Santa Monica Mountains Observatory
Clear Sky Chart
History

This sumarizes the distribution of each different forecast outcome for the Santa Monica Mountains Observatory clear sky chart from 2005-11-06 to 2025-10-04.

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	4 4 1 3 2 2 3 2 4 6% 69%	134801
	Night	5% 5% 2 4 3 3 3 3 4 6% 63%	132107
Transparency	Day	11% 37% 5% 11% 18% 18%	129890
	Night	13% 37% 6% 11% 16% 16%	127991
Seeing	Day	6% 7% 22% 35% 24% 7%	16868
	Night	6% 3 11% 35% 36% 8%	26665

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	4 2 1 3 2 2 2 2 3 5% 73%	3639
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 3 1 4 2 2 3 2 4 6% 67%	4072
	21st to end	Day	10% 5% 2 4 3 2 3 2 5% 9% 54%	4941
February	1st to 10th	Day	9% 5% 2 3 3 2 3 2 5% 6% 61%	2000
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 3 1 3 2 2 3 3 6% 6% 61%	1950
	21st to end	Day	7% 5% 1 4 3 3 3 3 6% 6% 60%	1650
March	1st to 10th	Day	10% 5% 2 5% 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 54%	4518
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 3 1 3 2 3 4 3 5% 7% 60%	4725
	21st to end	Day	8% 6% 2 4 3 4 4 3 5% 8% 53%	5969
April	1st to 10th	Day	5% 4 2 3 3 2 3 4 4 7% 64%	2400
	11th to 20th	Day	4 4 2 4 2 2 3 3 4 6% 66%	2369
	21st to end	Day	3 4 1 3 2 2 2 3 4 7% 68%	2400
May	1st to 10th	Day	3 5% 2 4 2 3 2 2 4 6% 67%	5518
	11th to 20th	Day	3 9% 3 5% 3 2 3 2 4 5% 61%	5841
	21st to end	Day	2 7% 3 5% 2 2 2 2 3 6% 66%	6423
June	1st to 10th	Day	5% 7% 2 4 2 2 2 2 4 7% 63%	2669
	11th to 20th	Day	3 5% 1 3 2 1 2 2 3 6% 72%	2800
	21st to end	Day	2 4 1 3 2 2 2 2 3 5% 75%	2800
July	1st to 10th	Day	1 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 4 84%	6319
	11th to 20th	Day	1 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 4 76%	6283
	21st to end	Day	1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 3 4 82%	5954
August	1st to 10th	Day	1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 5% 84%	5346
	11th to 20th	Day	1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 86%	5364
	21st to end	Day	1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 5% 81%	5984
September	1st to 10th	Day	3 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 3 5% 79%	2400
	11th to 20th	Day	2 4 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 78%	2273
	21st to end	Day	2 3 1 3 2 1 2 2 3 5% 77%	2200
October	1st to 10th	Day	2 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 3 3 81%	3524
	11th to 20th	Day	2 4 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 7% 74%	3206
	21st to end	Day	2 3 1 3 3 2 3 3 5% 6% 69%	3422
November	1st to 10th	Day	3 2 1 3 2 2 2 3 4 6% 71%	1764
	11th to 20th	Day	4 2 1 4 2 2 3 2 5% 6% 70%	1800
	21st to end	Day	5% 4 1 3 4 3 3 3 4 8% 61%	1800
December	1st to 10th	Day	4 2 1 4 3 3 4 4 6% 7% 63%	2950
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 4 2 4 3 3 4 4 6% 8% 53%	3409
	21st to end	Day	10% 4 1 5% 4 5% 4 4 7% 9% 47%	4119
January	1st to 10th	Night	5% 3 1 3 2 2 3 2 3 5% 71%	6306
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 5% 2 4 3 3 2 2 3 5% 64%	5902
	21st to end	Night	11% 5% 2 4 3 3 4 4 4 6% 55%	6051
February	1st to 10th	Night	9% 5% 2 5% 2 2 2 2 4 6% 61%	2400
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 4 2 4 3 3 3 3 3 6% 60%	2338
	21st to end	Night	10% 3 2 5% 3 3 3 3 3 5% 61%	1980
March	1st to 10th	Night	8% 6% 2 5% 3 3 3 3 5% 7% 55%	5376
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 5% 1 4 3 3 3 3 5% 6% 58%	5244
	21st to end	Night	10% 6% 2 5% 2 3 3 3 5% 6% 54%	5006
April	1st to 10th	Night	6% 6% 2 4 3 3 3 2 3 7% 62%	2000
	11th to 20th	Night	4 5% 2 4 2 3 2 3 3 6% 65%	1979
	21st to end	Night	4 5% 3 4 3 2 3 4 5% 7% 61%	2000
May	1st to 10th	Night	3 11% 3 6% 2 2 3 2 4 6% 57%	4476
	11th to 20th	Night	2 9% 5% 8% 3 3 3 3 5% 6% 55%	4074
	21st to end	Night	2 7% 3 6% 2 2 2 3 4 6% 63%	4474
June	1st to 10th	Night	2 8% 4 5% 3 3 3 3 5% 8% 57%	1725
	11th to 20th	Night	2 7% 2 4 2 2 3 2 4 7% 65%	1600
	21st to end	Night	1 7% 2 3 2 2 3 3 4 8% 65%	1600
July	1st to 10th	Night	2 1 5% 4 2 3 2 3 6% 71%	3640
	11th to 20th	Night	1 3 3 7% 5% 3 4 3 5% 6% 61%	3674
	21st to end	Night	1 3 2 5% 3 3 3 2 3 4 71%	4926
August	1st to 10th	Night	1 2 1 3 2 3 3 3 4 6% 74%	4486
	11th to 20th	Night	1 4 3 5% 3 2 2 2 4 5% 70%	4506
	21st to end	Night	2 1 4 3 3 3 2 4 5% 72%	5015
September	1st to 10th	Night	4 4 1 3 2 2 2 2 4 7% 71%	2000
	11th to 20th	Night	3 3 2 3 2 1 2 2 3 5% 74%	2125
	21st to end	Night	1 3 2 4 1 2 2 2 4 6% 74%	2200
October	1st to 10th	Night	2 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 80%	3523
	11th to 20th	Night	2 9% 3 6% 2 2 2 3 4 6% 60%	3715
	21st to end	Night	2 3 1 3 2 2 2 2 3 5% 75%	4143
November	1st to 10th	Night	2 3 1 3 2 3 3 3 4 6% 70%	2535
	11th to 20th	Night	3 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 7% 70%	2600
	21st to end	Night	5% 3 1 4 3 4 4 3 5% 7% 61%	2600
December	1st to 10th	Night	4 3 1 5% 3 3 3 3 4 6% 65%	4240
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 4 2 4 3 3 4 4 6% 8% 53%	4811
	21st to end	Night	9% 5% 2 4 4 4 6% 5% 7% 9% 46%	6837

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	9% 26% 3 15% 27% 20%	3639
	11th to 20th	Day	14% 28% 7% 14% 11% 25%	4072
	21st to end	Day	20% 28% 4 13% 20% 15%	4941
February	1st to 10th	Day	11% 62% 4 5% 10% 8%	2000
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 61% 2 7% 10% 11%	1960
	21st to end	Day	9% 61% 4 8% 9% 9%	1650
March	1st to 10th	Day	21% 31% 7% 12% 16% 13%	4518
	11th to 20th	Day	17% 30% 8% 22% 15% 9%	4725
	21st to end	Day	20% 32% 10% 21% 13% 4	5969
April	1st to 10th	Day	7% 63% 4 8% 12% 6%	2400
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 62% 3 7% 13% 8%	2372
	21st to end	Day	6% 64% 5% 12% 10% 4	2400
May	1st to 10th	Day	15% 30% 7% 14% 23% 11%	5518
	11th to 20th	Day	17% 30% 7% 18% 22% 6%	5844
	21st to end	Day	15% 29% 8% 22% 21% 6%	6424
June	1st to 10th	Day	10% 61% 4 10% 11% 4	2669
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 61% 2 7% 12% 12%	2800
	21st to end	Day	8% 59% 2 5% 12% 15%	2800
July	1st to 10th	Day	5% 24% 1 5% 14% 52%	6251
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 24% 4 6% 27% 28%	6208
	21st to end	Day	5% 24% 3 11% 31% 27%	5783
August	1st to 10th	Day	5% 34% 1 7% 30% 22%	3890
	11th to 20th	Day	3 34% 2 5% 20% 36%	3880
	21st to end	Day	4 34% 3 6% 17% 36%	4311
September	1st to 10th	Day	6% 56% 2 5% 15% 15%	2400
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 57% 3 6% 15% 12%	2273
	21st to end	Day	5% 56% 3 8% 15% 12%	2200
October	1st to 10th	Day	3 35% 1 5% 10% 45%	3524
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 36% 3 11% 26% 17%	3206
	21st to end	Day	11% 36% 3 5% 21% 24%	3422
November	1st to 10th	Day	4 55% 2 6% 12% 21%	1764
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 57% 4 6% 8% 17%	1800
	21st to end	Day	10% 56% 5% 6% 10% 13%	1800
December	1st to 10th	Day	11% 35% 4 9% 17% 24%	2950
	11th to 20th	Day	19% 31% 5% 9% 19% 17%	3408
	21st to end	Day	23% 28% 9% 16% 18% 5%	4119
January	1st to 10th	Night	11% 27% 4 10% 28% 20%	6306
	11th to 20th	Night	18% 29% 6% 15% 11% 21%	5902
	21st to end	Night	22% 29% 6% 10% 19% 14%	6051
February	1st to 10th	Night	12% 62% 4 6% 8% 8%	2400
	11th to 20th	Night	11% 60% 3 6% 9% 11%	2339
	21st to end	Night	10% 62% 3 6% 9% 10%	1980
March	1st to 10th	Night	20% 31% 8% 11% 20% 10%	5376
	11th to 20th	Night	17% 31% 9% 22% 11% 10%	5244
	21st to end	Night	19% 31% 13% 18% 16% 2	5006
April	1st to 10th	Night	9% 62% 3 9% 11% 6%	2000
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 62% 3 8% 12% 7%	1979
	21st to end	Night	8% 61% 7% 10% 10% 5%	2000
May	1st to 10th	Night	20% 30% 9% 12% 20% 9%	4473
	11th to 20th	Night	12% 31% 13% 17% 21% 5%	4075
	21st to end	Night	14% 28% 12% 23% 18% 6%	4474
June	1st to 10th	Night	10% 61% 7% 9% 8% 4	1725
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 61% 4 7% 11% 11%	1600
	21st to end	Night	10% 59% 3 5% 10% 12%	1600
July	1st to 10th	Night	8% 24% 2 11% 11% 44%	3600
	11th to 20th	Night	14% 24% 8% 7% 22% 25%	3626
	21st to end	Night	8% 24% 8% 13% 26% 21%	4786
August	1st to 10th	Night	6% 34% 3 11% 25% 20%	3256
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 34% 3 8% 23% 27%	3256
	21st to end	Night	7% 34% 4 5% 24% 25%	3608
September	1st to 10th	Night	8% 56% 2 5% 15% 14%	2000
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 56% 4 6% 14% 12%	2125
	21st to end	Night	6% 56% 4 7% 16% 12%	2200
October	1st to 10th	Night	4 35% 1 6% 10% 44%	3523
	11th to 20th	Night	15% 37% 6% 8% 19% 16%	3715
	21st to end	Night	9% 35% 3 6% 21% 27%	4143
November	1st to 10th	Night	4 55% 3 7% 11% 21%	2535
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 57% 3 6% 9% 16%	2600
	21st to end	Night	10% 57% 5% 8% 8% 12%	2600
December	1st to 10th	Night	12% 35% 5% 9% 14% 26%	4240
	11th to 20th	Night	19% 32% 7% 9% 14% 20%	4811
	21st to end	Night	23% 29% 12% 19% 12% 5%	6837

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	16% 6% 26% 33% 17% 3	200
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 9% 32% 30% 16% 2	385
	21st to end	Day	10% 12% 32% 30% 14% 2	533
February	1st to 10th	Day	12% 10% 31% 29% 15% 4	500
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 13% 33% 31% 10% 2	495
	21st to end	Day	7% 14% 34% 33% 10% 1	414
March	1st to 10th	Day	11% 17% 32% 25% 12% 1	500
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 14% 32% 30% 12% 2	500
	21st to end	Day	9% 14% 35% 28% 11% 2	550
