A possible clear night for Sydney tonight

[sydneystargazer]

I have just updated the Clear Sky chart for Sydney for the first night of 2010 and it looks like after all the cloud cover that Sydney has had over the past month, it looks like we might be in for some clear skies tonight.

I am a little concerned about the clouds in the area so the forecast model could change depending on wind speed and direction..... but fingers crossed that Sydney skies remain clear for tonight.

I noticed that both SkippySky and 7Timer! are down at the moment. I suspect that their scripts have not been updated to look at the new year of 2010. I imagine the owners of both sites are looking at those issues with priority.

If anyone needs to look at sky conditions for Sydney tonight, you can view Sydney Star Gazers for the conditions for tonight. I also have the cloud map for tonight posted which covers much of the east coast of Australia.

http://sydneystargazers.wordpress.com/

By the way, thanks to Ice In Space for providing a link to my site. :)

[Rodstar]

Yay, we will just need to place a large obstruction to blot out the moon!

[sydneystargazer]

As it is a new year I have now added a 5 night forecast to Sydney Star Gazers which will hopefully be of some help in planning observing nights. The forecast will give a cloud map for 8pm Sydney time for the next 5 nights and will be updated on a daily basis.

With all the cloud we have had in Sydney over the last few months I found it was impossible to plan ahead. Which is why I have created this site.

This will show the cloud formations over much of the eastern coast of Australia so it should help people outside of the Sydney area.

Hope it is of help to people.

[telecasterguru]

Roy,

Thanks for the information on the cloud situation. I think your site is fabulous. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that I can get one narrowband session done before I am back at work on Monday.

Frank

[Allan_L]

Very Excellent!
Thanks Roy. :thumbsup:

[sydneystargazer]

Frank

I have my fingers crossed as well...... I purchased a light pollution filter 3 weeks ago and I have not been able to try it out as yet.

Hopefully tonight if that cloud around us stays away.

[sydneystargazer]

I just updated tonight's cloud forecast for Sydney on my site. Still looking good for observing tonight up to 2am in the morning but I am still concerned about cloud in the area.

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks for the update. Moon or not if its clear I will be imaging! Out comes the 12nm Ha filter!

[sydneystargazer]

I hate to be the bringer of bad tidings, but the forecast has now changed. The partly cloudy conditions for tonight have all but disappeared and Sydney will have overcast conditions tonight.

Have updated the chart and maps with the bad news.
:(

[sydneystargazer]

I just generated a cloud map for Sydney tonight and there has been another change in the clouds around Sydney. It appears we may have a good chance after all of observing at some stage tonight and clouds appear to be breaking up in the Wollongong area.

Keep an eye on the skies tonight as we may indeed get to do some observing after all.... though it may be with partial clouds in the sky.

http://sydneystargazers.files.wordpress.co m/2010/01/cloudmap-01012010.jpg

[Wavytone]

Must be joking... it's a solid cloud deck over the north shore.
I was hoping to fly too (paraglider) but the whole break has been a waste of time.

[sydneystargazer]

Unfortunately we have had a change in wind direction . Originally the clouds were heading north-west..... now they are heading directly south....blowing the clouds that were north of us back over Sydney.

Earlier tonight there was definite patches opening up....but these didn't go far.

[Wavytone]

Now it IS clear here, though all I can usefully observe from home is the moon.
Enjoyed 2 lovely hours flying at Collaroy floating above the park, between thunderstorms.

[mithrandir]

We went to see "Sherlock Holmes" at Gold Class - 10:15.
Thunderstorms were expected to be along after 2pm, so we planned to be home before then because the dog is scared of thunder and fireworks (which various *expletive deleted* neighbors have been letting off most nights since xmas eve).
Came out of the cinema around 12:30, car park was wet. Got home, dog was terrified. We had not heard a thing.

And I missed out on testing my lightning trigger.

It's more or less clear here now, but not clear enough to bother setting up.

[RobF]

Hi Roy
Can I ask what the SSG modelling is based on? You seem to have a great success rate. BOM Access rather than NOAA perhaps? I ask because I like to triangulate input from as many sources as I can when the weather is as dodgey as we've had here in SEQ for 12 months :(