7500 Foot Desert Observatory
Clear Sky Chart
History

This sumarizes the distribution of each different forecast outcome for the 7500 Foot Desert Observatory clear sky chart from 2005-11-06 to 2026-07-31.

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 3 1 4 3 4 5% 4 7% 9% 57%	146642
	Night	2 4 2 5% 3 4 4 4 6% 9% 57%	143905
Transparency	Day	13% 36% 7% 18% 18% 7%	141628
	Night	15% 36% 7% 18% 17% 6%	139928
Seeing	Day	6% 11% 24% 28% 22% 9%	17684
	Night	4 6% 28% 41% 18% 2	27714

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	3 2 6% 4 4 6% 5% 6% 8% 57%	4837
	11th to 20th	Day	2 1 5% 3 3 4 3 5% 8% 66%	5340
	21st to end	Day	1 3 3 6% 4 5% 5% 4 5% 8% 55%	5844
February	1st to 10th	Day	4 3 4 3 3 4 3 6% 10% 59%	1901
	11th to 20th	Day	1 3 1 4 4 3 4 4 7% 10% 59%	2049
	21st to end	Day	1 5% 2 4 3 3 4 3 5% 7% 64%	1730
March	1st to 10th	Day	1 3 2 3 3 3 4 3 6% 8% 65%	4726
	11th to 20th	Day	2 5% 2 7% 5% 5% 5% 4 6% 9% 48%	5110
	21st to end	Day	1 4 2 5% 3 4 5% 4 7% 9% 57%	5864
April	1st to 10th	Day	2 4 1 4 4 4 3 4 6% 8% 61%	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	2 4 1 4 2 4 4 4 6% 8% 60%	2491
	21st to end	Day	2 6% 1 4 3 3 4 3 5% 9% 60%	2520
May	1st to 10th	Day	3 5% 2 6% 4 4 4 4 6% 7% 55%	7057
	11th to 20th	Day	2 2 1 4 3 4 5% 4 7% 8% 60%	7823
	21st to end	Day	2 2 1 4 3 4 4 4 6% 8% 61%	9026
June	1st to 10th	Day	2 3 1 3 3 3 5% 5% 7% 9% 58%	2940
	11th to 20th	Day	1 2 1 3 2 3 4 3 6% 8% 68%	2940
	21st to end	Day	3 3 1 4 3 3 5% 5% 7% 9% 57%	2940
July	1st to 10th	Day	1 2 1 4 4 4 5% 4 6% 9% 61%	6479
	11th to 20th	Day	1 1 1 3 4 5% 7% 7% 10% 12% 47%	6321
	21st to end	Day	2 4 2 6% 5% 6% 7% 6% 9% 11% 41%	6532
August	1st to 10th	Day	2 2 1 4 4 6% 7% 7% 10% 11% 46%	5677
	11th to 20th	Day	2 2 1 4 4 5% 6% 6% 9% 11% 52%	5366
	21st to end	Day	3 4 2 5% 5% 5% 7% 6% 9% 12% 41%	5984
September	1st to 10th	Day	3 4 1 5% 4 5% 4 4 7% 9% 53%	2400
	11th to 20th	Day	3 3 1 5% 3 4 4 4 5% 9% 59%	2400
	21st to end	Day	2 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 5% 8% 67%	2186
October	1st to 10th	Day	2 2 2 2 1 2 3 5% 7% 73%	3270
	11th to 20th	Day	3 3 1 4 3 3 4 3 6% 8% 61%	3250
	21st to end	Day	2 2 1 3 2 3 2 3 4 6% 72%	3548
November	1st to 10th	Day	1 3 1 3 2 2 3 2 5% 7% 72%	1903
	11th to 20th	Day	1 2 1 3 2 3 3 3 6% 7% 71%	1890
	21st to end	Day	2 4 2 4 3 4 4 4 5% 7% 62%	1880
December	1st to 10th	Day	2 1 2 2 2 2 2 4 10% 71%	2700
	11th to 20th	Day	1 2 1 3 2 4 6% 6% 7% 9% 59%	3106
	21st to end	Day	3 2 5% 4 4 4 4 7% 11% 56%	4092
January	1st to 10th	Night	5% 3 7% 4 3 4 4 7% 9% 54%	8141
	11th to 20th	Night	1 2 1 4 3 3 4 3 4 10% 66%	7650
	21st to end	Night	1 5% 2 6% 4 4 4 4 6% 9% 55%	8370
February	1st to 10th	Night	1 4 2 6% 3 3 3 2 5% 9% 63%	2716
	11th to 20th	Night	1 5% 2 5% 3 3 3 3 6% 8% 60%	2458
	21st to end	Night	1 5% 2 4 2 3 3 3 5% 7% 65%	2076
March	1st to 10th	Night	1 5% 2 4 3 3 4 3 5% 6% 65%	5370
	11th to 20th	Night	3 8% 3 6% 4 4 3 3 6% 8% 53%	5110
	21st to end	Night	1 6% 3 6% 4 4 4 3 5% 6% 58%	5340
April	1st to 10th	Night	3 5% 2 4 3 2 3 3 5% 8% 63%	2100
	11th to 20th	Night	2 5% 2 4 3 3 4 4 6% 8% 59%	2077
	21st to end	Night	4 6% 2 5% 2 3 4 4 6% 7% 57%	2100
May	1st to 10th	Night	5% 6% 2 6% 4 4 5% 4 5% 7% 50%	5890
	11th to 20th	Night	3 3 1 4 3 4 4 4 6% 8% 58%	5035
	21st to end	Night	2 3 1 5% 4 4 5% 4 6% 8% 59%	5181
June	1st to 10th	Night	1 3 1 3 4 4 5% 4 8% 10% 58%	1680
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 3 3 3 3 3 6% 7% 70%	1680
	21st to end	Night	3 3 2 4 4 4 5% 5% 8% 9% 54%	1680
July	1st to 10th	Night	2 3 1 5% 5% 5% 6% 5% 8% 9% 50%	3720
	11th to 20th	Night	2 2 1 5% 4 6% 7% 7% 9% 13% 44%	3860
	21st to end	Night	4 5% 2 7% 6% 7% 8% 6% 10% 11% 35%	4562
August	1st to 10th	Night	4 4 2 7% 5% 6% 6% 6% 8% 10% 44%	4135
	11th to 20th	Night	2 3 1 4 5% 5% 7% 7% 12% 13% 41%	4483
	21st to end	Night	5% 5% 2 8% 6% 7% 7% 6% 10% 12% 32%	4993
September	1st to 10th	Night	5% 4 2 5% 4 4 5% 5% 7% 9% 51%	2000
	11th to 20th	Night	3 3 2 4 4 3 3 4 5% 9% 62%	2000
	21st to end	Night	4 3 1 3 3 2 3 3 4 7% 68%	2209
October	1st to 10th	Night	2 2 1 3 2 2 3 3 5% 6% 70%	3920
	11th to 20th	Night	3 3 1 4 3 3 4 4 5% 7% 63%	3898
	21st to end	Night	3 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 5% 5% 74%	4252
November	1st to 10th	Night	1 2 1 3 2 2 2 2 3 6% 75%	2595
	11th to 20th	Night	1 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 7% 74%	2730
	21st to end	Night	2 5% 2 4 3 3 2 3 6% 8% 65%	2735
December	1st to 10th	Night	1 3 2 4 2 2 2 2 7% 11% 65%	4710
	11th to 20th	Night	1 3 2 3 2 3 4 4 6% 8% 64%	5321
	21st to end	Night	1 4 2 5% 4 5% 5% 4 7% 10% 53%	7128

