Mountain Sky Observatory
Clear Sky Chart
History

This sumarizes the distribution of each different forecast outcome for the Mountain Sky Observatory clear sky chart from 2005-11-06 to 2024-01-14.

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	4 5% 2 5% 5% 3 5% 5% 6% 8% 53%	74744
	Night	3 4 2 4 4 2 4 4 5% 7% 60%	75028
Transparency	Day	25% 10% 14% 24% 21% 6%	74460
	Night	21% 9% 14% 26% 24% 7%	74834
Seeing	Day	9% 22% 30% 25% 12% 2	14262
	Night	6% 14% 32% 32% 14% 2	24467

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 4 1 3 3 3 5% 4 6% 8% 62%	1518
	11th to 20th	Day	1 4 3 3 4 2 3 5% 5% 8% 62%	1644
	21st to end	Day	1 5% 2 5% 4 3 3 4 6% 9% 58%	1782
February	1st to 10th	Day	4 3 6% 3 2 4 4 5% 8% 60%	1620
	11th to 20th	Day	2 4 3 5% 4 2 4 4 6% 9% 57%	1704
	21st to end	Day	1 5% 4 6% 5% 2 4 5% 4 8% 56%	1480
March	1st to 10th	Day	2 5% 2 5% 4 3 5% 4 5% 9% 56%	1854
	11th to 20th	Day	3 8% 3 5% 4 3 4 5% 5% 8% 53%	1980
	21st to end	Day	2 6% 2 6% 5% 3 6% 5% 6% 9% 50%	2263
April	1st to 10th	Day	2 6% 3 4 4 3 4 5% 6% 9% 55%	2160
	11th to 20th	Day	3 7% 2 6% 6% 3 5% 5% 6% 8% 49%	2131
	21st to end	Day	4 6% 2 5% 5% 4 5% 5% 7% 9% 48%	2160
May	1st to 10th	Day	6% 6% 2 5% 5% 3 6% 6% 7% 8% 45%	2161
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 7% 3 7% 6% 4 6% 7% 7% 8% 40%	2468
	21st to end	Day	5% 5% 2 5% 5% 3 6% 6% 6% 8% 49%	2724
June	1st to 10th	Day	3 4 2 4 5% 3 6% 7% 9% 9% 49%	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	4 3 2 3 4 3 4 6% 6% 7% 58%	2520
	21st to end	Day	3 3 2 4 5% 4 6% 6% 8% 9% 50%	2520
July	1st to 10th	Day	6% 3 2 5% 6% 4 8% 7% 8% 8% 42%	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 4 2 5% 6% 4 7% 8% 8% 9% 43%	2507
	21st to end	Day	6% 5% 3 7% 8% 5% 7% 8% 9% 10% 32%	2545
August	1st to 10th	Day	8% 5% 3 5% 8% 5% 7% 7% 8% 8% 35%	2328
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 4 2 5% 5% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 43%	2139
	21st to end	Day	6% 4 2 5% 6% 4 6% 7% 8% 9% 43%	2376
September	1st to 10th	Day	6% 4 2 5% 6% 3 5% 6% 6% 8% 51%	2160
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 4 2 4 4 3 4 5% 6% 7% 54%	2160
	21st to end	Day	6% 3 1 3 3 2 4 4 4 6% 63%	1950
October	1st to 10th	Day	6% 4 2 5% 6% 2 4 3 5% 6% 57%	1800
	11th to 20th	Day	3 2 1 2 3 2 3 4 3 6% 71%	1800
	21st to end	Day	3 5% 2 3 3 2 3 3 4 6% 65%	1980
November	1st to 10th	Day	1 3 1 2 3 2 2 3 5% 5% 73%	1705
	11th to 20th	Day	1 2 1 2 1 1 2 3 4 6% 76%	1710
	21st to end	Day	2 5% 2 4 3 3 3 3 3 7% 65%	1615
December	1st to 10th	Day	1 4 2 4 3 2 3 4 3 8% 65%	1520
	11th to 20th	Day	1 4 2 3 3 2 4 4 5% 13% 57%	1926
	21st to end	Day	1 5% 3 4 4 3 5% 4 5% 8% 57%	2794
January	1st to 10th	Night	1 4 2 4 3 2 4 4 4 7% 66%	2647
	11th to 20th	Night	1 4 2 4 3 2 3 3 3 6% 69%	2404
	21st to end	Night	2 4 2 3 2 2 3 3 4 7% 67%	2574
February	1st to 10th	Night	1 5% 1 4 4 2 3 3 4 8% 66%	2340
	11th to 20th	Night	2 6% 3 4 3 2 2 3 4 7% 64%	2140
	21st to end	Night	1 6% 3 5% 3 2 3 3 5% 8% 61%	1776
March	1st to 10th	Night	1 4 2 3 4 2 4 4 4 8% 64%	2102
	11th to 20th	Night	2 4 2 4 3 3 5% 4 5% 7% 60%	1980
	21st to end	Night	2 6% 2 5% 4 2 4 5% 5% 6% 60%	2093
