Astroquest
Clear Sky Chart
History

This sumarizes the distribution of each different forecast outcome for the Astroquest clear sky chart from 2005-11-06 to 2025-12-18.

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	13% 6% 2 6% 4 4 4 4 6% 8% 43%	127182
	Night	14% 6% 2 6% 4 4 4 4 5% 7% 44%	123860
Transparency	Day	38% 6% 12% 21% 17% 5%	130814
	Night	38% 6% 10% 20% 20% 6%	128297
Seeing	Day	16% 7% 22% 25% 20% 11%	16808
	Night	16% 6% 23% 33% 19% 2	26895

By Month

Percentage Cloud Cover SE (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	15% 6% 2 4 3 2 2 2 3 5% 57%	4056
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 6% 2 5% 2 2 3 3 3 4 57%	4060
	21st to end	Day	18% 6% 2 6% 4 4 3 2 4 5% 47%	4466
February	1st to 10th	Day	15% 5% 2 6% 5% 3 5% 3 6% 7% 43%	1800
	11th to 20th	Day	20% 8% 2 4 3 3 4 3 4 6% 43%	1857
	21st to end	Day	18% 7% 2 7% 4 4 4 3 4 7% 40%	1721
March	1st to 10th	Day	20% 7% 2 5% 4 4 3 3 5% 6% 41%	4935
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 5% 2 5% 4 4 4 3 5% 6% 54%	4980
	21st to end	Day	17% 7% 2 6% 4 4 3 3 4 6% 46%	5465
April	1st to 10th	Day	12% 4 1 4 3 4 4 3 5% 8% 52%	2235
	11th to 20th	Day	14% 5% 1 5% 3 4 4 4 5% 7% 49%	2374
	21st to end	Day	13% 6% 2 5% 4 4 4 4 5% 8% 45%	2530
May	1st to 10th	Day	10% 6% 3 7% 5% 6% 6% 5% 8% 11% 33%	5862
	11th to 20th	Day	20% 8% 3 7% 5% 5% 5% 5% 6% 8% 29%	5861
	21st to end	Day	13% 5% 2 6% 4 4 5% 5% 7% 9% 40%	6433
June	1st to 10th	Day	9% 5% 3 6% 6% 4 5% 5% 7% 11% 41%	2600
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 6% 2 6% 5% 5% 6% 5% 8% 10% 40%	2600
	21st to end	Day	5% 5% 2 6% 5% 5% 6% 5% 8% 11% 42%	2600
July	1st to 10th	Day	8% 6% 3 7% 5% 5% 6% 5% 8% 10% 39%	5900
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 6% 2 7% 6% 6% 7% 6% 9% 13% 32%	5900
	21st to end	Day	9% 7% 3 8% 6% 6% 6% 6% 8% 10% 30%	6424
August	1st to 10th	Day	17% 7% 3 7% 5% 5% 6% 6% 8% 10% 26%	4234
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 6% 2 7% 6% 6% 6% 6% 8% 10% 34%	4174
	21st to end	Day	6% 3 1 4 4 4 4 4 7% 11% 51%	4352
September	1st to 10th	Day	10% 4 2 5% 5% 4 4 4 5% 9% 48%	2303
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 6% 2 5% 4 4 4 4 7% 9% 42%	2200
	21st to end	Day	18% 7% 3 6% 4 5% 4 4 5% 6% 37%	2200
October	1st to 10th	Day	11% 6% 2 5% 3 3 3 3 4 5% 54%	2040
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 5% 2 5% 3 3 3 2 4 5% 57%	2000
	21st to end	Day	14% 5% 2 4 3 3 3 2 4 5% 56%	2200
November	1st to 10th	Day	12% 5% 2 5% 4 3 3 2 4 5% 55%	2057
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 5% 2 4 2 3 2 3 5% 7% 55%	1951
	21st to end	Day	15% 5% 2 4 3 4 3 3 5% 6% 51%	1890
