High Plains Observatory
Clear Sky Chart
History

This sumarizes the distribution of each different forecast outcome for the High Plains Observatory clear sky chart from 2005-11-06 to 2024-11-28.

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	5% 5% 2 5% 4 4 4 4 6% 8% 53%	105396
	Night	5% 6% 2 5% 4 3 4 3 5% 8% 55%	102862
Transparency	Day	29% 3 8% 25% 24% 11%	105138
	Night	29% 3 10% 26% 24% 9%	102710
Seeing	Day	8% 5% 19% 33% 24% 10%	15692
	Night	8% 3 23% 47% 18% 2	25730

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	1 6% 3 6% 4 4 3 3 5% 8% 58%	2538
	11th to 20th	Day	1 6% 3 7% 6% 5% 4 4 6% 8% 50%	2574
	21st to end	Day	1 7% 3 5% 3 4 3 4 6% 8% 56%	3146
February	1st to 10th	Day	3 7% 4 7% 3 4 5% 4 7% 6% 50%	1710
	11th to 20th	Day	1 5% 3 5% 4 4 4 3 6% 8% 57%	1825
	21st to end	Day	3 6% 2 6% 4 4 3 4 5% 7% 56%	1570
March	1st to 10th	Day	4 8% 2 4 3 3 4 3 5% 8% 55%	3130
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 8% 2 7% 4 3 4 3 5% 7% 51%	3422
	21st to end	Day	5% 6% 3 7% 4 5% 4 5% 7% 9% 47%	4068
April	1st to 10th	Day	6% 6% 2 5% 4 3 4 3 6% 8% 53%	2280
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 8% 2 6% 4 5% 4 3 5% 7% 45%	2251
	21st to end	Day	9% 8% 2 5% 5% 4 4 3 7% 8% 44%	2280
May	1st to 10th	Day	10% 8% 3 7% 5% 5% 6% 4 6% 7% 39%	4043
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 6% 2 6% 4 5% 6% 5% 8% 10% 41%	4384
	21st to end	Day	5% 4 1 4 4 4 5% 4 7% 10% 51%	4825
June	1st to 10th	Day	4 4 1 5% 4 4 5% 5% 8% 10% 49%	2660
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 3 2 5% 4 4 6% 5% 7% 9% 50%	2660
	21st to end	Day	3 3 1 4 3 5% 5% 5% 9% 10% 51%	2660
July	1st to 10th	Day	5% 4 1 4 3 3 4 4 6% 8% 57%	4430
	11th to 20th	Day	3 2 1 4 5% 6% 7% 6% 10% 10% 46%	4430
	21st to end	Day	4 3 2 5% 3 4 4 4 7% 8% 57%	4772
August	1st to 10th	Day	10% 4 2 6% 5% 5% 7% 5% 8% 10% 39%	4092
	11th to 20th	Day	3 3 1 5% 4 5% 6% 5% 8% 10% 51%	3730
	21st to end	Day	3 3 2 5% 4 5% 5% 4 7% 9% 53%	4180
September	1st to 10th	Day	5% 3 1 4 3 3 3 3 5% 8% 61%	2280
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 3 1 4 3 4 4 3 5% 7% 60%	2252
	21st to end	Day	6% 5% 1 3 2 3 3 2 3 6% 65%	2090
October	1st to 10th	Day	4 3 1 3 2 2 2 2 3 4 74%	3206
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 4 1 5% 3 3 3 3 5% 7% 61%	3150
	21st to end	Day	5% 6% 2 4 2 2 3 2 5% 7% 62%	3289
November	1st to 10th	Day	3 5% 1 4 3 3 3 3 5% 8% 62%	1763
	11th to 20th	Day	2 6% 2 4 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 62%	1800
