Buena Vista Observatory
Clear Sky Chart
History

This sumarizes the distribution of each different forecast outcome for the Buena Vista Observatory clear sky chart from 2005-11-06 to 2024-01-17.

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	10% 3 1 3 3 2 3 3 4 5% 64%	74780
	Night	12% 4 1 3 3 2 3 3 4 5% 59%	75057
Transparency	Day	25% 3 8% 19% 24% 21%	74494
	Night	28% 3 8% 19% 22% 19%	74864
Seeing	Day	10% 5% 19% 31% 27% 7%	14052
	Night	12% 2 10% 37% 32% 6%	23496

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	23% 7% 3 5% 4 3 3 4 4 6% 38%	1519
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 5% 2 4 4 2 3 3 4 6% 49%	1626
	21st to end	Day	19% 7% 3 4 4 2 3 4 5% 7% 42%	1782
February	1st to 10th	Day	21% 5% 2 4 3 2 4 4 4 5% 47%	1620
	11th to 20th	Day	18% 5% 2 4 3 2 3 5% 4 6% 48%	1701
	21st to end	Day	21% 7% 2 4 3 2 2 3 4 4 48%	1480
March	1st to 10th	Day	20% 9% 3 5% 4 3 4 5% 5% 6% 37%	1844
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 5% 2 5% 3 3 5% 4 5% 7% 41%	1980
	21st to end	Day	18% 5% 3 4 4 3 4 5% 4 7% 44%	2268
April	1st to 10th	Day	15% 7% 3 4 4 2 4 4 5% 7% 46%	2160
	11th to 20th	Day	14% 3 1 3 3 3 3 4 4 6% 55%	2129
	21st to end	Day	11% 3 1 3 3 2 3 3 4 7% 61%	2160
May	1st to 10th	Day	7% 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 4 6% 64%	2190
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 3 1 3 3 2 4 4 4 5% 66%	2477
	21st to end	Day	6% 3 1 2 3 3 2 4 5% 7% 63%	2723
June	1st to 10th	Day	6% 3 1 3 3 2 3 3 5% 6% 67%	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	1 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 4 81%	2520
	21st to end	Day	2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 84%	2520
July	1st to 10th	Day	1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 3 87%	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 86%	2520
	21st to end	Day	1 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 4 83%	2564
August	1st to 10th	Day	2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 83%	2328
	11th to 20th	Day	1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 87%	2144
	21st to end	Day	1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 90%	2376
September	1st to 10th	Day	2 1 1 1 2 3 88%	2160
	11th to 20th	Day	3 2 1 2 2 1 3 2 3 4 76%	2160
	21st to end	Day	3 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 4 79%	1951
October	1st to 10th	Day	5% 2 1 2 3 2 3 3 3 5% 71%	1800
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 2 1 3 2 2 3 4 4 5% 69%	1800
	21st to end	Day	8% 3 1 4 3 2 2 3 4 5% 66%	1980
November	1st to 10th	Day	12% 4 2 3 3 2 4 3 5% 7% 55%	1706
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 4 2 4 4 3 3 3 4 7% 54%	1710
	21st to end	Day	12% 4 2 3 2 3 2 4 4 7% 56%	1600
December	1st to 10th	Day	17% 5% 2 4 4 3 4 4 3 6% 48%	1520
	11th to 20th	Day	30% 7% 3 6% 4 2 3 4 4 5% 33%	1928
	21st to end	Day	15% 6% 3 5% 4 3 5% 5% 7% 9% 36%	2794
January	1st to 10th	Night	22% 6% 2 4 4 2 3 3 5% 8% 40%	2646
	11th to 20th	Night	15% 6% 2 4 4 3 4 4 5% 6% 46%	2470
	21st to end	Night	18% 6% 2 4 4 2 4 4 5% 6% 46%	2574
February	1st to 10th	Night	19% 5% 2 4 3 2 3 3 3 5% 52%	2340
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 5% 1 4 4 2 3 4 5% 7% 48%	2145
