Idlewild Observatory
Clear Sky Chart
History

This sumarizes the distribution of each different forecast outcome for the Idlewild Observatory clear sky chart from 2005-11-06 to 2024-04-10.

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 4 4 3 4 5% 6% 8% 54%	83239
	Night	5% 6% 2 4 4 2 4 4 5% 7% 57%	85646
Transparency	Day	27% 5% 10% 24% 23% 10%	82946
	Night	26% 5% 10% 25% 25% 9%	85461
Seeing	Day	8% 7% 24% 33% 21% 7%	14715
	Night	7% 3 25% 47% 17% 1	24916

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 3 5% 4 2 3 3 5% 9% 61%	2538
	11th to 20th	Day	2 6% 3 5% 6% 2 4 4 5% 8% 55%	2609
	21st to end	Day	2 6% 3 5% 3 2 3 4 5% 8% 59%	3146
February	1st to 10th	Day	3 7% 3 7% 4 3 4 4 4 7% 54%	1710
	11th to 20th	Day	1 4 3 5% 4 3 4 4 5% 8% 58%	1833
	21st to end	Day	2 7% 2 7% 4 2 3 4 5% 6% 58%	1570
March	1st to 10th	Day	4 9% 3 4 4 2 3 3 4 7% 56%	3130
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 9% 3 5% 4 3 4 4 5% 7% 50%	3444
	21st to end	Day	5% 7% 2 4 4 3 4 5% 5% 8% 53%	4065
April	1st to 10th	Day	7% 5% 2 3 4 3 4 4 6% 8% 55%	2269
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 7% 3 4 4 3 4 5% 5% 7% 48%	2131
	21st to end	Day	11% 6% 2 4 4 3 4 4 6% 9% 47%	2160
May	1st to 10th	Day	12% 7% 3 5% 5% 3 5% 6% 7% 8% 42%	2274
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 7% 2 4 6% 3 5% 5% 7% 9% 39%	2460
	21st to end	Day	8% 4 2 4 5% 3 5% 7% 7% 10% 45%	2724
June	1st to 10th	Day	6% 3 2 3 4 3 6% 5% 7% 10% 50%	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 2 1 4 4 3 6% 6% 6% 9% 52%	2520
	21st to end	Day	5% 3 1 3 5% 3 5% 7% 8% 10% 50%	2520
July	1st to 10th	Day	7% 3 2 4 4 4 5% 6% 8% 11% 46%	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	4 3 1 4 4 3 5% 6% 7% 10% 52%	2520
	21st to end	Day	6% 3 2 4 5% 3 5% 7% 9% 10% 46%	2699
August	1st to 10th	Day	5% 3 2 4 6% 4 7% 8% 9% 11% 41%	2323
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 2 1 3 4 3 5% 5% 7% 9% 56%	2123
	21st to end	Day	5% 3 1 3 4 3 6% 6% 7% 9% 53%	2376
September	1st to 10th	Day	5% 3 1 4 3 2 4 4 5% 7% 61%	2160
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 3 1 3 3 2 4 4 6% 7% 60%	2137
	21st to end	Day	5% 4 1 3 3 2 3 3 4 6% 66%	1980
October	1st to 10th	Day	8% 3 1 3 3 2 4 3 5% 6% 62%	1823
	11th to 20th	Day	4 4 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 6% 68%	1800
	21st to end	Day	7% 6% 2 3 2 2 2 3 4 5% 63%	1909
November	1st to 10th	Day	2 4 1 3 3 1 3 3 5% 9% 66%	1673
	11th to 20th	Day	2 5% 3 3 3 2 3 3 4 9% 63%	1710
	21st to end	Day	4 6% 3 5% 3 1 3 3 5% 6% 61%	1623
December	1st to 10th	Day	2 6% 2 4 4 3 3 3 5% 9% 59%	1520
	11th to 20th	Day	3 4 2 5% 3 2 3 4 5% 9% 59%	1926
	21st to end	Day	3 7% 4 7% 5% 3 4 4 4 6% 53%	2794
January	1st to 10th	Night	2 8% 4 6% 5% 2 3 3 4 8% 55%	4417
	11th to 20th	Night	1 4 2 4 5% 3 4 3 5% 7% 62%	4389
	21st to end	Night	3 6% 3 6% 5% 2 4 4 4 6% 57%	4521
February	1st to 10th	Night	3 8% 2 5% 4 2 4 4 4 7% 56%	2470
	11th to 20th	Night	2 7% 3 6% 6% 2 5% 3 4 7% 53%	2233
	21st to end	Night	2 8% 4 5% 4 2 3 4 3 6% 60%	1884
March	1st to 10th	Night	5% 8% 2 4 4 2 4 4 5% 5% 58%	3734