April	1st to 10th	Night	2 4 2 4 3 2 4 4 5% 7% 63%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	4 7% 2 5% 4 3 5% 4 5% 6% 55%	1777
	21st to end	Night	5% 6% 2 5% 3 3 4 4 5% 6% 57%	1800
May	1st to 10th	Night	5% 6% 2 4 5% 2 4 4 5% 6% 56%	1796
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 8% 3 4 5% 3 5% 5% 5% 7% 48%	1424
	21st to end	Night	7% 4 2 4 4 3 4 4 5% 6% 57%	1552
June	1st to 10th	Night	2 3 1 2 4 2 4 5% 7% 8% 61%	1440
	11th to 20th	Night	3 3 1 3 3 2 3 5% 6% 7% 65%	1440
	21st to end	Night	3 2 2 3 5% 3 5% 7% 6% 8% 58%	1440
July	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 2 6% 6% 3 6% 6% 8% 10% 43%	1440
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 4 2 4 6% 4 4 6% 8% 8% 49%	1448
	21st to end	Night	6% 4 3 5% 6% 4 8% 7% 9% 13% 36%	1773
August	1st to 10th	Night	6% 5% 2 5% 5% 3 6% 7% 8% 10% 43%	1611
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 4 2 5% 6% 4 4 6% 8% 11% 45%	1761
	21st to end	Night	6% 3 3 4 5% 4 4 6% 7% 10% 47%	1980
September	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 2 4 5% 3 5% 6% 7% 8% 52%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 3 1 3 3 2 4 4 7% 8% 59%	1800
	21st to end	Night	6% 5% 1 3 3 2 2 3 5% 7% 64%	2004
October	1st to 10th	Night	7% 4 2 3 4 3 3 5% 5% 6% 59%	2160
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 2 2 1 3 4 4 6% 74%	2160
	21st to end	Night	4 4 1 3 2 2 2 3 4 6% 69%	2376
November	1st to 10th	Night	2 3 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 8% 72%	2355
	11th to 20th	Night	1 2 1 2 1 1 2 3 4 6% 76%	2470
	21st to end	Night	3 6% 2 3 3 1 3 3 4 7% 66%	2561
December	1st to 10th	Night	1 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 5% 8% 67%	2660
	11th to 20th	Night	2 5% 2 3 3 2 3 4 6% 10% 60%	3271
	21st to end	Night	1 5% 2 5% 4 3 4 5% 5% 6% 59%	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	21% 7% 17% 33% 19% 2	1519
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 9% 18% 28% 22% 2	1644
	21st to end	Day	23% 9% 14% 33% 16% 4	1782
February	1st to 10th	Day	22% 9% 19% 27% 17% 5%	1620
	11th to 20th	Day	22% 9% 15% 27% 23% 4	1714
	21st to end	Day	26% 9% 10% 25% 25% 6%	1480
March	1st to 10th	Day	23% 8% 14% 27% 24% 5%	1854
	11th to 20th	Day	26% 8% 13% 28% 22% 4	1980
	21st to end	Day	26% 10% 14% 29% 17% 3	2263
April	1st to 10th	Day	24% 10% 13% 24% 21% 8%	2160
	11th to 20th	Day	26% 12% 12% 25% 21% 4	2134
	21st to end	Day	27% 13% 12% 24% 22% 3	2160
May	1st to 10th	Day	31% 12% 11% 24% 19% 4	2161
	11th to 20th	Day	35% 13% 14% 21% 14% 2	2472
	21st to end	Day	26% 11% 13% 19% 22% 8%	2724
June	1st to 10th	Day	24% 12% 14% 21% 20% 8%	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 9% 10% 17% 24% 19%	2520
	21st to end	Day	23% 11% 12% 20% 21% 12%	2520
July	1st to 10th	Day	30% 13% 13% 17% 19% 8%	2451
	11th to 20th	Day	28% 14% 17% 22% 12% 6%	2432
	21st to end	Day	38% 17% 23% 14% 7% 1	2404
August	1st to 10th	Day	38% 16% 14% 14% 13% 5%	2313
	11th to 20th	Day	28% 13% 14% 21% 18% 6%	2139
	21st to end	Day	28% 14% 15% 21% 18% 4	2376
September	1st to 10th	Day	26% 11% 13% 18% 22% 11%	2160
	11th to 20th	Day	23% 9% 13% 20% 26% 10%	2160
	21st to end	Day	20% 7% 8% 24% 34% 7%	1950