	21st to end	Day	4 6% 3 5% 3 3 3 3 6% 7% 58%	1666
December	1st to 10th	Day	2 6% 2 6% 4 4 3 3 6% 9% 56%	1520
	11th to 20th	Day	3 5% 2 5% 3 4 4 3 5% 8% 59%	1926
	21st to end	Day	5% 9% 3 7% 5% 3 4 3 5% 6% 49%	2794
January	1st to 10th	Night	2 9% 3 7% 4 4 3 3 4 7% 53%	4417
	11th to 20th	Night	1 5% 2 8% 4 3 4 3 5% 8% 58%	4426
	21st to end	Night	3 7% 4 7% 4 4 4 3 4 7% 53%	4521
February	1st to 10th	Night	2 9% 4 6% 3 4 4 3 4 7% 53%	2470
	11th to 20th	Night	2 9% 4 7% 5% 5% 4 3 5% 7% 51%	2241
	21st to end	Night	3 10% 3 6% 4 4 3 3 5% 6% 55%	1884
March	1st to 10th	Night	4 9% 3 5% 4 3 4 3 5% 6% 53%	3734
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 11% 2 5% 3 3 3 3 4 6% 51%	3552
	21st to end	Night	6% 8% 2 6% 4 4 4 4 5% 8% 48%	3575
April	1st to 10th	Night	6% 8% 2 4 4 4 4 3 5% 5% 54%	1900
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 7% 2 6% 4 3 3 5% 5% 7% 47%	1877
	21st to end	Night	13% 8% 3 6% 4 3 4 3 5% 8% 45%	1900
May	1st to 10th	Night	10% 7% 3 6% 4 5% 4 4 6% 7% 43%	2924
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 6% 2 6% 4 4 4 4 7% 10% 44%	2517
	21st to end	Night	8% 5% 2 4 3 3 4 4 5% 8% 53%	2762
June	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 3 4 4 3 4 7% 10% 56%	1520
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 3 1 5% 4 4 3 4 4 7% 59%	1520
	21st to end	Night	4 3 1 4 4 3 3 4 7% 8% 58%	1520
July	1st to 10th	Night	4 4 1 5% 3 4 4 3 6% 8% 58%	2540
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 4 3 4 5% 5% 8% 11% 55%	2540
	21st to end	Night	3 3 2 5% 4 4 5% 5% 7% 10% 54%	2787
August	1st to 10th	Night	9% 5% 2 6% 4 5% 5% 5% 7% 10% 42%	2847
	11th to 20th	Night	3 3 1 5% 4 5% 5% 5% 8% 10% 51%	3108
	21st to end	Night	3 3 2 5% 3 4 6% 5% 7% 11% 52%	3487
September	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 1 3 4 4 4 3 6% 8% 58%	1900
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 2 1 3 3 3 3 4 5% 7% 62%	1927
	21st to end	Night	7% 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 4 7% 63%	2090
October	1st to 10th	Night	5% 4 1 3 2 2 2 1 3 4 72%	3758
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 5% 2 5% 3 3 3 3 5% 7% 59%	3778
	21st to end	Night	7% 5% 2 4 2 3 3 2 3 6% 63%	4236
November	1st to 10th	Night	4 4 2 4 3 3 3 3 4 7% 63%	2535
	11th to 20th	Night	4 5% 2 5% 3 3 2 3 5% 6% 62%	2600
	21st to end	Night	4 7% 2 4 3 2 3 3 5% 7% 59%	2665
December	1st to 10th	Night	3 6% 3 5% 3 4 3 3 5% 7% 59%	2660
	11th to 20th	Night	2 6% 2 5% 4 3 3 3 6% 9% 56%	3271
	21st to end	Night	6% 10% 3 6% 4 3 3 3 5% 6% 49%	4873