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 10% 2 4 3 2 3 4 3 5% 52%	3532
	21st to end	Night	6% 9% 2 4 4 2 3 4 5% 7% 53%	3579
April	1st to 10th	Night	7% 6% 2 4 3 3 4 4 5% 6% 56%	1900
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 7% 2 4 5% 2 3 4 4 6% 51%	1777
	21st to end	Night	13% 7% 2 4 3 3 3 4 5% 7% 49%	1800
May	1st to 10th	Night	13% 6% 2 4 4 3 5% 4 6% 7% 46%	1684
	11th to 20th	Night	15% 5% 2 4 4 3 4 4 5% 8% 47%	1431
	21st to end	Night	9% 4 2 4 3 3 4 4 6% 8% 54%	1552
June	1st to 10th	Night	6% 2 1 3 3 2 3 5% 5% 11% 59%	1440
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 3 1 2 2 2 3 5% 7% 8% 62%	1440
	21st to end	Night	5% 2 1 4 3 2 5% 5% 7% 9% 58%	1440
July	1st to 10th	Night	6% 4 2 3 4 4 5% 4 7% 10% 51%	1440
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 4 4 3 5% 4 7% 9% 58%	1440
	21st to end	Night	6% 3 1 4 4 3 5% 6% 8% 11% 48%	1615
August	1st to 10th	Night	4 3 2 5% 5% 4 5% 6% 7% 10% 49%	1615
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 3 1 3 4 2 3 5% 7% 11% 56%	1778
	21st to end	Night	4 3 2 4 4 3 5% 4 6% 9% 56%	1980
September	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 2 4 4 3 4 4 5% 7% 58%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 3 1 2 3 2 3 3 4 8% 64%	1822
	21st to end	Night	7% 3 1 3 4 2 3 3 4 6% 65%	1980
October	1st to 10th	Night	9% 5% 2 3 3 2 3 3 5% 5% 61%	2133
	11th to 20th	Night	4 3 1 3 3 2 2 3 3 7% 69%	2160
	21st to end	Night	6% 7% 2 3 3 1 3 3 3 5% 62%	2426
November	1st to 10th	Night	3 3 2 2 3 2 3 4 4 6% 69%	2405
	11th to 20th	Night	3 5% 2 4 3 2 3 3 4 5% 66%	2470
	21st to end	Night	4 6% 2 4 3 2 3 3 4 7% 62%	2555
December	1st to 10th	Night	2 6% 3 5% 4 2 3 3 5% 8% 61%	2660
	11th to 20th	Night	2 6% 2 4 4 2 3 4 5% 10% 58%	3271
	21st to end	Night	5% 8% 3 5% 4 3 4 4 4 6% 52%	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	22% 3 10% 32% 25% 8%	2539
	11th to 20th	Day	27% 8% 11% 28% 19% 7%	2609
	21st to end	Day	24% 4 9% 32% 25% 5%	3146
February	1st to 10th	Day	31% 3 10% 26% 21% 9%	1710
	11th to 20th	Day	25% 3 7% 29% 28% 8%	1843
	21st to end	Day	26% 3 7% 23% 27% 13%	1570
March	1st to 10th	Day	28% 4 7% 20% 29% 12%	3130
	11th to 20th	Day	33% 5% 11% 30% 16% 4	3444
	21st to end	Day	27% 6% 11% 29% 22% 4	4065
April	1st to 10th	Day	27% 5% 10% 24% 22% 11%	2269
	11th to 20th	Day	34% 6% 9% 22% 21% 9%	2134
	21st to end	Day	33% 6% 10% 24% 22% 4	2160
May	1st to 10th	Day	39% 6% 11% 23% 16% 5%	2274
	11th to 20th	Day	39% 8% 12% 25% 12% 4	2464
	21st to end	Day	33% 8% 13% 24% 15% 8%	2724
June	1st to 10th	Day	27% 7% 15% 24% 18% 10%	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	26% 7% 10% 18% 22% 17%	2520
	21st to end	Day	26% 7% 10% 20% 25% 13%	2520
July	1st to 10th	Day	29% 7% 11% 20% 20% 13%	2451
	11th to 20th	Day	25% 9% 10% 23% 22% 11%	2445
	21st to end	Day	30% 9% 14% 24% 15% 7%	2549
August	1st to 10th	Day	32% 9% 14% 23% 14% 7%	2308
	11th to 20th	Day	24% 6% 11% 21% 24% 13%	2123
	21st to end	Day	25% 6% 9% 22% 27% 11%	2376
September	1st to 10th	Day	23% 5% 8% 20% 24% 20%	2160
	11th to 20th	Day	22% 4 9% 17% 28% 19%	2137