October	1st to 10th	Day	27% 9% 9% 22% 26% 8%	1800
	11th to 20th	Day	14% 6% 8% 26% 36% 11%	1800
	21st to end	Day	18% 7% 10% 30% 27% 7%	1980
November	1st to 10th	Day	14% 6% 12% 26% 37% 5%	1705
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 7% 11% 38% 30% 5%	1710
	21st to end	Day	21% 5% 10% 30% 25% 9%	1615
December	1st to 10th	Day	18% 9% 20% 29% 18% 6%	1520
	11th to 20th	Day	20% 9% 16% 30% 23% 2	1924
	21st to end	Day	22% 10% 15% 21% 23% 9%	2794
January	1st to 10th	Night	19% 7% 16% 31% 23% 3	2647
	11th to 20th	Night	19% 6% 16% 29% 26% 4	2404
	21st to end	Night	18% 8% 12% 36% 21% 5%	2574
February	1st to 10th	Night	20% 6% 19% 28% 20% 6%	2340
	11th to 20th	Night	21% 7% 14% 29% 25% 3	2140
	21st to end	Night	22% 7% 10% 26% 31% 5%	1776
March	1st to 10th	Night	18% 9% 13% 27% 29% 5%	2102
	11th to 20th	Night	21% 9% 14% 29% 23% 4	1980
	21st to end	Night	23% 8% 13% 29% 24% 3	2093
April	1st to 10th	Night	21% 8% 11% 28% 25% 7%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	26% 9% 13% 26% 22% 5%	1777
	21st to end	Night	25% 9% 13% 27% 23% 3	1800
May	1st to 10th	Night	27% 8% 12% 26% 21% 6%	1796
	11th to 20th	Night	33% 10% 17% 20% 16% 4	1425
	21st to end	Night	25% 9% 14% 23% 20% 9%	1552
June	1st to 10th	Night	18% 10% 15% 24% 19% 13%	1440
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 7% 11% 21% 23% 22%	1440
	21st to end	Night	20% 10% 12% 20% 24% 13%	1440
July	1st to 10th	Night	33% 13% 13% 16% 16% 9%	1400
	11th to 20th	Night	28% 12% 19% 23% 10% 8%	1400
	21st to end	Night	33% 19% 26% 16% 6% 1	1674
August	1st to 10th	Night	32% 16% 19% 14% 11% 7%	1602
	11th to 20th	Night	28% 12% 20% 20% 13% 7%	1761
	21st to end	Night	27% 15% 16% 21% 17% 5%	1980
September	1st to 10th	Night	26% 11% 15% 20% 19% 10%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	20% 9% 13% 20% 25% 12%	1800
	21st to end	Night	22% 6% 9% 24% 31% 8%	2004
October	1st to 10th	Night	23% 9% 11% 23% 24% 10%	2160
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 6% 9% 23% 39% 13%	2160
	21st to end	Night	17% 6% 8% 29% 32% 8%	2376
November	1st to 10th	Night	12% 6% 12% 29% 34% 7%	2355
	11th to 20th	Night	12% 5% 11% 36% 30% 6%	2470
	21st to end	Night	20% 6% 8% 28% 30% 8%	2561
December	1st to 10th	Night	17% 7% 19% 30% 22% 5%	2660
	11th to 20th	Night	19% 9% 14% 30% 26% 3	3272
	21st to end	Night	23% 9% 14% 22% 24% 8%	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	11% 23% 35% 25% 4 1	270
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 32% 39% 18% 3	249
	21st to end	Day	5% 27% 45% 20% 3	264
February	1st to 10th	Day	3 41% 42% 13% 1 1	240
	11th to 20th	Day	13% 37% 32% 14% 4	240
	21st to end	Day	15% 38% 34% 11% 2	198
March	1st to 10th	Day	9% 39% 30% 20% 2	294
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 35% 32% 18% 4	420
	21st to end	Day	13% 45% 30% 11% 2	462
April	1st to 10th	Day	15% 39% 30% 12% 3	420
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 40% 27% 10% 4	412
	21st to end	Day	14% 39% 30% 13% 3 1	420
May	1st to 10th	Day	16% 34% 30% 15% 4	423
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 20% 29% 27% 12% 2	615
	21st to end	Day	10% 20% 30% 26% 11% 2	679