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	27% 1 8% 34% 22% 8%	2539
	11th to 20th	Day	33% 2 11% 30% 18% 7%	2574
	21st to end	Day	27% 2 11% 33% 23% 5%	3146
February	1st to 10th	Day	33% 3 11% 28% 20% 6%	1710
	11th to 20th	Day	26% 3 7% 31% 28% 6%	1835
	21st to end	Day	29% 2 6% 27% 26% 10%	1570
March	1st to 10th	Day	29% 1 6% 22% 32% 10%	3130
	11th to 20th	Day	35% 2 13% 32% 15% 4	3422
	21st to end	Day	33% 2 9% 35% 18% 3	4068
April	1st to 10th	Day	29% 3 10% 25% 24% 10%	2280
	11th to 20th	Day	38% 3 7% 22% 20% 9%	2254
	21st to end	Day	37% 4 7% 28% 22% 3	2280
May	1st to 10th	Day	43% 3 6% 25% 16% 7%	4043
	11th to 20th	Day	38% 2 10% 28% 18% 4	4388
	21st to end	Day	29% 3 12% 26% 24% 6%	4825
June	1st to 10th	Day	28% 4 15% 25% 19% 9%	2660
	11th to 20th	Day	29% 4 10% 19% 25% 14%	2660
	21st to end	Day	24% 4 8% 25% 26% 13%	2660
July	1st to 10th	Day	25% 4 6% 17% 31% 17%	4361
	11th to 20th	Day	27% 5% 9% 23% 22% 14%	4355
	21st to end	Day	25% 3 8% 21% 22% 21%	4621
August	1st to 10th	Day	38% 5% 13% 21% 15% 9%	4078
	11th to 20th	Day	27% 4 11% 21% 22% 16%	3766
	21st to end	Day	26% 3 7% 20% 27% 16%	4179
September	1st to 10th	Day	22% 3 6% 23% 27% 20%	2280
	11th to 20th	Day	23% 3 6% 21% 28% 19%	2252
	21st to end	Day	22% 2 4 21% 37% 14%	2090
October	1st to 10th	Day	16% 2 4 17% 36% 26%	3206
	11th to 20th	Day	25% 2 7% 26% 31% 9%	3150
	21st to end	Day	23% 3 4 25% 34% 11%	3289
November	1st to 10th	Day	22% 2 7% 27% 28% 13%	1763
	11th to 20th	Day	23% 2 5% 26% 35% 9%	1800
	21st to end	Day	25% 3 6% 23% 32% 11%	1666
December	1st to 10th	Day	26% 3 10% 31% 22% 8%	1520
	11th to 20th	Day	25% 3 7% 28% 33% 5%	1924
	21st to end	Day	37% 1 7% 24% 24% 7%	2794
January	1st to 10th	Night	33% 1 7% 29% 25% 5%	4417
	11th to 20th	Night	27% 3 12% 25% 24% 9%	4426
	21st to end	Night	33% 1 11% 33% 17% 5%	4521
February	1st to 10th	Night	33% 3 9% 28% 22% 5%	2470
	11th to 20th	Night	34% 2 6% 30% 22% 6%	2241
	21st to end	Night	30% 2 4 25% 27% 12%	1884
March	1st to 10th	Night	33% 1 4 20% 33% 8%	3734
	11th to 20th	Night	37% 1 12% 22% 24% 3	3552
	21st to end	Night	36% 2 11% 34% 15% 3	3575
April	1st to 10th	Night	32% 3 8% 24% 23% 10%	1900
	11th to 20th	Night	38% 3 9% 24% 19% 7%	1877
	21st to end	Night	39% 3 7% 28% 19% 4	1900
May	1st to 10th	Night	41% 3 10% 23% 15% 9%	2924
	11th to 20th	Night	36% 3 18% 26% 15% 3	2518
	21st to end	Night	31% 2 20% 24% 18% 6%	2762
June	1st to 10th	Night	23% 4 21% 31% 14% 8%	1520
	11th to 20th	Night	26% 3 13% 21% 24% 14%	1520
	21st to end	Night	23% 4 10% 27% 28% 8%	1520
July	1st to 10th	Night	25% 4 10% 22% 30% 10%	2500
	11th to 20th	Night	21% 4 14% 27% 25% 8%	2492
	21st to end	Night	25% 4 12% 25% 21% 14%	2700
August	1st to 10th	Night	37% 5% 15% 22% 17% 5%	2838
	11th to 20th	Night	28% 6% 17% 22% 17% 11%	3138
	21st to end	Night	25% 4 12% 24% 26% 9%	3487
September	1st to 10th	Night	25% 4 8% 22% 23% 18%	1900
	11th to 20th	Night	21% 3 7% 26% 25% 17%	1927
	21st to end	Night	23% 3 6% 21% 34% 13%	2090
October	1st to 10th	Night	19% 2 6% 19% 31% 24%	3758
	11th to 20th	Night	26% 3 7% 27% 29% 9%	3778
	21st to end	Night	25% 2 4 26% 32% 12%	4236
November	1st to 10th	Night	23% 2 8% 26% 28% 13%	2535
	11th to 20th	Night	24% 2 4 29% 32% 8%	2600
	21st to end	Night	26% 2 7% 24% 31% 9%	2665
December	1st to 10th	Night	26% 2 11% 29% 22% 9%	2660
	11th to 20th	Night	25% 3 7% 30% 32% 4	3272
	21st to end	Night	37% 2 6% 25% 25% 5%	4873