	21st to end	Day	21% 4 5% 18% 38% 14%	1980
October	1st to 10th	Day	24% 4 8% 20% 30% 14%	1823
	11th to 20th	Day	18% 3 8% 22% 33% 16%	1800
	21st to end	Day	24% 3 6% 26% 25% 15%	1909
November	1st to 10th	Day	17% 3 8% 25% 29% 18%	1673
	11th to 20th	Day	20% 4 5% 27% 34% 10%	1710
	21st to end	Day	25% 2 7% 21% 30% 15%	1623
December	1st to 10th	Day	23% 4 11% 29% 24% 9%	1520
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 4 9% 26% 32% 7%	1924
	21st to end	Day	32% 2 9% 21% 27% 8%	2794
January	1st to 10th	Night	28% 4 8% 27% 27% 5%	4417
	11th to 20th	Night	21% 6% 12% 27% 24% 10%	4389
	21st to end	Night	29% 4 11% 31% 19% 6%	4521
February	1st to 10th	Night	29% 4 9% 27% 24% 7%	2470
	11th to 20th	Night	30% 3 8% 28% 24% 7%	2233
	21st to end	Night	26% 3 6% 24% 28% 14%	1884
March	1st to 10th	Night	25% 3 6% 21% 35% 9%	3734
	11th to 20th	Night	34% 5% 12% 18% 26% 4	3532
	21st to end	Night	30% 5% 10% 33% 20% 3	3579
April	1st to 10th	Night	27% 6% 10% 22% 24% 11%	1900
	11th to 20th	Night	34% 4 10% 22% 20% 9%	1777
	21st to end	Night	35% 5% 9% 25% 21% 6%	1800
May	1st to 10th	Night	36% 8% 13% 23% 16% 5%	1684
	11th to 20th	Night	36% 6% 20% 21% 12% 4	1432
	21st to end	Night	29% 6% 17% 27% 13% 8%	1552
June	1st to 10th	Night	19% 7% 19% 32% 15% 8%	1440
	11th to 20th	Night	20% 5% 13% 22% 22% 18%	1440
	21st to end	Night	21% 6% 11% 25% 28% 10%	1440
July	1st to 10th	Night	27% 8% 15% 22% 20% 7%	1400
	11th to 20th	Night	19% 6% 12% 28% 24% 10%	1392
	21st to end	Night	26% 8% 19% 28% 16% 4	1525
August	1st to 10th	Night	29% 9% 18% 24% 14% 6%	1606
	11th to 20th	Night	23% 7% 10% 26% 24% 10%	1778
	21st to end	Night	24% 6% 12% 24% 26% 8%	1980
September	1st to 10th	Night	24% 5% 11% 21% 25% 15%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	20% 4 9% 23% 26% 17%	1822
	21st to end	Night	23% 4 6% 21% 35% 12%	1980
October	1st to 10th	Night	25% 5% 10% 19% 28% 13%	2133
	11th to 20th	Night	17% 3 10% 22% 30% 18%	2160
	21st to end	Night	26% 2 7% 23% 28% 13%	2426
November	1st to 10th	Night	17% 3 9% 25% 29% 17%	2405
	11th to 20th	Night	21% 2 7% 28% 32% 10%	2470
	21st to end	Night	24% 3 8% 22% 31% 12%	2555
December	1st to 10th	Night	23% 3 12% 27% 26% 9%	2660
	11th to 20th	Night	23% 4 8% 27% 33% 5%	3272
	21st to end	Night	32% 3 9% 25% 25% 6%	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	3 6% 29% 43% 16% 3	270
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 6% 31% 43% 12% 1	270
	21st to end	Day	4 5% 36% 39% 13% 3	297
February	1st to 10th	Day	4 10% 42% 33% 9% 1	270
	11th to 20th	Day	3 4 44% 37% 11% 1	270
	21st to end	Day	4 12% 36% 37% 11%	225
March	1st to 10th	Day	4 9% 33% 37% 14% 4	270
	11th to 20th	Day	14% 9% 30% 30% 14% 3	427
	21st to end	Day	12% 19% 30% 26% 11% 1	506
April	1st to 10th	Day	10% 16% 32% 28% 12% 2	457
	11th to 20th	Day	14% 22% 27% 24% 11% 2	412
	21st to end	Day	17% 12% 30% 25% 13% 2	420
May	1st to 10th	Day	15% 9% 28% 31% 14% 3	537
	11th to 20th	Day	17% 6% 22% 28% 20% 6%	625
	21st to end	Day	11% 8% 23% 29% 21% 7%	679
June	1st to 10th	Day	7% 4 20% 32% 25% 13%	630
