Guides to reading the night sky forecast

A promising forecast still needs reading before you carry the rig outside. These guides explain what the weather numbers mean at the telescope, from thin cloud over a faint nebula to a clear spell that arrives after your target has gone behind the roof, and how to turn those hours into an imaging session.

What to look for in a clear sky forecast

Choose a forecast by checking whether it answers the questions that decide an imaging night.

What the cloud percentage means for astronomy

Read cloud cover by layer and direction to judge what may sit between your telescope and the target.

Seeing and transparency, and how to read them

Separate seeing from transparency to understand why steady stars and faint detail need different conditions.

Forecasts, observations and the night ahead

Compare forecasts with observations to decide what to check again before starting a run.

How the app picks a weather model for your area

Read how models are chosen to understand which cloud forecast supplies your night and what to check beside it.

How to plan an imaging session

Plan the session around the hours your target can use, then count capture overheads to work out how much light you can collect.