Benson
Clear Sky Chart
History

This sumarizes the distribution of each different forecast outcome for the Benson clear sky chart from 2005-11-06 to 2026-10-14.

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	2 2 1 3 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 65%	157855
	Night	3 3 1 4 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 64%	151544
Transparency	Day	18% 3 6% 13% 27% 32%	152749
	Night	19% 3 7% 14% 28% 29%	147658
Seeing	Day	5% 7% 18% 30% 26% 14%	17417
	Night	4 2 14% 43% 33% 4	27467

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	2 4 2 5% 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 61%	5318
	11th to 20th	Day	1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 81%	5340
	21st to end	Day	5% 4 2 6% 4 3 4 3 6% 7% 56%	5844
February	1st to 10th	Day	3 3 1 4 3 3 3 2 4 6% 66%	1890
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 4 2 3 3 3 4 3 5% 6% 63%	2045
	21st to end	Day	4 3 1 4 3 3 3 2 3 5% 69%	1890
March	1st to 10th	Day	3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 4 6% 69%	5064
	11th to 20th	Day	2 2 1 3 2 3 3 3 5% 7% 69%	5110
	21st to end	Day	1 3 1 4 3 3 4 3 5% 6% 66%	5607
April	1st to 10th	Day	1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 5% 6% 72%	2310
	11th to 20th	Day	2 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 3 5% 79%	2486
	21st to end	Day	1 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 81%	2520
May	1st to 10th	Day	1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 82%	7448
	11th to 20th	Day	1 2 2 2 3 2 4 5% 77%	7596
	21st to end	Day	1 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 3 84%	8370
June	1st to 10th	Day	1 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 6% 74%	2730
	11th to 20th	Day	1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 5% 79%	2730
	21st to end	Day	2 3 1 4 5% 4 5% 4 6% 6% 60%	2730
July	1st to 10th	Day	1 1 1 4 4 4 4 5% 6% 8% 62%	7649
	11th to 20th	Day	2 2 1 6% 5% 6% 7% 7% 10% 11% 42%	7650
	21st to end	Day	3 3 1 5% 4 5% 7% 6% 10% 12% 43%	8304
August	1st to 10th	Day	2 2 1 4 4 5% 6% 6% 9% 11% 51%	7549
	11th to 20th	Day	2 3 1 4 4 5% 6% 6% 8% 13% 48%	7399
	21st to end	Day	2 2 1 4 4 5% 6% 5% 8% 10% 52%	7751
September	1st to 10th	Day	5% 5% 2 5% 5% 5% 5% 4 7% 8% 48%	2340
	11th to 20th	Day	3 3 1 5% 3 4 4 3 6% 5% 62%	2310
	21st to end	Day	3 2 1 3 3 3 4 3 5% 6% 68%	2310
October	1st to 10th	Day	1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 5% 78%	3488
	11th to 20th	Day	1 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 4 82%	3280
	21st to end	Day	1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 5% 83%	3548
November	1st to 10th	Day	1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 6% 76%	2059
	11th to 20th	Day	2 2 1 2 3 3 3 3 5% 5% 71%	2100