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	6% 7% 17% 42% 19% 9%	270
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 7% 21% 44% 17% 3	270
	21st to end	Day	4 2 28% 43% 17% 6%	297
February	1st to 10th	Day	7% 8% 30% 41% 11% 3	270
	11th to 20th	Day	2 4 34% 46% 10% 4	270
	21st to end	Day	7% 8% 31% 42% 12% 1	225
March	1st to 10th	Day	6% 5% 29% 36% 20% 5%	270
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 11% 25% 32% 16% 5%	418
	21st to end	Day	12% 11% 28% 33% 13% 3	506
April	1st to 10th	Day	14% 10% 26% 30% 17% 4	460
	11th to 20th	Day	16% 15% 29% 26% 10% 4	452
	21st to end	Day	14% 11% 26% 27% 18% 4	460
May	1st to 10th	Day	14% 9% 22% 34% 17% 3	602
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 6% 13% 30% 24% 8%	675
	21st to end	Day	11% 6% 20% 31% 23% 9%	734
June	1st to 10th	Day	6% 5% 15% 29% 28% 16%	680
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 4 22% 35% 25% 8%	680
	21st to end	Day	5% 4 17% 33% 31% 11%	680
July	1st to 10th	Day	8% 3 11% 26% 37% 17%	671
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 1 12% 27% 37% 18%	668
	21st to end	Day	6% 2 11% 20% 42% 18%	721
August	1st to 10th	Day	7% 3 15% 29% 30% 16%	487
	11th to 20th	Day	3 5% 15% 31% 30% 16%	477
	21st to end	Day	6% 4 14% 28% 31% 18%	539
September	1st to 10th	Day	7% 3 11% 31% 30% 18%	490
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 3 16% 32% 29% 16%	462
	21st to end	Day	6% 3 14% 29% 29% 19%	300
October	1st to 10th	Day	10% 3 15% 26% 26% 21%	300
	11th to 20th	Day	4 6% 17% 36% 29% 8%	300
	21st to end	Day	10% 4 22% 35% 21% 7%	330
November	1st to 10th	Day	9% 3 18% 41% 18% 11%	300
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 6% 22% 40% 20% 6%	300
	21st to end	Day	9% 2 21% 44% 19% 5%	291
December	1st to 10th	Day	5% 7% 23% 41% 18% 5%	270
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 4 27% 43% 19% 2	270
	21st to end	Day	7% 5% 29% 42% 13% 4	297
January	1st to 10th	Night	5% 3 28% 47% 14% 3	950
	11th to 20th	Night	4 5% 30% 48% 12% 1	946
	21st to end	Night	6% 1 28% 51% 12% 1	836
February	1st to 10th	Night	7% 2 34% 48% 8% 1	760
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 4 31% 49% 11%	744
	21st to end	Night	8% 4 35% 48% 5%	628
March	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 34% 47% 10% 1	760
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 4 25% 48% 12% 1	760
	21st to end	Night	10% 5% 27% 48% 10%	686
April	1st to 10th	Night	9% 7% 33% 44% 7%	570
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 7% 26% 42% 9%	563
	21st to end	Night	16% 5% 24% 40% 15%	570
May	1st to 10th	Night	14% 6% 22% 41% 16% 1	570
	11th to 20th	Night	17% 3 13% 45% 19% 2	561
	21st to end	Night	9% 5% 19% 43% 23% 1	617
June	1st to 10th	Night	7% 2 15% 45% 27% 4	570
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 3 17% 52% 20% 1	570
	21st to end	Night	5% 3 16% 47% 29% 1	570
July	1st to 10th	Night	7% 3 12% 38% 37% 3	555
	11th to 20th	Night	4 2 8% 44% 39% 3	552
	21st to end	Night	6% 2 8% 36% 46% 3	624
August	1st to 10th	Night	8% 2 8% 38% 42% 2	567
	11th to 20th	Night	4 2 7% 50% 35% 2	564
	21st to end	Night	5% 2 8% 45% 36% 3	627
September	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 11% 44% 32% 5%	570
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 1 13% 47% 29% 3	570
	21st to end	Night	7% 3 15% 50% 24% 2	570
October	1st to 10th	Night	10% 4 16% 44% 23% 3	731
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 2 21% 51% 19% 2	760
	21st to end	Night	10% 3 22% 49% 14% 2	903
November	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 24% 51% 14% 1	975
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 5% 28% 51% 9% 1	1000
	21st to end	Night	8% 3 26% 48% 16% 1	986
December	1st to 10th	Night	5% 3 32% 49% 11%	950
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 4 31% 47% 11% 1	950
	21st to end	Night	7% 4 31% 48% 9% 1	1045

Page generated at 2024-11-24 22:22:18. Version ac07

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