clearsky clock

I'd be interested in people's experience with the clearsky
clock and if there are other alternatives people use in determining
observing conditions.

(I also look at accuweather and weather.com)

Also, does anyone know how frequently the clocks get updated? I
looked for a FAQ on the clearsky site, but must have missed it if
it was there)

Thanks,
Esmail

I'd be interested in people's experience with the clearsky
clock and if there are other alternatives people use in determining
observing conditions.

Your mileage may vary depending on the clock. As with any weather
prediction, some interpretation is needed.

That being said, I've had very good luck with the CSCs and continue to
send periodic support to keep them going. Even in my observing areas,
both of which are right on the border between microclimate zones, the
CSC does a very good job.



Also, does anyone know how frequently the clocks get updated? I
looked for a FAQ on the clearsky site, but must have missed it if
it was there)

That depends entirely on sponsorship and how much they are used.
Attila gives some priority to clocks near the people that are generous
enough to support his effort. The other clocks are updated in order
of how often they are used. You can see the update rank on each clock
at the bottom in the fine print.

My experience, admittedly with clocks that are always in the top 100
or so for update rank, is that they get updated 2-3 times a day.

Clear, Dark Skies

Mark

"Esmail Bonakdarian" wrote in message
news:aobJe.2668$z%.176@trnddc02...
I'd be interested in people's experience with the clearsky
clock and if there are other alternatives people use in determining
observing conditions.

(I also look at accuweather and weather.com)

Also, does anyone know how frequently the clocks get updated? I
looked for a FAQ on the clearsky site, but must have missed it if
it was there)

Thanks,
Esmail

It's quite accurate but not perfect. Use water vapor loops along with it to
verify
forcasts.

On Sat, 06 Aug 2005 23:06:46 GMT, Esmail Bonakdarian
wrote:

I'd be interested in people's experience with the clearsky
clock and if there are other alternatives people use in determining
observing conditions.

(I also look at accuweather and weather.com)

Also, does anyone know how frequently the clocks get updated? I
looked for a FAQ on the clearsky site, but must have missed it if
it was there)

Thanks,
Esmail

The CSC is my main source for planning. and have found . I also have a
cloud sensor at my observatories location, which I use to graph the clouds
over my location. I can tell you the correlation between the CSC and the
cloud sensor are quite good.

My clock is sponsored so the update frequency is also very good.
I also take a look at radar and satellite maps (water vapor, etc) to see
what is coming my way.
-JATO
http://jatobservatory.org

Also, does anyone know how frequently the clocks get updated?


I believe all clocks are updated twice a day. However=20
clocks that get used more and clocks that have sponsors=20
get updated earlier in each update cycle.

-Florian

"Esmail Bonakdarian" wrote in message
news:aobJe.2668$z%.176@trnddc02...
I'd be interested in people's experience with the clearsky
clock and if there are other alternatives people use in determining
observing conditions.

(I also look at accuweather and weather.com)

Also, does anyone know how frequently the clocks get updated? I
looked for a FAQ on the clearsky site, but must have missed it if
it was there)

Thanks,
Esmail

It's one of the first things I look at when I'm getting ready to observe. I
find the accuracy pretty good, but I often supplement with current satellite
and jetstream data. I do this because the CSC doesn't make any distinction
between the type of seeing my location may have (i.e. "fast" or "slow"
seeing). If seeing is average, but slow, this is still quite good for
planetary observations. However, if average and fast, then no good for
planets. All I do are planetary observations/ imaging so I can't comment on
the relation to DSOs.

Dan

On Sat, 06 Aug 2005 23:06:46 GMT, Esmail Bonakdarian
wrote:

I'd be interested in people's experience with the clearsky
clock and if there are other alternatives people use in determining
observing conditions.

For my location, the cloud cover, transparency, and wind predictions are
very reliable. The seeing prediction is marginal. The humidity is almost
never even close.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

I find that the READY site, http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/cmet.html
correlates well with the observed condition at our site on Mt Graham Az.

In our case I set the meteogram to plot surface cloud cover
and precipitation, and wind, temp and RH at the 700 millibar level as
we are at 10,500ft. I use the NAM 40 Km model most of the time and find
it correlates better than most. With this site you can enter your
Lat,Long and altitude and depending on the model, plot all sorts of
variables, create vertical profiles or maps.

Seeing is the tough one. From what we measure with our scidar, an
instruments that measures the profile of optically significant
turbulence as well as the velocity, it seems that most of the seeing is
in the first few thousand feet if not at the ground layer and in the dome.

For us seeing is a function of wind direction and velocity at the ground
layer for example a north wind with a velocity less than 10 Mph usually
produces the worst seeing and SSW at 5 to 15 mph produces the best.

One Item of interest is that the seeing layers correlate to the altitude
that mountain waves form which can be computed from radiosonde
profiles by software such as RAOB. We are still testing this and only
say that their seems to be a correlation.

clear, dark, and steady

Dan




Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Sat, 06 Aug 2005 23:06:46 GMT, Esmail Bonakdarian
wrote:


I'd be interested in people's experience with the clearsky
clock and if there are other alternatives people use in determining
observing conditions.


For my location, the cloud cover, transparency, and wind predictions are
very reliable. The seeing prediction is marginal. The humidity is almost
never even close.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

"Esmail Bonakdarian" wrote in message
news:aobJe.2668$z%.176@trnddc02...
I'd be interested in people's experience with the clearsky
clock and if there are other alternatives people use in determining
observing conditions.

(I also look at accuweather and weather.com)

Also, does anyone know how frequently the clocks get updated? I
looked for a FAQ on the clearsky site, but must have missed it if
it was there)

Thanks,
Esmail


Thank Canada for the Clocks

LAH wrote:

Thank Canada for the Clocks

I thank Attilla Danko, the above posters, and quite willingly
the Canadian weather service ;-)

Cheers,
Esmail