Dark Hours for 2010

Glenn Dawes · #1 03-01-2010, 12:20 AM

Hi guys,

I noticed recently in the threads some interest in Dark Hours, (the duration of astronomical darkness for any night). When we have been doing the yearbook we have always been open to improvements or additions. Admittedly this has been something we have discussed in the past but have put on the back burner thinking this may not be useful unless included for all capital cities. Perhaps a generic one might work, like our Rise/Set graphs.

Anyway, here's a draft example for Sydney (EST). I hope you like it. The reason why there are a number of days each month that are called New M (New Moon) is on these days the Moon is not in the sky between the end of evening twilight and beginning of dawn (so the dark hours is really the whole night). Likewise the Full M (Full Moon) are the days when the Moon is in the sky the whole time between the twilights (hence zero hours of dark time).

If anyone is interested it wouldn't take much to customize for your location (please make it the closest capital city for now).

Regards

Glenn

Rob_K · #2 03-01-2010, 12:34 AM

Good concept Glenn! Could be very handy for planning viewing.

Cheers -

erick (Eric) · #3 03-01-2010, 12:42 AM

That is interesting, thanks Glenn

Given you are offering, I suggest you post files for each of the capital cities before you get a big flurry of requests. Melbourne would interest me.

glenc (Glen) · #4 03-01-2010, 05:50 AM

This was made using SkyMapPro.
It gives dark times on Saturday for Townsville and the Australian capital cities in 2010. (TBSM on page1, DPAH on page2)
The columns are: Sunset, end of astronomical twilight, dark times allowing for moonrise/set, start of astronomical twilight and sunrise.
I used Saturday for planning weekends away.

multiweb (Marc) · #5 03-01-2010, 10:23 AM

Never really realised how few hours we actually have... and that's assuming 24/7 clear skies.

Now I'm depressed. That's it I'm selling my gear and taking up snail farming.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #6 03-01-2010, 11:15 AM

Marc, don't sell your gear, send it up to me, I'll look after it for you until you get your interest back.

Rob_K · #7 03-01-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Never really realised how few hours we actually have... and that's assuming 24/7 clear skies.

Now I'm depressed. That's it I'm selling my gear and taking up snail farming.

Yep Marc, take away cloudy nights, the nights you're too busy, too tired, sick, out-of-town etc or having equipment malfunctions, and the actual dark time available comes out at exactly 3 hours and 26 minutes per year....

Cheers -

Glenn Dawes · #8 03-01-2010, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

That is interesting, thanks Glenn

Given you are offering, I suggest you post files for each of the capital cities before you get a big flurry of requests. Melbourne would interest me.

Hi Erick,

Thanks for your and Rob's feedback. As requested, I've attached the Melb data. Would you find it more useful if the Dark hours column was replaced by the actual time dark ended, even if it was technically the next day (morning)?

Glenn

JethroB76 (Jeff) · #9 03-01-2010, 02:43 PM

Hi Glenn, one for Tasmania would be appreciated.
Many thanks.

RobF (Rob) · #10 03-01-2010, 08:24 PM

Don't do it Marc!
The nights can only get longer from here on....!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Never really realised how few hours we actually have... and that's assuming 24/7 clear skies.

Now I'm depressed. That's it I'm selling my gear and taking up snail farming.

Mighty_oz (Marcus) · #11 03-01-2010, 08:29 PM

You could always buy yourself a very large and expensive dew heater etc setup and pole hope 6mnths of the yr, 360+ days in dark skies

Never need those cool boxes either.

multiweb (Marc) · #12 03-01-2010, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty_oz

You could always buy yourself a very large and expensive dew heater etc setup and pole hope 6mnths of the yr, 360+ days in dark skies

Never need those cool boxes either.

Or win powerball and rent-a-scope with proper timing all around the globe. "image the rest of your life!"

jamespierce (James) · #13 03-01-2010, 08:49 PM

Really useful chart, we like to plan weekends away around dark nights and this is perfect for that.

erick (Eric) · #14 03-01-2010, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Dawes

Hi Erick,

Thanks for your and Rob's feedback. As requested, I've attached the Melb data. Would you find it more useful if the Dark hours column was replaced by the actual time dark ended, even if it was technically the next day (morning)?

Glenn

Many thanks for Melb data Glenn. I'm happy with the format.

pgc hunter · #15 03-01-2010, 10:36 PM

Interesting idea. Will be very useful.

Going to Renmark tomorrow (where skies are VERY dark)...looks like I'll have half an hour before moonrise

then up to 2 hours on me last night on thursday.

MOON FAIL

venus (Lydia) · #16 04-01-2010, 08:46 AM

Hi thanks for the info Glenn will be very usefull.

Lydia

Glenn Dawes · #17 04-01-2010, 11:32 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks to Ricky for pointing out an error in my tables. This has been corrected and I've also made a change. The last column now has the time the dark period ends (no longer the total dark hours).

Please find attached revised tables for Syd and Melb. Other capitals to follow.

Regards

Glenn

Glenn Dawes · #18 06-01-2010, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JethroB76

Hi Glenn, one for Tasmania would be appreciated.
Many thanks.

Hi JethroB76

Please see attached dark times for Hobart.

Regards

Glenn

h0ughy (David) · #19 06-01-2010, 11:12 PM

it would be most appreciated in the next publication - fantastic for all those imagers out there especially when planning a imaging weekend sometime in the future.

that_guy (Tony) · #20 06-01-2010, 11:47 PM

Is there a pdf file for South east queensland eg gold coast/brisbane area