April	1st to 10th	Day	7% 11% 30% 30% 16% 6%	500
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 13% 35% 32% 11% 4	492
	21st to end	Day	3 12% 30% 30% 16% 8%	500
May	1st to 10th	Day	6% 11% 29% 35% 15% 4	503
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 7% 26% 35% 22% 4	528
	21st to end	Day	6% 5% 28% 37% 19% 5%	573
June	1st to 10th	Day	7% 3 17% 38% 29% 7%	530
	11th to 20th	Day	4 3 17% 39% 28% 8%	530
	21st to end	Day	4 2 13% 39% 31% 11%	530
July	1st to 10th	Day	3 1 6% 38% 40% 13%	526
	11th to 20th	Day	2 3 31% 45% 19%	524
	21st to end	Day	2 4 34% 42% 18%	575
August	1st to 10th	Day	2 1 7% 38% 36% 16%	527
	11th to 20th	Day	3 5% 33% 44% 15%	517
	21st to end	Day	1 1 9% 39% 37% 14%	583
September	1st to 10th	Day	4 1 12% 42% 29% 14%	530
	11th to 20th	Day	3 3 18% 41% 27% 8%	530
	21st to end	Day	2 3 21% 38% 28% 8%	530
October	1st to 10th	Day	3 5% 18% 41% 26% 7%	503
	11th to 20th	Day	3 4 23% 41% 23% 6%	490
	21st to end	Day	5% 6% 24% 33% 26% 6%	525
November	1st to 10th	Day	4 6% 19% 34% 28% 9%	300
	11th to 20th	Day	4 6% 21% 39% 23% 6%	300
	21st to end	Day	7% 6% 23% 33% 27% 5%	300
December	1st to 10th	Day	8% 6% 21% 35% 26% 3	300
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 6% 19% 37% 27% 4	300
	21st to end	Day	13% 12% 24% 36% 13% 2	245
January	1st to 10th	Night	12% 4 14% 43% 22% 6%	800
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 3 19% 42% 24% 4	800
	21st to end	Night	12% 4 19% 40% 23% 3	880
February	1st to 10th	Night	11% 4 15% 39% 25% 6%	800
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 4 17% 40% 23% 6%	784
	21st to end	Night	10% 5% 20% 41% 21% 3	660
March	1st to 10th	Night	10% 6% 17% 44% 21% 3	800
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 5% 16% 39% 27% 6%	800
	21st to end	Night	8% 5% 17% 43% 23% 4	880
April	1st to 10th	Night	8% 4 15% 41% 29% 4	800
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 4 16% 41% 30% 3	791
	21st to end	Night	5% 6% 15% 38% 30% 7%	800
May	1st to 10th	Night	7% 2 15% 39% 32% 5%	768
	11th to 20th	Night	4 2 16% 38% 36% 4	591
	21st to end	Night	4 1 16% 40% 36% 4	650
June	1st to 10th	Night	3 2 11% 37% 42% 5%	525
	11th to 20th	Night	3 2 3 33% 54% 6%	400
	21st to end	Night	5% 3 27% 59% 7%	400
July	1st to 10th	Night	2 2 14% 71% 11%	390
	11th to 20th	Night	1 1 10% 71% 17%	396
	21st to end	Night	3 1 1 17% 60% 19%	854
August	1st to 10th	Night	4 1 21% 59% 15%	796
	11th to 20th	Night	4 1 16% 62% 18%	792
	21st to end	Night	2 1 1 19% 59% 18%	880
September	1st to 10th	Night	5% 1 3 23% 52% 16%	800
	11th to 20th	Night	4 1 3 30% 50% 12%	800
	21st to end	Night	2 1 6% 32% 49% 10%	800
October	1st to 10th	Night	4 1 7% 39% 42% 6%	772
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 2 9% 34% 40% 10%	760
	21st to end	Night	4 2 12% 34% 35% 13%	836
November	1st to 10th	Night	3 4 12% 38% 34% 10%	780
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 3 10% 39% 33% 10%	800
	21st to end	Night	7% 2 14% 42% 28% 7%	800
December	1st to 10th	Night	8% 4 16% 40% 26% 6%	800
	11th to 20th	Night	12% 5% 14% 42% 23% 4	800
	21st to end	Night	10% 5% 18% 43% 18% 5%	880

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