December	1st to 10th	Day	15% 6% 1 4 3 3 3 3 4 5% 52%	3020
	11th to 20th	Day	18% 6% 2 6% 3 3 4 2 5% 6% 44%	3436
	21st to end	Day	21% 6% 2 4 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 42%	4466
January	1st to 10th	Night	13% 5% 2 4 3 3 3 2 4 4 57%	5889
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 5% 2 4 3 3 2 2 4 4 58%	5900
	21st to end	Night	17% 7% 2 5% 3 3 3 3 4 5% 48%	6490
February	1st to 10th	Night	16% 6% 2 5% 4 4 4 4 5% 6% 44%	2600
	11th to 20th	Night	20% 8% 2 5% 3 3 4 3 4 5% 45%	2424
	21st to end	Night	16% 6% 3 5% 5% 4 4 3 5% 6% 45%	1907
March	1st to 10th	Night	18% 6% 2 6% 4 3 4 3 4 6% 45%	4918
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 5% 2 4 3 3 4 3 5% 6% 56%	4980
	21st to end	Night	15% 5% 1 5% 4 3 4 3 4 7% 47%	5467
April	1st to 10th	Night	14% 5% 1 5% 4 4 3 3 5% 7% 48%	2163
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 5% 2 6% 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 49%	1975
	21st to end	Night	13% 5% 2 6% 4 5% 4 4 5% 7% 47%	1885
May	1st to 10th	Night	14% 8% 2 7% 5% 5% 5% 4 5% 8% 37%	4033
	11th to 20th	Night	18% 8% 3 8% 4 4 4 4 6% 9% 32%	4032
	21st to end	Night	14% 6% 2 5% 4 4 3 4 6% 9% 42%	4421
June	1st to 10th	Night	10% 5% 2 8% 5% 5% 5% 5% 9% 10% 38%	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 6% 2 6% 4 5% 5% 4 8% 12% 39%	1800
	21st to end	Night	7% 5% 2 6% 5% 5% 6% 5% 8% 10% 42%	1800
July	1st to 10th	Night	10% 8% 3 9% 6% 6% 7% 5% 8% 10% 30%	4058
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 7% 3 10% 7% 7% 7% 6% 9% 10% 26%	4057
	21st to end	Night	11% 7% 4 8% 7% 6% 6% 6% 8% 11% 27%	4427
August	1st to 10th	Night	19% 9% 2 8% 5% 6% 6% 5% 7% 9% 25%	2915
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 7% 3 8% 5% 6% 5% 6% 9% 10% 31%	2875
	21st to end	Night	5% 5% 2 7% 4 4 4 4 6% 9% 50%	3511
September	1st to 10th	Night	8% 5% 3 6% 5% 4 4 4 6% 7% 47%	2093
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 7% 3 7% 5% 4 5% 4 5% 8% 39%	2200
	21st to end	Night	19% 7% 3 6% 4 5% 4 5% 6% 7% 36%	2200
October	1st to 10th	Night	13% 6% 2 6% 4 3 4 3 5% 6% 49%	2358
	11th to 20th	Night	14% 5% 2 4 3 3 3 3 3 6% 55%	2400
	21st to end	Night	15% 4 2 4 3 3 2 2 3 5% 57%	2640
November	1st to 10th	Night	15% 6% 2 5% 3 3 3 2 3 5% 54%	2461
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 5% 2 4 4 4 3 3 4 5% 53%	2667
	21st to end	Night	14% 4 2 4 3 3 3 4 5% 6% 51%	2730
December	1st to 10th	Night	14% 6% 2 5% 3 3 3 3 4 6% 51%	4380
	11th to 20th	Night	21% 8% 3 6% 4 3 3 3 4 4 41%	4914
	21st to end	Night	21% 4 2 4 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 45%	6490

