Mountain Springs Observatory
Clear Sky Chart
History

This sumarizes the distribution of each different forecast outcome for the Mountain Springs Observatory clear sky chart from 2005-11-06 to 2026-07-16.

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	11% 5% 2 5% 4 3 4 3 5% 7% 52%	138138
	Night	11% 4 2 4 3 3 3 3 5% 6% 56%	134877
Transparency	Day	32% 3 9% 25% 23% 8%	141842
	Night	29% 3 9% 24% 26% 11%	139240
Seeing	Day	12% 7% 24% 29% 21% 7%	17501
	Night	12% 8% 29% 35% 15% 1	27339

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	11% 5% 1 5% 3 3 4 3 5% 6% 55%	5289
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 5% 1 3 2 2 3 2 4 6% 66%	5310
	21st to end	Day	19% 7% 2 6% 4 4 2 2 3 4 47%	5812
February	1st to 10th	Day	16% 6% 2 6% 3 2 3 2 4 6% 48%	2011
	11th to 20th	Day	15% 6% 2 5% 4 3 4 3 4 5% 49%	2049
	21st to end	Day	19% 5% 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 4 55%	1735
March	1st to 10th	Day	15% 6% 2 4 3 3 3 3 4 6% 53%	5046
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 4 1 4 3 3 3 3 5% 5% 57%	5090
	21st to end	Day	13% 6% 2 6% 4 3 4 3 5% 6% 48%	5583
April	1st to 10th	Day	12% 6% 2 5% 4 4 3 3 4 6% 50%	2310
	11th to 20th	Day	13% 7% 2 6% 4 3 4 3 4 7% 47%	2390
	21st to end	Day	14% 5% 2 5% 4 4 4 3 5% 6% 46%	2715
May	1st to 10th	Day	17% 7% 3 7% 4 4 3 3 5% 7% 40%	7617
	11th to 20th	Day	13% 6% 2 7% 4 4 4 3 6% 7% 45%	7627
	21st to end	Day	13% 7% 3 8% 5% 5% 5% 4 7% 7% 36%	8392
June	1st to 10th	Day	7% 5% 2 5% 4 4 4 4 7% 9% 49%	2730
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 4 1 4 4 4 5% 4 7% 8% 52%	2730
	21st to end	Day	4 3 1 4 4 4 4 4 6% 8% 58%	2730
July	1st to 10th	Day	7% 5% 3 7% 5% 5% 5% 4 6% 8% 44%	6030
	11th to 20th	Day	3 2 1 4 3 3 4 3 6% 9% 62%	5966
	21st to end	Day	4 3 1 4 4 4 4 4 7% 9% 57%	6422
August	1st to 10th	Day	2 2 1 4 3 3 4 4 5% 7% 66%	4234
	11th to 20th	Day	4 2 1 3 3 3 4 4 6% 9% 60%	4171
	21st to end	Day	3 2 1 3 3 4 4 4 6% 9% 59%	4231
September	1st to 10th	Day	9% 3 2 5% 4 3 3 4 5% 6% 56%	2200
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 4 2 6% 4 4 5% 4 6% 8% 49%	2200
	21st to end	Day	7% 3 1 4 3 4 4 4 5% 6% 60%	2200
October	1st to 10th	Day	6% 3 1 4 3 3 3 2 4 7% 64%	2154
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 4 1 3 2 3 2 2 4 6% 63%	2000
	21st to end	Day	14% 4 2 4 2 3 2 2 3 4 61%	2200
November	1st to 10th	Day	13% 4 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 5% 59%	2058
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 3 1 3 3 2 3 2 4 5% 65%	1918
	21st to end	Day	15% 5% 1 4 3 2 3 2 3 6% 56%	1890