	21st to end	Night	18% 7% 2 2 3 2 3 3 4 5% 49%	1776
March	1st to 10th	Night	23% 7% 3 5% 3 2 3 4 4 4 40%	2111
	11th to 20th	Night	21% 6% 2 3 3 2 4 3 5% 6% 44%	1980
	21st to end	Night	19% 6% 2 3 4 3 3 4 4 5% 47%	2086
April	1st to 10th	Night	14% 6% 3 5% 4 3 5% 4 4 6% 48%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 4 2 4 4 2 3 4 5% 6% 55%	1779
	21st to end	Night	8% 3 2 2 3 2 3 4 4 8% 62%	1800
May	1st to 10th	Night	8% 4 1 3 3 2 3 3 4 6% 64%	1764
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 2 1 2 2 1 2 4 4 9% 66%	1416
	21st to end	Night	6% 2 1 3 2 2 3 4 5% 6% 66%	1552
June	1st to 10th	Night	5% 3 1 4 3 2 3 3 5% 6% 68%	1440
	11th to 20th	Night	1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 81%	1440
	21st to end	Night	3 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 3 83%	1440
July	1st to 10th	Night	1 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 89%	1440
	11th to 20th	Night	2 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 4 84%	1440
	21st to end	Night	1 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 5% 79%	1750
August	1st to 10th	Night	2 1 1 1 2 1 3 2 3 3 80%	1611
	11th to 20th	Night	1 1 1 1 1 2 3 4 4 81%	1757
	21st to end	Night	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 88%	1980
September	1st to 10th	Night	2 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 88%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	3 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 4 80%	1800
	21st to end	Night	2 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 3 5% 80%	2005
October	1st to 10th	Night	6% 2 1 3 3 1 3 3 3 4 72%	2160
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 2 1 2 2 1 2 3 4 5% 71%	2160
	21st to end	Night	7% 2 1 2 2 1 2 3 3 6% 70%	2376
November	1st to 10th	Night	13% 5% 2 3 2 2 2 4 4 6% 57%	2373
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 4 2 4 3 2 3 4 4 7% 57%	2470
	21st to end	Night	13% 4 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 7% 57%	2578
December	1st to 10th	Night	18% 5% 2 4 3 2 3 3 4 6% 50%	2660
	11th to 20th	Night	29% 7% 2 4 4 2 3 3 5% 6% 34%	3276
	21st to end	Night	21% 7% 3 6% 5% 4 4 5% 5% 6% 34%	4862

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	48% 4 9% 22% 12% 4	1519
	11th to 20th	Day	38% 3 10% 19% 16% 14%	1626
	21st to end	Day	44% 3 10% 16% 20% 7%	1782
February	1st to 10th	Day	40% 3 9% 21% 18% 9%	1620
	11th to 20th	Day	37% 4 10% 20% 22% 7%	1711
	21st to end	Day	41% 2 10% 23% 18% 7%	1480
March	1st to 10th	Day	48% 4 10% 17% 17% 3	1844
	11th to 20th	Day	43% 3 9% 24% 16% 4	1980
	21st to end	Day	40% 5% 14% 22% 15% 4	2268
April	1st to 10th	Day	37% 4 12% 24% 16% 6%	2160
	11th to 20th	Day	31% 4 11% 27% 20% 6%	2132
	21st to end	Day	24% 3 13% 30% 25% 5%	2160
May	1st to 10th	Day	22% 3 10% 26% 30% 8%	2190
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 3 9% 30% 27% 10%	2480
	21st to end	Day	22% 4 14% 30% 24% 7%	2724
June	1st to 10th	Day	19% 3 10% 25% 29% 13%	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 1 8% 21% 33% 27%	2520
	21st to end	Day	9% 1 2 13% 35% 39%	2520
July	1st to 10th	Day	6% 1 1 9% 25% 57%	2451
