Faith in the Clear Sky Clock?

How much faith do you put into the sky clock or transparency forecasts?

http://www.cmc.ec.gc.ca/cmc/htmls/transparence_e.html

http://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/

about 65% accurate.

For a prediction, that's not too bad.

F Marion

How much faith do you put into the sky clock or transparency forecasts?


It's one tool of several I use to decide if the drive to one of my dark sites
is worth the trip. The resource I most rely on is the RAMSDIS online satellite
imagery: http://www.cira.colostate.edu/RAMM/Rmsdsol/main.html

Regards,

Bill Ferris
"Cosmic Voyage: The Online Resource for Amateur Astronomers"
URL: http://www.cosmic-voyage.net
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Email: Remove "ic" from .comic above to respond

"Mick" wrote in message news:sQjQc.29428$T_6.9584@edtnps89...
How much faith do you put into the sky clock or transparency forecasts?

http://www.cmc.ec.gc.ca/cmc/htmls/transparence_e.html

http://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/

It's the best and most specific forecast available. It uses the
Canadian weather model. The transparency forecast is generally the
least dependable, but while it isn't always right on, it generally is
valid, give or take a few hours for most locations.

The seeing forecast is reasonably accurate, as is the cloudiness
forecast.

It has become an indispensible tool. But I always cross-check with
weather underground and often accuweather also.

Clear skies,
Shneor Sherman

"Mick" wrote in message
news:sQjQc.29428$T_6.9584@edtnps89...
How much faith do you put into the sky clock or transparency forecasts?

http://www.cmc.ec.gc.ca/cmc/htmls/transparence_e.html

http://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/


It's pretty good, but I wouldn't recommend using as a standalone- combine
its predictions with the local radar/ satellite and weather forecast.

W.F.

On Thu, 05 Aug 2004 05:46:00 GMT, "Mick" wrote:

How much faith do you put into the sky clock or transparency forecasts?

For my location, the forecast is very accurate. I can probably count on its
transparency and cloud predictions 95% of the time. The seeing prediction seems
pretty uncorrelated with reality, however. But here in the mountains, a lot of
seeing is locally generated, so that might be the problem.

_________________________________________________

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

On Thu, 05 Aug 2004 05:46:00 GMT, "Mick"
stepped up to the plate and batted:

How much faith do you put into the sky clock or transparency forecasts?

http://www.cmc.ec.gc.ca/cmc/htmls/transparence_e.html

http://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/


It is a very accurate tool as far as cloud cover forecasts. Make sure
to check in the afternoon for a more accurate prediction of cloud
cover as the clocks are updated twice daily, one in the morning and
one in the afternoon.

The seeing and transparency forecasts are a bit less accurate (50% or
thereabouts) in my experience.

Use it with other weather forecast services, take the humidity level
into account and you have a very useful tool for planning observing
sessions.

G../0