Astronomical weather forecast

Got a question on astronomy that you'd wanted to ask? Ask your questions here and see if the old timers can give you some good answers.
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weixing
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Post by weixing »

Hi,
transparency is the "seeing"
Transparency is not the "seeing".

Seeing the steadiness of the atmosphere... stars will blink less if seeing is good.

Transparency is basically how clear the sky is... Can see dimer stars if seeing is good.

Anyway, that's why I wonder why cloud cover is clear while transparency is very poor... :?:

Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
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klutz
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Post by klutz »

Transparency is basically how clear the sky is... Can see dimer stars if seeing is good.
Actually, that is what I think too...

WX, you can actually contact the guy who manages that web... then ask him your question. I'm curious to know too.. hehe
You know dat children are growing up when they start asking questions that have answers...
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jermng
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Post by jermng »

Jeremy: What is Transparency?

CSK: The line, labeled Transparency, forecasts the transparency of the air. Here 'transparency' means just what astronomers mean by the word: the total transparency of the atmosphere from ground to space. It's calculated from the total amount of water vapor in the air. It is somewhat independant of the cloud cover forecast in that there can be isolated clouds in a transparent air mass, and poor transparency can occur when there is very little cloud.

Above average transparency is necessary for good observation of low contrast objects like galaxies and nebulae. However, open clusters and planetary nebulae are quite observable in below average transparency. Large globulars and planets can be observed in poor transparency.

A forecast color of white formally means that CMC didn't compute the transparency forecast because the cloud cover was over 30%. So it may be possible to observe during a white transparency forecast, but the real transparency is usually yucky. CMC's text page explaining this forecast is here.

Jeremy: What does seeing mean?

CSK: Seeing, forecasts astronomical seeing. (It's an experimental forecast.) Excellent seeing means at high magnification you will see fine detail on planets. In bad seeing, planets might look like they are under a layer of rippling water and show little detail at any magnification, but the view of galaxies is probably undiminished. Bad seeing is caused by turbulence combined with temperature differences in the atmosphere. This forecast attempts to predict turbulence and temperature differences that affect seeing for all altitudes.

Bad seeing can occur during perfectly clear weather. Often good seeing occurs during poor transparency. It's because seeing is not very related to the vater vapor content of the air.



OK. I proved myself wrong .. hee hee ... answered too fast. :) Got the above info from the CSK FAQ.
If you want more info, like what Klutz said, you can ask QuanZhi - the guy who made the 7tmer clock. He normally answers within a day. :)
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klutz
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Post by klutz »

If you want more info, like what Klutz said, you can ask QuanZhi - the guy who made the 7tmer clock. He normally answers within a day.
I think you're as efficient as him... hahaha :D

Thanks for checking,
Kat
You know dat children are growing up when they start asking questions that have answers...
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Canopus Lim
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Post by Canopus Lim »

I always have the impression that transparency is the amount of cloud cover and how transparent is the atmosphere because there isn't obstructions like clouds. Seeing is the effect of turbulance in the atmosphere causing the stars to ripple (blink). Anyway what ever it is, as long as all good means good skies. We can't control the weather anyway, all we can do is make full use of what we can see. :)
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Airconvent
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Post by Airconvent »

If this can be believed, next window of opportunity is 15 Feb 2300 hrs...
But the moon will be in the way.
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rlow
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Post by rlow »

Regarding transparency, I think there are other factors besides cloud cover, such as dust particles which cause skyglow in light-polluted skies above urban cities.
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weixing
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Post by weixing »

Hi,
After reading on various astronomical forecast website, the transparency on most astronomical weather forecast is on the moisture in the atmosphere, because "moisture is the only element affecting sky transparency which can be both measured and forecast".

By the way, I think I'll just ignore the transparency and use the cloud cover as a guide for my observation planing... hee hee :P :P

Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
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Jin Peng
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Post by Jin Peng »

hm....higher transparency means more moisture content in the air right? so what if a cold night with high transparency, would that means higher chance of dew forming? ^.- hm....
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jermng
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Post by jermng »

I'm not exactly sure how it's related to dew formation, but there's also the "Humidity" reading. You might wanna consider that too....
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