Use this chart to help plan your night out under the stars.
A legend appears directly underneath the chart to explain what each color block represents. The time appears and reads vertically over each column. Clear skies, good seeing, and happy stargazing!!!
A Clear Sky Chart is a visual, web-based tool designed for astronomers, providing a forecast of cloud cover, transparency, and seeing conditions for a specific location, allowing stargazers to plan their observing sessions effectively.
Clear Sky Charts were created to help astronomers determine the best time to observe the night sky by forecasting cloud cover, transparency (how clear the atmosphere is), and seeing (how much the atmosphere distorts images). The data for these charts comes from the Canadian Meteorological Centre's (CMC) numerical weather forecast model, which is specifically designed for astronomical observing.
The charts were invented and are maintained by Attilla Danko. There are charts available for thousands of locations in North America, with the ability to request charts for specific sites. The charts use a color-coded system to represent cloud cover, with darker blues indicating clear skies and lighter shades representing increasing cloudiness. Some charts also include forecasts for wildfire smoke, which can affect transparency, and a darkness forecast that indicates when the sky will be dark, assuming no light pollution or clouds.
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