	2322
December	1st to 10th	Night	30% 7% 16% 29% 13% 6%	2470
	11th to 20th	Night	38% 5% 11% 19% 17% 10%	3044
	21st to end	Night	44% 7% 13% 18% 13% 4	4532

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	13% 8% 42% 26% 10% 2	270
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 10% 38% 27% 13% 4	270
	21st to end	Day	17% 11% 40% 25% 6%	297
February	1st to 10th	Day	12% 11% 33% 25% 15% 3	270
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 6% 36% 30% 13% 5%	270
	21st to end	Day	9% 7% 29% 31% 21% 3	373
March	1st to 10th	Day	6% 11% 32% 34% 16% 1	460
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 5% 27% 32% 22% 3	460
	21st to end	Day	7% 8% 28% 30% 23% 5%	506
April	1st to 10th	Day	8% 7% 30% 32% 18% 5%	460
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 8% 26% 30% 20% 9%	452
	21st to end	Day	6% 3 24% 32% 22% 13%	460
May	1st to 10th	Day	6% 3 19% 31% 26% 15%	463
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 2 16% 26% 26% 19%	487
	21st to end	Day	7% 2 9% 25% 29% 27%	529
June	1st to 10th	Day	14% 3 9% 22% 28% 25%	490
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 2 7% 22% 28% 34%	490
	21st to end	Day	8% 2 3 12% 29% 46%	490
July	1st to 10th	Day	7% 2 3 9% 28% 52%	485
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 2 2 8% 34% 49%	484
	21st to end	Day	6% 2 2 15% 26% 49%	532
August	1st to 10th	Day	6% 4 5% 16% 28% 42%	486
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 2 1 14% 27% 52%	479
	21st to end	Day	10% 3 4 16% 27% 39%	539
September	1st to 10th	Day	9% 3 3 14% 30% 41%	490
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 3 6% 22% 27% 32%	490
	21st to end	Day	10% 3 7% 20% 32% 29%	490
October	1st to 10th	Day	16% 2 15% 32% 24% 11%	490
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 4 20% 29% 29% 11%	490
	21st to end	Day	8% 4 18% 37% 26% 7%	539
November	1st to 10th	Day	9% 6% 18% 34% 26% 7%	495
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 7% 24% 33% 21% 5%	460
	21st to end	Day	10% 6% 24% 34% 22% 3	413
December	1st to 10th	Day	5% 10% 34% 28% 17% 6%	270
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 6% 30% 32% 17% 3	270
	21st to end	Day	7% 8% 28% 38% 15% 3	297
January	1st to 10th	Night	13% 8% 27% 36% 15% 1	760
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 6% 26% 42% 14% 1	760
	21st to end	Night	12% 8% 33% 36% 10%	836
February	1st to 10th	Night	13% 6% 28% 37% 15% 1	760
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 5% 30% 39% 14% 1	743
	21st to end	Night	9% 4 32% 44% 10%	628
March	1st to 10th	Night	6% 6% 32% 42% 13% 1	760
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 5% 25% 43% 17% 1	760
	21st to end	Night	6% 5% 30% 42% 17%	836
April	1st to 10th	Night	6% 5% 27% 45% 16% 1	760
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 6% 25% 42% 20% 1	751
	21st to end	Night	5% 4 22% 44% 22% 2	760
May	1st to 10th	Night	5% 3 16% 47% 27% 3	703
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 3 10% 39% 35% 6%	561
	21st to end	Night	6% 2 6% 29% 50% 7%	617
June	1st to 10th	Night	12% 3 3 29% 46% 8%	570
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 3 4 20% 43% 23%	570
	21st to end	Night	8% 2 2 17% 51% 21%	570
July	1st to 10th	Night	7% 2 1 11% 51% 27%	555
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 1 1 9% 51% 32%	552
	21st to end	Night	6% 2 1 10% 50% 31%	624
August	1st to 10th	Night	4 2 2 11% 54% 26%	567
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 1 1 12% 49% 32%	639
	21st to end	Night	10% 3 4 16% 46% 22%	836
September	1st to 10th	Night	9% 3 4 16% 44% 23%	760
	11th to 20th	Night	12% 4 4 18% 45% 16%	760
	21st to end	Night	11% 2 5% 24% 46% 12%	760
October	1st to 10th	Night	14% 2 10% 36% 32% 7%	760
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 3 11% 34% 38% 6%	760
	21st to end	Night	11% 3 13% 38% 31% 4	836
November	1st to 10th	Night	9% 2 18% 35% 31% 4	780
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 4 21% 40% 24% 2	763
	21st to end	Night	9% 3 22% 45% 19% 2	760
December	1st to 10th	Night	6% 4 23% 38% 26% 3	760
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 5% 21% 38% 23% 1	760
	21st to end	Night	10% 5% 25% 38% 20% 2	836

Page generated at 2024-11-08 06:44:49. Version ac07

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