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	19% 23% 9% 29% 19% 2	4840
	11th to 20th	Day	11% 23% 9% 25% 27% 5%	5340
	21st to end	Day	18% 25% 5% 18% 27% 7%	5844
February	1st to 10th	Day	6% 59% 5% 14% 11% 5%	1901
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 59% 5% 13% 11% 4	2059
	21st to end	Day	8% 58% 2 10% 15% 6%	1730
March	1st to 10th	Day	9% 30% 3 11% 33% 14%	4726
	11th to 20th	Day	21% 32% 6% 17% 20% 5%	5110
	21st to end	Day	14% 30% 7% 36% 12% 2	5864
April	1st to 10th	Day	9% 59% 3 14% 11% 3	2520
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 60% 3 10% 14% 5%	2494
	21st to end	Day	9% 59% 4 14% 12% 3	2520
May	1st to 10th	Day	22% 24% 9% 20% 16% 9%	7057
	11th to 20th	Day	12% 26% 6% 15% 29% 13%	7827
	21st to end	Day	14% 24% 8% 17% 23% 15%	9027
June	1st to 10th	Day	8% 60% 5% 11% 10% 6%	2940
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 58% 3 10% 11% 12%	2940
	21st to end	Day	7% 58% 4 10% 11% 10%	2940
July	1st to 10th	Day	12% 27% 6% 12% 19% 24%	6411
	11th to 20th	Day	17% 28% 18% 24% 9% 4	6246
	21st to end	Day	22% 28% 14% 21% 11% 3	6348
August	1st to 10th	Day	20% 40% 18% 14% 6% 3	4128
	11th to 20th	Day	14% 38% 14% 14% 13% 6%	3882
	21st to end	Day	22% 40% 14% 14% 9% 2	4311
September	1st to 10th	Day	10% 58% 6% 12% 9% 5%	2400
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 57% 5% 11% 12% 6%	2400
	21st to end	Day	8% 57% 3 11% 15% 6%	2186
October	1st to 10th	Day	5% 35% 2 13% 30% 16%	3270
	11th to 20th	Day	15% 38% 6% 20% 16% 5%	3250
	21st to end	Day	9% 36% 3 17% 27% 9%	3548
November	1st to 10th	Day	7% 53% 2 14% 19% 5%	1903
	11th to 20th	Day	7% 54% 4 16% 16% 3	1890
	21st to end	Day	11% 54% 5% 13% 14% 3	1880
December	1st to 10th	Day	7% 34% 4 30% 22% 4	2700
	11th to 20th	Day	9% 31% 7% 33% 17% 2	3104
	21st to end	Day	13% 27% 7% 23% 26% 4	4092
January	1st to 10th	Night	22% 21% 7% 31% 16% 3	8142
	11th to 20th	Night	10% 24% 10% 25% 22% 9%	7650
	21st to end	Night	16% 25% 7% 21% 25% 6%	8370
February	1st to 10th	Night	7% 59% 5% 14% 12% 4	2716
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 59% 6% 13% 11% 3	2458
	21st to end	Night	8% 59% 2 10% 16% 5%	2076
March	1st to 10th	Night	14% 29% 2 9% 34% 11%	5370
	11th to 20th	Night	18% 32% 6% 16% 23% 5%	5110
	21st to end	Night	18% 30% 6% 33% 11% 3	5340
April	1st to 10th	Night	10% 59% 4 14% 10% 3	2100
	11th to 20th	Night	9% 60% 3 11% 12% 5%	2077
	21st to end	Night	12% 60% 4 12% 10% 2	2100
May	1st to 10th	Night	27% 24% 9% 21% 12% 7%	5888
	11th to 20th	Night	13% 27% 7% 18% 23% 13%	5036
	21st to end	Night	17% 25% 11% 12% 20% 15%	5182
June	1st to 10th	Night	9% 60% 7% 9% 8% 7%	1680
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 59% 5% 8% 11% 12%	1680
	21st to end	Night	10% 58% 5% 8% 9% 11%	1680
July	1st to 10th	Night	18% 29% 9% 13% 12% 19%	3680
	11th to 20th	Night	22% 29% 24% 17% 4 4	3812
	21st to end	Night	30% 28% 15% 13% 11% 2	4434
August	1st to 10th	Night	32% 39% 13% 8% 5% 2	3008
	11th to 20th	Night	18% 41% 16% 9% 9% 6%	3243
	21st to end	Night	26% 40% 14% 13% 7% 1	3597
September	1st to 10th	Night	12% 57% 6% 12% 8% 5%	2000
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 58% 5% 9% 13% 7%	2000
	21st to end	Night	10% 57% 3 9% 16% 6%	2209
October	1st to 10th	Night	9% 36% 3 16% 24% 13%	3920
	11th to 20th	Night	17% 36% 7% 17% 18% 5%	3898
	21st to end	Night	9% 36% 2 20% 27% 7%	4252
November	1st to 10th	Night	6% 53% 3 13% 21% 5%	2595
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 55% 2 17% 17% 4	2730
	21st to end	Night	9% 55% 5% 14% 13% 3	2735
December	1st to 10th	Night	9% 36% 4 34% 16% 1	4710
	11th to 20th	Night	8% 31% 6% 26% 26% 2	5322
	21st to end	Night	16% 27% 9% 22% 24% 2	7128

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	4 14% 25% 39% 15% 3	330
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 10% 25% 40% 16% 4	330
	21st to end	Day	2 9% 22% 45% 17% 6%	363
February	1st to 10th	Day	2 19% 31% 30% 14% 4	330
	11th to 20th	Day	8% 17% 36% 30% 9% 1	330
	21st to end	Day	15% 17% 24% 32% 10% 2	273
March	1st to 10th	Day	10% 17% 33% 24% 13% 3	378
	11th to 20th	Day	10% 19% 30% 24% 13% 4	540
	21st to end	Day	11% 25% 34% 19% 8% 2	594
April	1st to 10th	Day	10% 20% 35% 20% 12% 3	540
	11th to 20th	Day	13% 24% 36% 16% 9% 2	532
	21st to end	Day	10% 23% 37% 19% 10% 2	540
May	1st to 10th	Day	9% 19% 34% 20% 13% 4	543
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 12% 30% 27% 20% 6%	733
	21st to end	Day	7% 13% 25% 31% 18% 6%	844
June	1st to 10th	Day	3 7% 21% 33% 28% 8%	780
	11th to 20th	Day	2 7% 28% 33% 21% 9%	780
	21st to end	Day	4 5% 25% 29% 27% 10%	780
July	1st to 10th	Day	4 3 15% 28% 36% 15%	771
	11th to 20th	Day	4 2 7% 24% 39% 24%	700
	21st to end	Day	5% 2 8% 24% 33% 27%	616
August	1st to 10th	Day	4 3 13% 29% 32% 19%	527
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 2 12% 30% 32% 18%	517
	21st to end	Day	5% 3 13% 32% 27% 20%	583
September	1st to 10th	Day	5% 4 19% 24% 29% 20%	530
	11th to 20th	Day	4 5% 25% 31% 26% 10%	530
	21st to end	Day	3 8% 16% 25% 31% 17%	334
October	1st to 10th	Day	5% 11% 22% 19% 25% 18%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	6% 12% 25% 24% 23% 10%	330
	21st to end	Day	9% 11% 22% 25% 24% 9%	363
November	1st to 10th	Day	5% 13% 28% 26% 23% 5%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	3 10% 22% 33% 26% 5%	330
	21st to end	Day	5% 14% 25% 30% 20% 7%	330
December	1st to 10th	Day	6% 11% 24% 39% 15% 7%	330
	11th to 20th	Day	5% 12% 20% 43% 16% 4	330
	21st to end	Day	9% 16% 26% 35% 11% 2	363
January	1st to 10th	Night	2 7% 31% 44% 14% 1	1029
	11th to 20th	Night	4 6% 29% 47% 13% 1	840
	21st to end	Night	2 6% 28% 50% 12% 1	924
February	1st to 10th	Night	3 5% 41% 43% 8% 1	840
	11th to 20th	Night	4 8% 44% 38% 7%	824
	21st to end	Night	7% 8% 41% 39% 5%	692
March	1st to 10th	Night	4 8% 40% 39% 8% 1	840
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 6% 33% 43% 12%	840
	21st to end	Night	4 10% 40% 37% 9%	809
April	1st to 10th	Night	7% 10% 43% 35% 5%	630
	11th to 20th	Night	5% 12% 39% 35% 8%	623
	21st to end	Night	9% 7% 40% 37% 8%	630
May	1st to 10th	Night	6% 8% 33% 40% 12%	630
	11th to 20th	Night	7% 5% 27% 43% 17% 1	621
	21st to end	Night	5% 7% 31% 40% 16% 1	683
June	1st to 10th	Night	3 3 23% 46% 24% 1	630
	11th to 20th	Night	2 3 28% 49% 17%	630
	21st to end	Night	3 4 20% 43% 30% 1	630
July	1st to 10th	Night	5% 3 12% 41% 36% 3	615
	11th to 20th	Night	4 2 7% 33% 50% 5%	612
	21st to end	Night	5% 3 5% 29% 50% 9%	687
August	1st to 10th	Night	7% 2 5% 35% 43% 8%	597
	11th to 20th	Night	6% 3 7% 42% 38% 4	594
	21st to end	Night	5% 3 7% 41% 40% 5%	660
September	1st to 10th	Night	7% 2 11% 43% 34% 3	600
	11th to 20th	Night	4 2 17% 48% 28% 3	600
	21st to end	Night	4 4 20% 45% 24% 2	614
October	1st to 10th	Night	3 6% 27% 41% 21% 3	800
	11th to 20th	Night	4 3 30% 40% 21% 2	800
	21st to end	Night	6% 5% 25% 43% 19% 3	880
November	1st to 10th	Night	4 6% 30% 43% 17% 1	955
	11th to 20th	Night	2 7% 30% 44% 16% 1	1050
	21st to end	Night	5% 8% 30% 41% 14% 1	1050
December	1st to 10th	Night	3 8% 33% 43% 11% 1	1050
	11th to 20th	Night	4 8% 33% 42% 12%	1050
	21st to end	Night	4 12% 34% 42% 8% 1	1155

Page generated at 2026-07-28 01:25:25. Version ac07

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