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 4 26% 34% 23% 6%	630
	21st to end	Day	6% 5% 22% 31% 28% 8%	630
July	1st to 10th	Day	7% 3 14% 25% 36% 14%	621
	11th to 20th	Day	4 1 14% 28% 39% 14%	618
	21st to end	Day	6% 2 10% 27% 38% 17%	641
August	1st to 10th	Day	7% 2 17% 31% 27% 15%	447
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 1 18% 35% 25% 14%	437
	21st to end	Day	6% 4 17% 33% 28% 12%	495
September	1st to 10th	Day	8% 3 18% 33% 28% 10%	450
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 3 20% 36% 26% 10%	427
	21st to end	Day	6% 4 20% 30% 26% 14%	270
October	1st to 10th	Day	10% 4 20% 27% 24% 15%	270
	11th to 20th	Day	3 5% 25% 36% 24% 6%	270
	21st to end	Day	10% 7% 25% 36% 19% 4	297
November	1st to 10th	Day	5% 8% 22% 42% 16% 7%	270
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 6% 23% 44% 18% 4	270
	21st to end	Day	7% 4 30% 40% 14% 4	270
December	1st to 10th	Day	4 6% 33% 40% 16% 2	270
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 4 32% 44% 14%	270
	21st to end	Day	4 7% 33% 45% 9% 3	297
January	1st to 10th	Night	3 3 32% 49% 11% 2	950
	11th to 20th	Night	4 4 35% 46% 9% 2	922
	21st to end	Night	5% 2 31% 51% 10% 1	836
February	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 39% 46% 6%	760
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 4 38% 47% 7%	744
	21st to end	Night	7% 4 37% 48% 4	628
March	1st to 10th	Night	5% 3 36% 46% 10%	760
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 3 27% 49% 11%	760
	21st to end	Night	10% 5% 34% 44% 7%	690
April	1st to 10th	Night	10% 5% 36% 43% 6%	570
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 7% 29% 40% 9%	533
	21st to end	Night	17% 4 27% 40% 11% 1	540
May	1st to 10th	Night	15% 4 23% 43% 13% 1	540
	11th to 20th	Night	18% 3 15% 44% 19% 1	531
	21st to end	Night	10% 4 24% 38% 22% 1	584
June	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 14% 47% 28% 3	540
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 2 20% 51% 19% 1	540
	21st to end	Night	5% 1 14% 50% 29% 1	540
July	1st to 10th	Night	7% 2 11% 40% 37% 2	525
	11th to 20th	Night	2 1 9% 44% 41% 3	522
	21st to end	Night	6% 1 8% 39% 42% 4	591
August	1st to 10th	Night	6% 1 11% 41% 40% 2	537
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 2 10% 49% 30% 2	534
	21st to end	Night	5% 2 13% 45% 33% 2	594
September	1st to 10th	Night	6% 2 12% 46% 29% 5%	540
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 1 15% 48% 27% 3	540
	21st to end	Night	6% 3 15% 50% 22% 3	540
October	1st to 10th	Night	12% 2 19% 45% 18% 3	693
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 1 26% 49% 17% 2	720
	21st to end	Night	9% 3 22% 48% 17% 1	842
November	1st to 10th	Night	4 3 26% 52% 14% 2	925
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 4 28% 52% 10% 1	950
	21st to end	Night	6% 3 26% 50% 14% 1	950
December	1st to 10th	Night	4 3 31% 51% 10%	950
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 3 31% 49% 11% 1	950
	21st to end	Night	7% 3 34% 47% 8% 1	1045

Page generated at 2024-04-07 07:28:13. Version ac07

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