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 1 3 11% 26% 52%	2445
	21st to end	Day	9% 2 2 7% 25% 56%	2421
August	1st to 10th	Day	10% 1 3 10% 28% 49%	2312
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 2 2 9% 33% 50%	2144
	21st to end	Day	5% 2 1 10% 35% 48%	2376
September	1st to 10th	Day	5% 1 2 8% 28% 56%	2160
	11th to 20th	Day	13% 2 4 20% 37% 24%	2160
	21st to end	Day	12% 2 4 19% 36% 28%	1951
October	1st to 10th	Day	17% 3 6% 20% 27% 28%	1800
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 3 6% 21% 24% 28%	1800
	21st to end	Day	23% 2 6% 20% 26% 22%	1980
November	1st to 10th	Day	29% 3 9% 23% 22% 14%	1706
	11th to 20th	Day	32% 4 9% 23% 25% 8%	1710
	21st to end	Day	29% 3 9% 22% 26% 10%	1600
December	1st to 10th	Day	39% 3 9% 21% 18% 10%	1520
	11th to 20th	Day	55% 3 8% 16% 14% 5%	1928
	21st to end	Day	44% 5% 18% 21% 10% 4	2794
January	1st to 10th	Night	43% 3 13% 22% 13% 7%	2646
	11th to 20th	Night	38% 5% 11% 17% 14% 15%	2470
	21st to end	Night	39% 4 10% 15% 21% 10%	2574
February	1st to 10th	Night	37% 2 8% 21% 21% 11%	2340
	11th to 20th	Night	36% 4 7% 22% 22% 9%	2146
	21st to end	Night	38% 3 9% 26% 17% 8%	1776
March	1st to 10th	Night	48% 3 10% 18% 15% 6%	2111
	11th to 20th	Night	41% 3 9% 21% 19% 7%	1980
	21st to end	Night	41% 6% 10% 20% 16% 7%	2086
April	1st to 10th	Night	39% 4 12% 21% 19% 6%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	30% 4 14% 25% 17% 10%	1779
	21st to end	Night	21% 5% 12% 33% 23% 6%	1800
May	1st to 10th	Night	22% 4 12% 22% 29% 11%	1764
	11th to 20th	Night	18% 3 13% 31% 23% 12%	1416
	21st to end	Night	18% 4 16% 31% 25% 6%	1552
June	1st to 10th	Night	19% 3 12% 27% 27% 11%	1440
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 1 8% 22% 32% 28%	1440
	21st to end	Night	10% 1 3 14% 34% 39%	1440
July	1st to 10th	Night	5% 2 2 11% 27% 54%	1400
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 2 3 11% 23% 55%	1392
	21st to end	Night	10% 2 2 8% 24% 53%	1653
August	1st to 10th	Night	11% 1 2 14% 26% 46%	1602
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 2 2 11% 30% 48%	1757
	21st to end	Night	7% 1 1 10% 32% 50%	1980
September	1st to 10th	Night	6% 1 2 7% 30% 54%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	12% 2 4 18% 41% 24%	1800
	21st to end	Night	10% 1 6% 19% 31% 32%	2005
October	1st to 10th	Night	18% 3 5% 17% 27% 29%	2160
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 3 4 19% 26% 30%	2160
	21st to end	Night	19% 3 5% 20% 28% 25%	2376
November	1st to 10th	Night	29% 3 9% 22% 19% 17%	2373
	11th to 20th	Night	28% 3 10% 25% 24% 11%	2470
	21st to end	Night	30% 3 7% 22% 25% 13%	2578
December	1st to 10th	Night	37% 3 10% 21% 17% 12%	2660
	11th to 20th	Night	52% 3 7% 16% 16% 6%	3276
	21st to end	Night	50% 5% 13% 18% 10% 5%	4862

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	36% 9% 13% 22% 16% 4	180
	11th to 20th	Day	25% 5% 15% 29% 20% 6%	310
	21st to end	Day	20% 5% 19% 25% 25% 6%	374
February	1st to 10th	Day	24% 8% 13% 24% 24% 7%	340
	11th to 20th	Day	20% 9% 23% 27% 18% 3	393
	21st to end	Day	20% 9% 25% 30% 15% 2	346
March	1st to 10th	Day	23% 13% 26% 24% 12% 2	420
	11th to 20th	Day	24% 9% 24% 22% 17% 4	420
	21st to end	Day	19% 9% 28% 25% 17% 2	462