	21st to end	Day	4 4 1 3 3 3 5% 4 4 6% 62%	1942
December	1st to 10th	Day	3 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 4 5% 75%	3040
	11th to 20th	Day	3 4 2 4 3 3 2 2 5% 7% 65%	3499
	21st to end	Day	3 3 1 4 3 3 3 2 4 6% 68%	4609
January	1st to 10th	Night	4 3 2 4 3 3 4 4 5% 7% 60%	7605
	11th to 20th	Night	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 4 83%	7650
	21st to end	Night	7% 5% 2 6% 4 3 4 3 5% 8% 53%	8370
February	1st to 10th	Night	3 4 1 4 3 3 4 2 4 5% 67%	2730
	11th to 20th	Night	4 4 1 4 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 62%	2458
	21st to end	Night	3 4 1 3 3 4 3 4 5% 6% 65%	1913
March	1st to 10th	Night	2 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 4 6% 70%	5050
	11th to 20th	Night	3 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 6% 72%	5110
	21st to end	Night	2 4 1 4 3 3 3 3 4 7% 66%	5610
April	1st to 10th	Night	2 3 1 2 2 2 3 2 3 6% 74%	2310
	11th to 20th	Night	1 2 1 2 1 2 3 3 3 3 79%	2082
	21st to end	Night	1 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 4 82%	2100
May	1st to 10th	Night	3 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 3 4 80%	5494
	11th to 20th	Night	1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 5% 79%	5296
	21st to end	Night	1 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 4 85%	5837
June	1st to 10th	Night	2 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 6% 74%	1890
	11th to 20th	Night	1 2 2 2 1 1 2 3 5% 81%	1890
	21st to end	Night	2 3 1 3 4 3 4 4 6% 6% 64%	1890
July	1st to 10th	Night	2 2 1 5% 4 5% 6% 5% 7% 9% 54%	5340
	11th to 20th	Night	2 3 2 8% 7% 8% 9% 7% 10% 13% 31%	5340
	21st to end	Night	2 3 2 6% 6% 6% 8% 7% 11% 15% 35%	5805
August	1st to 10th	Night	2 3 1 6% 5% 6% 8% 7% 10% 12% 39%	5273
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 5% 6% 6% 8% 7% 9% 15% 40%	5456
	21st to end	Night	3 3 2 7% 5% 6% 6% 6% 9% 10% 43%	6465
September	1st to 10th	Night	7% 5% 2 5% 4 4 6% 4 7% 8% 49%	2274
	11th to 20th	Night	3 3 1 3 3 3 3 4 6% 6% 66%	2310
	21st to end	Night	3 3 1 3 2 3 3 3 4 6% 69%	2310
October	1st to 10th	Night	1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 5% 5% 76%	3923
	11th to 20th	Night	3 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 78%	3934
	21st to end	Night	1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 4 86%	4252
November	1st to 10th	Night	1 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 5% 78%	2460
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 5% 6% 73%	2520
	21st to end	Night	5% 3 1 4 3 3 3 3 4 7% 64%	2675
December	1st to 10th	Night	3 2 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 77%	4370
	11th to 20th	Night	2 3 2 5% 3 3 3 3 3 5% 67%	4941
	21st to end	Night	4 3 1 4 3 3 4 3 4 6% 65%	6611