December	1st to 10th	Day	15% 8% 2 4 3 3 2 3 4 4 52%	3030
	11th to 20th	Day	16% 7% 2 5% 4 3 3 2 3 4 49%	3481
	21st to end	Day	20% 6% 2 4 3 3 2 2 3 4 49%	4587
January	1st to 10th	Night	12% 4 2 4 3 2 3 3 4 6% 57%	7634
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 5% 74%	7680
	21st to end	Night	23% 6% 2 5% 3 3 3 2 3 4 45%	8402
February	1st to 10th	Night	13% 6% 2 6% 4 3 3 2 4 5% 53%	2625
	11th to 20th	Night	15% 7% 2 4 3 3 3 3 4 5% 52%	2458
	21st to end	Night	15% 5% 1 3 3 3 2 3 3 5% 56%	2070
March	1st to 10th	Night	15% 6% 2 5% 3 3 3 3 5% 6% 49%	5029
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 5% 2 3 3 3 3 2 4 6% 60%	5090
	21st to end	Night	13% 5% 2 5% 3 4 4 3 5% 5% 51%	5588
April	1st to 10th	Night	11% 5% 2 5% 3 4 3 3 5% 8% 52%	2310
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 5% 2 5% 3 3 3 2 5% 7% 51%	2177
	21st to end	Night	12% 4 2 5% 4 3 3 3 5% 6% 53%	1900
May	1st to 10th	Night	17% 7% 2 6% 4 4 4 3 6% 7% 41%	5266
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 5% 2 5% 3 4 4 3 5% 7% 50%	5265
	21st to end	Night	12% 6% 2 6% 4 4 4 4 7% 10% 43%	5793
June	1st to 10th	Night	5% 3 1 4 3 4 4 4 6% 9% 56%	1890
	11th to 20th	Night	4 2 1 3 3 4 3 3 6% 8% 62%	1890
	21st to end	Night	3 2 1 3 2 3 3 3 6% 9% 66%	1890
July	1st to 10th	Night	6% 4 2 6% 5% 5% 5% 4 7% 9% 47%	4168
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 3 2 3 3 3 5% 9% 67%	4122
	21st to end	Night	2 2 1 3 3 3 4 3 6% 8% 65%	4449
August	1st to 10th	Night	1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 5% 8% 73%	2926
	11th to 20th	Night	3 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 5% 10% 68%	2888
	21st to end	Night	3 2 1 3 3 3 3 3 5% 8% 65%	3654
September	1st to 10th	Night	8% 4 1 4 3 2 3 3 5% 7% 60%	2200
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 4 1 6% 3 4 4 3 6% 6% 55%	2200
	21st to end	Night	7% 2 1 3 3 2 4 3 5% 7% 64%	2200
October	1st to 10th	Night	6% 3 1 3 2 3 4 2 4 5% 66%	2225
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 3 2 3 2 3 2 2 4 5% 65%	2400
	21st to end	Night	15% 4 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 4 62%	2640
November	1st to 10th	Night	10% 4 2 4 2 2 3 3 4 4 63%	2460
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 3 1 3 2 3 4 3 5% 5% 63%	2699
	21st to end	Night	14% 5% 2 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 56%	2730
December	1st to 10th	Night	13% 6% 2 4 2 2 3 3 4 5% 57%	4380
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 6% 2 4 3 3 3 2 3 5% 53%	4946
	21st to end	Night	17% 6% 2 5% 3 2 2 2 3 5% 53%	6633

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	30% 2 7% 27% 29% 4	5290
	11th to 20th	Day	22% 1 6% 22% 42% 7%	5310
	21st to end	Day	43% 2 4 21% 21% 10%	5812
February	1st to 10th	Day	40% 3 6% 21% 22% 9%	2011
	11th to 20th	Day	39% 3 7% 23% 20% 8%	2059
	21st to end	Day	36% 2 4 16% 28% 13%	1735
March	1st to 10th	Day	34% 2 6% 16% 23% 19%	5046
	11th to 20th	Day	30% 2 9% 19% 20% 20%	5090
	21st to end	Day	37% 3 11% 24% 20% 6%	5585
April	1st to 10th	Day	35% 3 9% 23% 19% 10%	2310
	11th to 20th	Day	39% 3 9% 19% 20% 10%	2390
	21st to end	Day	38% 4 9% 23% 21% 4	2715
May	1st to 10th	Day	45% 3 10% 21% 16% 5%	7655
	11th to 20th	Day	39% 4 9% 22% 23% 3	7631
	21st to end	Day	46% 5% 13% 20% 12% 5%	8405
June	1st to 10th	Day	30% 5% 17% 29% 17% 3	2730
	11th to 20th	Day	28% 5% 13% 29% 21% 4	2730
	21st to end	Day	24% 6% 14% 28% 25% 4	2730
July	1st to 10th	Day	37% 6% 13% 31% 13% 1	5966
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 4 14% 36% 24% 2	5897
	21st to end	Day	21% 5% 15% 34% 24% 2	6240
August	1st to 10th	Day	16% 4 12% 28% 32% 8%	4220
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 3 14% 40% 20% 2	4210
	21st to end	Day	20% 6% 17% 38% 15% 3	4230
September	1st to 10th	Day	29% 4 9% 24% 23% 11%	2200
	11th to 20th	Day	33% 5% 11% 22% 22% 7%	2200
	21st to end	Day	24% 4 7% 24% 28% 12%	2200
October	1st to 10th	Day	15% 2 6% 15% 37% 26%	3505
	11th to 20th	Day	17% 2 5% 22% 36% 18%	3240
	21st to end	Day	24% 2 5% 32% 27% 10%	3538
November	1st to 10th	Day	29% 3 7% 23% 29% 10%	2058
	11th to 20th	Day	22% 3 9% 24% 31% 12%	1918
	21st to end	Day	33% 1 5% 24% 27% 10%	1890
December	1st to 10th	Day	37% 2 4 32% 22% 4	3030
	11th to 20th	Day	41% 2 4 14% 30% 10%	3479
	21st to end	Day	40% 2 4 25% 21% 8%	4587
January	1st to 10th	Night	30% 2 6% 27% 30% 5%	7635
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 1 6% 21% 40% 15%	7680
	21st to end	Night	45% 1 5% 16% 23% 10%	8402
February	1st to 10th	Night	36% 2 8% 21% 23% 11%	2625
	11th to 20th	Night	37% 2 7% 21% 23% 10%	2458
	21st to end	Night	33% 2 6% 17% 25% 17%	2070
March	1st to 10th	Night	37% 2 5% 15% 22% 18%	5029
	11th to 20th	Night	26% 2 8% 21% 18% 24%	5090
	21st to end	Night	35% 3 8% 19% 29% 5%	5588
April	1st to 10th	Night	32% 3 10% 21% 20% 14%	2310
	11th to 20th	Night	34% 3 9% 20% 21% 13%	2177
	21st to end	Night	32% 3 12% 24% 23% 5%	1900
May	1st to 10th	Night	43% 4 12% 20% 16% 5%	5293
	11th to 20th	Night	34% 3 12% 22% 24% 6%	5266
	21st to end	Night	37% 4 17% 24% 11% 7%	5805
June	1st to 10th	Night	26% 4 14% 32% 20% 4	1890
	11th to 20th	Night	20% 4 15% 30% 24% 7%	1890
	21st to end	Night	17% 5% 13% 32% 27% 6%	1890
July	1st to 10th	Night	31% 6% 15% 31% 15% 2	4125
	11th to 20th	Night	15% 5% 11% 38% 27% 3	4071
	21st to end	Night	17% 5% 14% 36% 26% 2	4320
August	1st to 10th	Night	11% 3 9% 31% 40% 6%	2916
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 3 13% 40% 26% 5%	2915
	21st to end	Night	17% 4 18% 36% 21% 4	3654
September	1st to 10th	Night	25% 5% 10% 22% 28% 11%	2200
	11th to 20th	Night	30% 4 10% 22% 22% 11%	2200
	21st to end	Night	20% 3 7% 25% 28% 16%	2200
October	1st to 10th	Night	13% 2 6% 14% 35% 30%	3641
	11th to 20th	Night	15% 2 5% 19% 35% 24%	3899
	21st to end	Night	25% 2 4 28% 27% 14%	4252
November	1st to 10th	Night	26% 3 6% 22% 27% 16%	2460
	11th to 20th	Night	23% 3 8% 24% 28% 15%	2699
	21st to end	Night	33% 3 6% 18% 30% 10%	2730
December	1st to 10th	Night	31% 2 6% 26% 27% 7%	4380
	11th to 20th	Night	37% 2 5% 16% 27% 14%	4947
	21st to end	Night	35% 2 5% 22% 26% 9%	6633