April	1st to 10th	Day	18% 10% 29% 23% 17% 4	420
	11th to 20th	Day	15% 10% 28% 25% 18% 4	412
	21st to end	Day	10% 7% 22% 31% 21% 9%	420
May	1st to 10th	Day	5% 10% 29% 28% 21% 7%	423
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 6% 25% 28% 23% 9%	448
	21st to end	Day	8% 5% 19% 29% 28% 11%	485
June	1st to 10th	Day	5% 6% 21% 32% 26% 10%	450
	11th to 20th	Day	2 5% 24% 37% 27% 6%	450
	21st to end	Day	1 2 16% 34% 38% 8%	450
July	1st to 10th	Day	1 11% 46% 35% 7%	446
	11th to 20th	Day	1 9% 38% 43% 8%	444
	21st to end	Day	1 1 9% 41% 37% 10%	487
August	1st to 10th	Day	3 2 12% 42% 32% 9%	447
	11th to 20th	Day	1 1 15% 39% 32% 12%	437
	21st to end	Day	1 1 11% 40% 37% 10%	495
September	1st to 10th	Day	2 2 11% 45% 31% 9%	450
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 4 17% 37% 31% 7%	450
	21st to end	Day	3 3 20% 35% 32% 7%	450
October	1st to 10th	Day	4 5% 21% 32% 28% 11%	450
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 5% 15% 28% 37% 10%	450
	21st to end	Day	11% 5% 15% 29% 30% 10%	495
November	1st to 10th	Day	15% 7% 12% 24% 31% 11%	302
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 3 18% 27% 29% 11%	270
	21st to end	Day	12% 3 16% 31% 30% 7%	218
December	1st to 10th	Day	18% 6% 16% 27% 23% 10%	180
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 8% 18% 26% 19% 11%	180
	21st to end	Day	20% 8% 20% 24% 24% 5%	198
January	1st to 10th	Night	23% 3 13% 31% 21% 9%	760
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 5% 11% 37% 24% 8%	746
	21st to end	Night	20% 3 11% 35% 22% 9%	792
February	1st to 10th	Night	20% 2 13% 36% 24% 5%	720
	11th to 20th	Night	18% 4 14% 35% 22% 6%	704
	21st to end	Night	20% 5% 14% 40% 18% 3	592
March	1st to 10th	Night	25% 5% 12% 32% 21% 5%	720
	11th to 20th	Night	22% 4 13% 31% 26% 5%	720
	21st to end	Night	19% 5% 17% 36% 20% 3	792
April	1st to 10th	Night	15% 3 13% 40% 27% 3	720
	11th to 20th	Night	12% 6% 15% 35% 26% 6%	711
	21st to end	Night	8% 3 11% 42% 29% 7%	720
May	1st to 10th	Night	8% 3 16% 38% 28% 6%	684
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 2 7% 40% 39% 5%	354
	21st to end	Night	6% 1 11% 39% 40% 4	389
June	1st to 10th	Night	6% 1 12% 38% 38% 6%	360
	11th to 20th	Night	1 1 11% 45% 39% 3	360
	21st to end	Night	3 5% 45% 43% 4	360
July	1st to 10th	Night	1 2 41% 53% 3	350
	11th to 20th	Night	2 1 3 42% 50% 3	348
	21st to end	Night	1 2 30% 59% 8%	568
August	1st to 10th	Night	3 4 36% 53% 4	537
	11th to 20th	Night	1 1 4 42% 46% 7%	689
	21st to end	Night	2 1 2 36% 55% 4	792
September	1st to 10th	Night	2 4 35% 52% 7%	720
	11th to 20th	Night	4 1 7% 36% 44% 8%	720
	21st to end	Night	3 1 9% 38% 39% 11%	720
October	1st to 10th	Night	6% 2 9% 41% 33% 10%	720
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 1 9% 33% 42% 6%	720
	21st to end	Night	7% 2 11% 35% 31% 14%	792
November	1st to 10th	Night	13% 3 8% 35% 31% 10%	740
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 2 10% 40% 27% 8%	760
	21st to end	Night	15% 1 13% 38% 24% 8%	760
December	1st to 10th	Night	19% 3 13% 35% 23% 7%	760
	11th to 20th	Night	28% 3 10% 33% 22% 5%	760
	21st to end	Night	24% 5% 15% 34% 18% 4	836

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