June	1st to 10th	Day	3 14% 27% 33% 19% 3	630
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 15% 34% 28% 14% 3	630
	21st to end	Day	4 13% 30% 29% 20% 4	630
July	1st to 10th	Day	6% 5% 20% 39% 24% 5%	621
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 2 16% 38% 28% 7%	605
	21st to end	Day	9% 3 18% 38% 28% 4	487
August	1st to 10th	Day	9% 6% 26% 38% 19% 3	447
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 8% 32% 33% 17% 3	437
	21st to end	Day	8% 8% 29% 33% 17% 4	495
September	1st to 10th	Day	9% 10% 26% 32% 18% 5%	450
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 14% 34% 28% 14% 3	450
	21st to end	Day	8% 18% 24% 29% 16% 5%	290
October	1st to 10th	Day	10% 20% 27% 21% 17% 3	270
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 23% 32% 21% 12% 3	270
	21st to end	Day	13% 26% 27% 25% 7% 1	297
November	1st to 10th	Day	6% 29% 34% 21% 8%	270
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 24% 39% 22% 7%	270
	21st to end	Day	6% 26% 40% 23% 4	270
December	1st to 10th	Day	11% 24% 39% 19% 6% 1	270
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 33% 37% 17% 7% 1	270
	21st to end	Day	14% 28% 36% 18% 4	297
January	1st to 10th	Night	4 21% 37% 28% 8% 2	950
	11th to 20th	Night	4 20% 39% 28% 8% 2	753
	21st to end	Night	3 17% 39% 32% 8% 1	792
February	1st to 10th	Night	3 22% 45% 25% 4 1	720
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 23% 42% 24% 6%	704
	21st to end	Night	5% 20% 48% 25% 2	592
March	1st to 10th	Night	3 19% 43% 28% 6% 1	720
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 14% 38% 32% 10% 1	720
	21st to end	Night	4 21% 43% 27% 5%	707
April	1st to 10th	Night	7% 21% 42% 26% 5%	540
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 22% 34% 25% 9% 1	533
	21st to end	Night	9% 19% 39% 25% 6% 1	540
May	1st to 10th	Night	8% 14% 32% 33% 11% 1	540
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 8% 27% 37% 15% 2	531
	21st to end	Night	9% 11% 28% 37% 13% 1	584
June	1st to 10th	Night	3 7% 21% 43% 23% 3	540
	11th to 20th	Night	4 7% 28% 44% 16% 1	540
	21st to end	Night	3 4 21% 38% 30% 4	540
July	1st to 10th	Night	8% 3 11% 41% 34% 3	525
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 2 9% 36% 39% 8%	522
	21st to end	Night	7% 1 7% 30% 48% 6%	591
August	1st to 10th	Night	7% 3 12% 35% 37% 5%	537
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 3 10% 44% 32% 5%	534
	21st to end	Night	7% 3 11% 39% 36% 5%	594
September	1st to 10th	Night	8% 3 16% 42% 26% 6%	540
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 3 17% 47% 21% 4	540
	21st to end	Night	8% 6% 24% 39% 19% 4	586
October	1st to 10th	Night	8% 8% 31% 36% 14% 3	720
	11th to 20th	Night	3 12% 35% 35% 13% 3	720
	21st to end	Night	7% 11% 36% 29% 14% 2	792
November	1st to 10th	Night	4 11% 38% 35% 11% 1	875
	11th to 20th	Night	3 18% 38% 30% 8% 2	950
	21st to end	Night	7% 16% 32% 33% 11%	950
December	1st to 10th	Night	4 21% 40% 28% 7%	950
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 19% 40% 25% 9%	950
	21st to end	Night	6% 21% 41% 25% 6% 1	1045

Page generated at 2024-01-11 02:22:40. Version ac07

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