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Longest cloudy stretch ever?

Weather
3 replies•181 views
How many usable clear nights (out of 365) do you estimate that you have annually?
Multiple choice poll 39 votes
23% (9 votes)
33% (13 votes)
18% (7 votes)
13% (5 votes)
13% (5 votes)
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AstroRBA avatar
AstroRBA avatar
Here, in southern Ontario Canada, there have been about five clear nights since early November (that's five months running now!); the skies have been otherwise completely overcast or unusable (including a few clear nights below -15 C where equipment damage might occur) with scant moments of breakthrough.

I thought that a fun survey of the frustrating sky conditions that others have faced, or are facing now, might ease some collective pain !? Vent away ! (and please feel free to mention your lack of astro darkness during far north summers too!)
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CaptnCook avatar
CaptnCook avatar
Here in Sydney I have had one completely clear night since the end of 2024. The weather's been getting worse every year for the past 4 years: Ironically, since the ABC news made a big thing about the absence of clouds over the whole of Australia due to global warming (about the time of the last bush fires and regular 49 degree summers). Since then it's been pretty much cloud and rain with 30 degree days now promoted as heat waves. Sadly, even when it is 'clear' it rarely lasts longer than 2 hours before clouds pop up. I've actually now given up doing three NB filters and any target needing more than 8 hours is a non starter. I lost count how many times last year I set up just to get a single 5 minute sub. I think the hobby is no longer viable here to be honest.
Engaging
Jan Erik Vallestad avatar
Jan Erik Vallestad avatar
I've thought about this too although I don't think I should complain too much. After I got two imaging systems ready I've gotten a lot more from this season and I find that does help.

Being far north I don't get to image during the summer months, I'm still hanging in there by a thread but now in early April we only have up to 4-5 hours a night. Soon that will become 0 hours though. During autumn I struggle a lot with fog. Especially last year where every single clear night got obstructed by fog an hour or two after darkness. That really leaves me the winter months. I've had a few good days this spring however, but they have all come around, or close to, the full moon cycle. So I have a few images with like 70-95% moon which brings its own challenges. Especially on the filterless OSC system I am running.

So far I've had about 300 odd hours from August till this day in september on my mono system, which has been running continuously throughout the season, so it's been an average season when all things are considered I think. Those hours are split into about 7 images I believe whereas four has been finished in 2024 but those from 2025 so far has had a lot more integration, so it's not as evenly distributed if we look at the hours.
Frank Alvaro avatar
Frank Alvaro avatar
Here in Sydney I have had one completely clear night since the end of 2024. The weather's been getting worse every year for the past 4 years: Ironically, since the ABC news made a big thing about the absence of clouds over the whole of Australia due to global warming (about the time of the last bush fires and regular 49 degree summers). Since then it's been pretty much cloud and rain with 30 degree days now promoted as heat waves. Sadly, even when it is 'clear' it rarely lasts longer than 2 hours before clouds pop up. I've actually now given up doing three NB filters and any target needing more than 8 hours is a non starter. I lost count how many times last year I set up just to get a single 5 minute sub. I think the hobby is no longer viable here to be honest.

I'm also in Sydney (south west fringe) and I share your pain, although I'm not as pessimistic as you are about the longer term outlook.  The worst thing for me is forgetting my routine for setting up an imaging session after a few weeks of zero activity.
Well Written