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	33% 3 5% 21% 30% 8%	4057
	11th to 20th	Day	31% 3 4 17% 36% 8%	4060
	21st to end	Day	41% 3 5% 23% 23% 5%	4466
February	1st to 10th	Day	40% 5% 11% 21% 19% 5%	1800
	11th to 20th	Day	42% 4 8% 22% 19% 6%	1866
	21st to end	Day	44% 5% 10% 15% 19% 7%	1721
March	1st to 10th	Day	43% 4 6% 17% 17% 12%	4935
	11th to 20th	Day	30% 5% 6% 19% 23% 17%	4980
	21st to end	Day	42% 4 7% 23% 19% 6%	5465
April	1st to 10th	Day	31% 5% 11% 23% 24% 6%	2235
	11th to 20th	Day	34% 6% 10% 22% 20% 9%	2374
	21st to end	Day	38% 7% 12% 25% 16% 3	2530
May	1st to 10th	Day	41% 9% 16% 20% 11% 2	5897
	11th to 20th	Day	51% 7% 11% 20% 9% 1	5865
	21st to end	Day	38% 8% 14% 21% 16% 3	6447
June	1st to 10th	Day	35% 9% 16% 25% 13% 1	2600
	11th to 20th	Day	35% 11% 18% 21% 14% 2	2600
	21st to end	Day	32% 11% 17% 24% 15% 1	2600
July	1st to 10th	Day	38% 10% 16% 21% 13% 2	5835
	11th to 20th	Day	40% 11% 26% 18% 4 1	5831
	21st to end	Day	46% 9% 16% 21% 8%	6240
August	1st to 10th	Day	49% 9% 17% 20% 5%	4221
	11th to 20th	Day	39% 10% 20% 21% 8% 2	4213
	21st to end	Day	26% 7% 17% 34% 14% 2	4352
September	1st to 10th	Day	33% 8% 14% 22% 19% 4	2303
	11th to 20th	Day	37% 8% 13% 19% 20% 3	2200
	21st to end	Day	47% 6% 10% 18% 16% 3	2200
October	1st to 10th	Day	29% 4 8% 22% 28% 10%	3326
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 3 5% 22% 25% 24%	3240
	21st to end	Day	26% 3 8% 25% 23% 15%	3538
November	1st to 10th	Day	33% 4 8% 22% 26% 8%	2057
	11th to 20th	Day	30% 4 8% 24% 27% 6%	1951
	21st to end	Day	35% 4 9% 23% 25% 5%	1890
December	1st to 10th	Day	35% 4 6% 20% 28% 7%	3020
	11th to 20th	Day	42% 3 10% 17% 22% 6%	3433
	21st to end	Day	41% 4 11% 27% 16% 2	4466
January	1st to 10th	Night	31% 3 5% 20% 31% 10%	5889
	11th to 20th	Night	32% 3 6% 18% 34% 8%	5900
	21st to end	Night	38% 3 6% 21% 26% 6%	6490
February	1st to 10th	Night	40% 5% 10% 21% 19% 4	2600
	11th to 20th	Night	43% 4 9% 18% 20% 7%	2426
	21st to end	Night	41% 5% 8% 18% 21% 7%	1907
March	1st to 10th	Night	41% 4 5% 16% 25% 9%	4918
	11th to 20th	Night	28% 4 6% 18% 26% 17%	4980
	21st to end	Night	38% 4 6% 26% 21% 5%	5467
April	1st to 10th	Night	36% 5% 11% 20% 22% 6%	2163
	11th to 20th	Night	35% 5% 9% 21% 22% 8%	1975
	21st to end	Night	37% 6% 12% 24% 18% 4	1885
May	1st to 10th	Night	44% 6% 14% 21% 13% 1	4060
	11th to 20th	Night	48% 9% 13% 18% 12% 1	4033
	21st to end	Night	37% 7% 13% 26% 14% 3	4429
June	1st to 10th	Night	37% 10% 15% 22% 14% 2	1800
	11th to 20th	Night	36% 10% 17% 21% 14% 2	1800
	21st to end	Night	34% 10% 19% 20% 14% 3	1800
July	1st to 10th	Night	46% 10% 14% 17% 12% 1	4015
	11th to 20th	Night	48% 13% 22% 13% 3 1	4006
	21st to end	Night	47% 9% 16% 20% 6%	4297
August	1st to 10th	Night	53% 8% 18% 16% 5%	2904
	11th to 20th	Night	42% 10% 20% 18% 9% 1	2902
	21st to end	Night	29% 8% 12% 32% 15% 3	3511
September	1st to 10th	Night	34% 8% 15% 21% 16% 6%	2093
	11th to 20th	Night	42% 8% 11% 18% 20% 2	2200
	21st to end	Night	46% 7% 12% 16% 15% 4	2200
October	1st to 10th	Night	37% 5% 7% 18% 25% 8%	3852
	11th to 20th	Night	23% 3 6% 23% 28% 17%	3899
	21st to end	Night	27% 3 6% 24% 27% 15%	4252
November	1st to 10th	Night	35% 4 8% 20% 24% 9%	2461
	11th to 20th	Night	34% 3 7% 19% 26% 10%	2667
	21st to end	Night	33% 4 7% 24% 26% 6%	2730
December	1st to 10th	Night	35% 4 7% 21% 29% 4	4380
	11th to 20th	Night	48% 3 7% 17% 16% 9%	4916
	21st to end	Night	38% 4 14% 22% 20% 2	6490

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	23% 17% 33% 21% 6%	300
	11th to 20th	Day	22% 16% 37% 17% 7%	300
	21st to end	Day	21% 13% 41% 20% 5%	330
February	1st to 10th	Day	18% 14% 37% 21% 9%	300
	11th to 20th	Day	35% 14% 35% 11% 5%	300
	21st to end	Day	26% 15% 33% 22% 5%	320
March	1st to 10th	Day	20% 13% 31% 26% 9% 1	500
	11th to 20th	Day	20% 11% 40% 23% 6% 1	500
	21st to end	Day	22% 13% 33% 25% 8%	550
April	1st to 10th	Day	19% 15% 28% 25% 10% 2	500
	11th to 20th	Day	16% 12% 27% 25% 16% 4	492
	21st to end	Day	17% 7% 27% 26% 18% 4	500
May	1st to 10th	Day	14% 11% 29% 26% 15% 5%	503
	11th to 20th	Day	17% 4 20% 27% 21% 11%	527
	21st to end	Day	19% 3 16% 23% 25% 14%	573
June	1st to 10th	Day	10% 3 17% 32% 24% 15%	530
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 4 13% 23% 27% 21%	530
	21st to end	Day	8% 2 10% 31% 31% 18%	530
July	1st to 10th	Day	9% 2 9% 22% 35% 24%	525
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 1 7% 25% 32% 30%	524
	21st to end	Day	8% 2 9% 25% 32% 24%	576
August	1st to 10th	Day	16% 2 11% 24% 27% 20%	526
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 4 9% 25% 29% 23%	519
	21st to end	Day	10% 2 8% 22% 34% 24%	583
September	1st to 10th	Day	12% 2 10% 23% 32% 21%	530
	11th to 20th	Day	18% 2 10% 22% 28% 21%	530
	21st to end	Day	23% 4 19% 27% 20% 7%	530
October	1st to 10th	Day	16% 4 16% 28% 22% 14%	530
	11th to 20th	Day	14% 5% 22% 28% 24% 7%	530
	21st to end	Day	16% 7% 21% 31% 18% 7%	583
November	1st to 10th	Day	19% 6% 25% 31% 16% 4	535
	11th to 20th	Day	16% 8% 35% 24% 14% 3	391
	21st to end	Day	14% 12% 31% 27% 12% 4	330
December	1st to 10th	Day	24% 10% 32% 25% 7% 1	330
	11th to 20th	Day	18% 10% 31% 28% 12% 1	321
	21st to end	Day	25% 13% 26% 25% 9% 2	330
January	1st to 10th	Night	18% 11% 38% 28% 6%	800
	11th to 20th	Night	21% 9% 35% 31% 5%	800
	21st to end	Night	19% 8% 40% 31% 3	880
February	1st to 10th	Night	19% 9% 34% 34% 4	800
	11th to 20th	Night	24% 13% 35% 25% 2	783
	21st to end	Night	18% 12% 38% 29% 3	660
March	1st to 10th	Night	18% 10% 33% 34% 6%	800
	11th to 20th	Night	18% 12% 34% 29% 8%	800
	21st to end	Night	18% 9% 35% 33% 5%	880
April	1st to 10th	Night	17% 11% 34% 29% 9%	800
	11th to 20th	Night	15% 10% 31% 31% 12%	791
	21st to end	Night	16% 7% 28% 35% 14%	685
May	1st to 10th	Night	12% 6% 28% 37% 17%	600
	11th to 20th	Night	18% 4 21% 32% 23% 3	591
	21st to end	Night	15% 3 12% 36% 32% 3	650
June	1st to 10th	Night	11% 1 13% 39% 32% 4	600
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 2 12% 32% 38% 6%	600
	21st to end	Night	8% 1 10% 34% 44% 3	600
July	1st to 10th	Night	10% 3 8% 30% 43% 6%	585
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 1 5% 29% 47% 9%	582
	21st to end	Night	9% 1 7% 31% 43% 8%	657
August	1st to 10th	Night	16% 2 8% 28% 38% 7%	597
	11th to 20th	Night	12% 2 7% 33% 39% 7%	594
	21st to end	Night	10% 1 9% 28% 43% 9%	831
September	1st to 10th	Night	10% 2 9% 34% 38% 7%	800
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 2 10% 30% 36% 6%	800
	21st to end	Night	22% 3 16% 30% 26% 2	800
October	1st to 10th	Night	15% 4 17% 30% 29% 5%	800
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 5% 22% 37% 18% 2	800
	21st to end	Night	17% 5% 22% 36% 18% 1	880
November	1st to 10th	Night	17% 5% 21% 39% 16% 1	820
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 6% 28% 37% 12%	840
	21st to end	Night	15% 6% 29% 37% 12%	840
December	1st to 10th	Night	22% 8% 30% 32% 7%	840
	11th to 20th	Night	20% 5% 30% 36% 8%	829
	21st to end	Night	25% 6% 26% 35% 7%	880

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