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 5% 14% 34% 22%	5321
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 3 3 8% 38% 39%	5340
	21st to end	Day	26% 4 4 14% 25% 28%	5844
February	1st to 10th	Day	19% 3 4 11% 27% 35%	1890
	11th to 20th	Day	22% 4 5% 15% 28% 26%	2055
	21st to end	Day	19% 3 4 9% 31% 34%	1890
March	1st to 10th	Day	16% 3 3 7% 35% 37%	5064
	11th to 20th	Day	13% 3 6% 16% 36% 26%	5110
	21st to end	Day	16% 5% 4 11% 36% 28%	5607
April	1st to 10th	Day	14% 2 4 7% 37% 36%	2310
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 2 2 6% 29% 51%	2489
	21st to end	Day	9% 2 3 8% 33% 46%	2520
May	1st to 10th	Day	10% 1 2 6% 26% 55%	7448
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 1 2 6% 30% 51%	7599
	21st to end	Day	9% 1 3 17% 70%	8371
June	1st to 10th	Day	12% 2 3 7% 25% 50%	2730
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 2 3 6% 18% 62%	2730
	21st to end	Day	22% 5% 7% 11% 19% 37%	2730
July	1st to 10th	Day	21% 3 6% 15% 25% 30%	7586
	11th to 20th	Day	32% 7% 17% 24% 15% 6%	7581
	21st to end	Day	30% 5% 17% 24% 16% 7%	8120
August	1st to 10th	Day	29% 6% 17% 28% 17% 4	5978
	11th to 20th	Day	26% 5% 15% 28% 22% 5%	5834
	21st to end	Day	27% 4 13% 22% 24% 9%	6078
September	1st to 10th	Day	31% 6% 11% 17% 18% 17%	2340
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 5% 7% 15% 26% 25%	2310
	21st to end	Day	16% 5% 6% 14% 31% 27%	2310
October	1st to 10th	Day	10% 2 4 9% 20% 55%	3488
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 2 2 7% 33% 46%	3280
	21st to end	Day	7% 2 2 8% 26% 55%	3548
November	1st to 10th	Day	10% 3 3 13% 36% 34%	2059
	11th to 20th	Day	16% 3 4 13% 32% 32%	2100
	21st to end	Day	22% 4 5% 15% 28% 27%	1942
December	1st to 10th	Day	12% 3 4 13% 40% 29%	3040
	11th to 20th	Day	20% 3 4 11% 33% 30%	3498
	21st to end	Day	17% 4 5% 16% 40% 18%	4609
January	1st to 10th	Night	23% 2 6% 15% 38% 15%	7605
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 2 2 11% 42% 36%	7650
	21st to end	Night	29% 3 4 16% 24% 23%	8370
February	1st to 10th	Night	19% 4 4 12% 24% 36%	2730
	11th to 20th	Night	22% 4 6% 15% 29% 24%	2459
	21st to end	Night	18% 4 4 10% 30% 33%	1913
March	1st to 10th	Night	15% 3 3 9% 36% 34%	5050
	11th to 20th	Night	12% 3 5% 19% 37% 25%	5110
	21st to end	Night	18% 4 4 15% 35% 24%	5610
April	1st to 10th	Night	14% 2 3 10% 38% 33%	2310
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 2 3 9% 29% 46%	2082
	21st to end	Night	9% 1 2 8% 32% 46%	2100
May	1st to 10th	Night	12% 1 2 9% 33% 44%	5492
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 2 3 8% 23% 56%	5297
	21st to end	Night	8% 1 3 20% 67%	5838
June	1st to 10th	Night	12% 2 3 6% 27% 49%	1890
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 1 3 5% 19% 64%	1890
	21st to end	Night	19% 5% 7% 9% 19% 41%	1890
July	1st to 10th	Night	26% 3 8% 17% 20% 25%	5295
	11th to 20th	Night	41% 7% 19% 17% 11% 6%	5286
	21st to end	Night	34% 6% 23% 19% 12% 6%	5677
August	1st to 10th	Night	38% 5% 20% 22% 10% 4	4168
	11th to 20th	Night	30% 6% 20% 24% 16% 4	4297
	21st to end	Night	36% 5% 16% 20% 17% 6%	5069
September	1st to 10th	Night	30% 8% 11% 17% 18% 16%	2274
	11th to 20th	Night	18% 5% 8% 17% 28% 24%	2310
	21st to end	Night	15% 4 7% 16% 33% 24%	2310
October	1st to 10th	Night	12% 3 4 9% 22% 50%	3923
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 1 3 13% 28% 43%	3934
	21st to end	Night	6% 1 3 8% 31% 52%	4252
November	1st to 10th	Night	10% 2 4 14% 36% 33%	2460
	11th to 20th	Night	14% 3 4 16% 32% 32%	2520
	21st to end	Night	21% 3 6% 14% 31% 26%	2675
December	1st to 10th	Night	14% 2 3 16% 43% 21%	4370
	11th to 20th	Night	20% 4 4 11% 35% 26%	4941
	21st to end	Night	18% 4 5% 17% 37% 18%	6611

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	8% 9% 19% 38% 23% 3	330
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 5% 12% 43% 26% 8%	330
	21st to end	Day	5% 7% 21% 39% 23% 4	363
February	1st to 10th	Day	3 11% 15% 35% 29% 6%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 17% 27% 30% 14% 2	530
	21st to end	Day	9% 21% 26% 28% 13% 4	446
March	1st to 10th	Day	7% 16% 31% 29% 12% 4	540
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 16% 26% 27% 16% 9%	540
	21st to end	Day	6% 20% 26% 28% 14% 7%	594
April	1st to 10th	Day	3 12% 30% 26% 21% 7%	540
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 15% 29% 29% 15% 7%	532
	21st to end	Day	4 16% 28% 28% 17% 8%	540
May	1st to 10th	Day	3 13% 28% 30% 19% 8%	543
	11th to 20th	Day	1 9% 30% 28% 22% 9%	568
	21st to end	Day	2 7% 28% 32% 24% 8%	617
June	1st to 10th	Day	4 4 23% 34% 24% 12%	570
	11th to 20th	Day	1 4 22% 32% 28% 13%	570
	21st to end	Day	4 1 14% 36% 30% 15%	570
July	1st to 10th	Day	4 7% 29% 37% 23%	566
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 7% 25% 36% 27%	564
	21st to end	Day	6% 7% 20% 34% 33%	619
August	1st to 10th	Day	4 1 3 26% 31% 35%	567
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 1 5% 24% 35% 31%	557
	21st to end	Day	4 5% 22% 33% 35%	627
September	1st to 10th	Day	8% 2 8% 30% 30% 23%	570
	11th to 20th	Day	4 11% 30% 33% 21%	570
	21st to end	Day	4 4 16% 29% 31% 17%	570
October	1st to 10th	Day	3 4 15% 27% 31% 20%	439
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 4 9% 33% 34% 15%	339
	21st to end	Day	1 5% 12% 27% 34% 20%	363
November	1st to 10th	Day	1 8% 14% 35% 32% 11%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	3 4 15% 35% 33% 10%	330
	21st to end	Day	7% 8% 20% 34% 26% 5%	330
December	1st to 10th	Day	6% 5% 16% 34% 31% 8%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 5% 19% 37% 24% 9%	330
	21st to end	Day	9% 8% 20% 36% 21% 6%	363
January	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 13% 54% 23% 1	840
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 2 15% 52% 24% 1	840
	21st to end	Night	9% 3 19% 49% 20% 1	924
February	1st to 10th	Night	4 5% 17% 49% 23% 3	840
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 4 22% 51% 17%	824
	21st to end	Night	4 5% 26% 49% 15%	692
March	1st to 10th	Night	3 5% 28% 48% 16% 1	840
	11th to 20th	Night	4 4 23% 40% 25% 3	840
	21st to end	Night	4 4 21% 47% 23% 1	924
April	1st to 10th	Night	2 4 19% 53% 20% 1	840
	11th to 20th	Night	2 4 30% 45% 19% 1	628
	21st to end	Night	2 3 25% 49% 20% 1	630
May	1st to 10th	Night	4 3 20% 51% 22% 1	630
	11th to 20th	Night	2 1 20% 49% 26% 2	621
	21st to end	Night	1 2 18% 53% 26%	683
June	1st to 10th	Night	3 2 12% 51% 32% 1	630
	11th to 20th	Night	3 1 10% 50% 34% 1	630
	21st to end	Night	3 8% 40% 46% 3	630
July	1st to 10th	Night	3 1 3 31% 54% 7%	615
	11th to 20th	Night	4 4 22% 62% 8%	612
	21st to end	Night	5% 4 20% 58% 12%	690
August	1st to 10th	Night	5% 4 17% 60% 14%	627
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 2 19% 63% 11%	624
	21st to end	Night	6% 3 19% 62% 10%	693
September	1st to 10th	Night	9% 1 4 26% 52% 8%	804
	11th to 20th	Night	4 1 5% 30% 54% 6%	840
	21st to end	Night	4 1 8% 40% 42% 6%	840
October	1st to 10th	Night	2 10% 47% 37% 3	840
	11th to 20th	Night	3 1 10% 47% 35% 4	812
	21st to end	Night	1 2 11% 43% 39% 5%	880
November	1st to 10th	Night	2 2 11% 46% 34% 5%	820
	11th to 20th	Night	3 1 13% 46% 34% 3	840
	21st to end	Night	7% 2 17% 48% 23% 2	840
December	1st to 10th	Night	6% 2 14% 52% 24% 2	840
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 3 18% 48% 23% 3	840
	21st to end	Night	5% 4 18% 48% 21% 4	924

Page generated at 2026-10-11 02:06:27. Version ac07

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