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	20% 12% 37% 26% 5%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 15% 36% 23% 6% 2	330
	21st to end	Day	19% 13% 37% 23% 7% 1	363
February	1st to 10th	Day	24% 10% 42% 18% 6%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	23% 15% 44% 13% 5%	330
	21st to end	Day	23% 15% 42% 14% 5%	273
March	1st to 10th	Day	24% 15% 33% 22% 5%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 17% 41% 15% 5%	330
	21st to end	Day	16% 12% 45% 21% 4 1	363
April	1st to 10th	Day	18% 17% 32% 24% 7% 1	330
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 12% 41% 22% 6%	428
	21st to end	Day	18% 12% 39% 22% 7% 2	735
May	1st to 10th	Day	16% 9% 32% 32% 9% 1	753
	11th to 20th	Day	18% 8% 31% 27% 14% 3	775
	21st to end	Day	15% 6% 28% 32% 15% 4	844
June	1st to 10th	Day	8% 2 16% 39% 27% 8%	780
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 2 19% 40% 24% 6%	780
	21st to end	Day	4 2 14% 38% 32% 10%	780
July	1st to 10th	Day	6% 2 7% 37% 34% 14%	771
	11th to 20th	Day	3 1 8% 31% 43% 14%	744
	21st to end	Day	3 1 6% 29% 43% 19%	794
August	1st to 10th	Day	3 1 6% 32% 43% 15%	726
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 2 4 35% 41% 11%	715
	21st to end	Day	6% 2 4 32% 37% 19%	541
September	1st to 10th	Day	9% 1 7% 22% 37% 24%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 1 7% 29% 38% 19%	330
	21st to end	Day	11% 4 9% 30% 31% 15%	330
October	1st to 10th	Day	3 1 18% 32% 36% 11%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 8% 25% 33% 24% 2	330
	21st to end	Day	22% 10% 24% 25% 18% 1	363
November	1st to 10th	Day	17% 6% 32% 29% 12% 4	330
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 9% 34% 30% 13% 3	330
	21st to end	Day	18% 13% 37% 22% 8% 2	330
December	1st to 10th	Day	16% 11% 36% 26% 10% 2	330
	11th to 20th	Day	17% 11% 42% 22% 8%	330
	21st to end	Day	20% 13% 35% 26% 5%	363
January	1st to 10th	Night	14% 11% 38% 30% 7%	1050
	11th to 20th	Night	15% 14% 36% 30% 5%	1050
	21st to end	Night	16% 12% 35% 31% 6%	1155
February	1st to 10th	Night	16% 11% 41% 28% 4	945
	11th to 20th	Night	20% 13% 38% 25% 4	824
	21st to end	Night	19% 16% 40% 23% 2	686
March	1st to 10th	Night	17% 13% 37% 29% 4	630
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 10% 42% 28% 4	630
	21st to end	Night	14% 11% 42% 29% 4 1	693
April	1st to 10th	Night	12% 13% 41% 29% 4	630
	11th to 20th	Night	16% 13% 39% 27% 5%	623
	21st to end	Night	15% 9% 42% 26% 7% 1	630
May	1st to 10th	Night	13% 8% 37% 35% 6% 1	630
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 7% 35% 33% 12% 2	621
	21st to end	Night	9% 3 32% 38% 17% 2	683
June	1st to 10th	Night	5% 3 21% 43% 25% 3	630
	11th to 20th	Night	4 2 23% 53% 17%	630
	21st to end	Night	3 1 20% 47% 27% 3	630
July	1st to 10th	Night	5% 1 8% 47% 33% 5%	615
	11th to 20th	Night	3 9% 44% 41% 3	597
	21st to end	Night	1 1 8% 42% 43% 5%	657
August	1st to 10th	Night	2 1 4 51% 39% 3	597
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 2 5% 45% 38% 5%	594
	21st to end	Night	3 1 5% 46% 38% 7%	660
September	1st to 10th	Night	9% 1 9% 39% 39% 4	600
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 1 9% 44% 33% 4	600
	21st to end	Night	8% 1 15% 43% 31% 3	600
October	1st to 10th	Night	7% 1 21% 39% 29% 3	625
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 5% 29% 39% 15% 1	800
	21st to end	Night	18% 9% 28% 31% 13% 1	880
November	1st to 10th	Night	11% 6% 31% 39% 12% 1	820
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 10% 33% 35% 12%	1019
	21st to end	Night	17% 11% 34% 28% 9% 1	1050
December	1st to 10th	Night	14% 10% 36% 34% 6%	1050
	11th to 20th	Night	19% 8% 36% 31% 6%	1050
	21st to end	Night	18% 11% 38% 26% 7%	1155

Page generated at 2026-07-13 02:14:48. Version ac07

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