For observing Bali is not the place to be

[skysurfer]

Spending my holiday in Bali, brought my Televue Genesis, nice weather, friendly people, but since Feb 2 there was NO clear night at all. Only stars between the clouds. Two years ago I had a few clear nights. I did not expect much as this is a rather cloudy location but that is is that bad for observing I did not know.
While deploying my scope the sky gets clouded.
Earlier trips to Bali were a little better and other humid tropical environments which I traveled to like Fiji, Tahiti, Brazil. In all these places I got a few clear nights.
Of course arid environments like Chile, South Africa and Northern Territoty are MUCH better.

What are your experiences with observing in the tropics ?

[Rob_K]

It's a seasonal thing - still the Wet (monsoon) season up there so you won't get any skies really. I've been to lots of tropical Pacific islands over the years and have seen some astonishing skies, especially from remoter islands with no light pollution - but always in winter (or out of monsoon season anyway). Localised cloud build-up over land masses can be an issue though.

Cheers -

[allan gould]

I remember observing my first transit of Venus in Bali - a nice experience.
But forget it at night - transits that is :D

[Liz]

As Rob says, great in the Winter. This time of year is very dodgy indeed. :cloudy: