Seeing Forecast

[MarkS]

I've been following the experimental seeing forecast at http://www.meteoblue.com for 2 or 3 months now.  It is generally a good predictor.

The forecast for the seeing on Tuesday evening (12 Feb) is better than any I have previosuly seen.  It could potentially be a great night for high magnification planetary/moon viewing. 

To see(!) for yourself, go to the site and create your own login in "myMap Server".  When you enter that page select the "Astronomy Seeing" tab; select your location on the map and then hit the "make Map" button.

You want to see dark blues in the High/Mid/Low cloud forecast and greens in the seeing 1, Seeing 2 and Jet Stream rows.

[MarkS]

But transparency might be nil because of fog 

[Mac]

at least with the fog you can go out and play Jedi with those green laser pointers.

[Ian]

now Mac, you've not been browsing some smilie hosting websites have you?

Anyway, we wouldn't be anywhere near as juvenile as that.

BTW, what was the value of that resistor you mentioned for the dew heater? I need a laser-pointer warmer...

[Mac]

330ohm, 1/4 or 1/2 watt.

[Carole]

Ah, some-one else who's laser pointer doesn't work when it gets cold.

I was going to shove it in my underwear to keep it warm but was a bit worried about the laser if it got switched on, does it do any harm except to eyes, does any-one know?

Carole

[Ian]

so many comments, so little time...  

No, you won't be burning holes in your smalls with your laser pointer (unless it's a stupidly powerful one (200mW, most are less than 5mW) ).

I think I'll stick to trying to come up with an electric warmer myself.

[Mac]

Visiting smiley web sites.

Who me?

That would be silly

I dont have that much free time


Or maybe i do.

http://www.clicksmilies.com/

Loads of them.

[Ian]

thanks for that resistor value Mac. Btw, I'd recommend using 1/2 watt ones, a 1/4 watt will self destruct eventually...

[Tom C]

I've been following the experimental seeing forecast at http://www.meteoblue.com for 2 or 3 months now.  It is generally a good predictor.

The forecast for the seeing on Tuesday evening (12 Feb) is better than any I have previosuly seen.  It could potentially be a great night for high magnification planetary/moon viewing. 

To see(!) for yourself, go to the site and create your own login in "myMap Server".  When you enter that page select the "Astronomy Seeing" tab; select your location on the map and then hit the "make Map" button.

You want to see dark blues in the High/Mid/Low cloud forecast and greens in the seeing 1, Seeing 2 and Jet Stream rows.

Great link there Mark, cheers. Just what I have been looking for

[Fay]

Carole, don't warm your laser in too delicate a place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tony G]

All this with the laser, reminds me of a tune my Dad (I was to young to remember this) liked years ago by Debbie Boone 'You light up my......... ?'
As for the excellent seeing, I could see the mist rolling in and I could see that excellently and the heavy dew as well.

Oh yeah 'You light up my life' was the name of that tune.

Tony G

[MarkS]

Well, the forecast was certainly accurate - at least for the early part of the evening.  In spite of the bad transparency I saw my best ever moon through the C11 in the early evening.  A visual feast.  It deteriorated fast however before I could get onto Mars.  And then the fog rolled in ...

[MarkS]

The seeing forecast (www.meteoblue.com) for tonight and tomorrow (Tue/Wed 23 April) is very good - all three indicators are green.

Get out your high magnification planetary kit but don't blame me if it's wrong!

[Mike]

Where on there is this seeing map you are referring to ?

[Fay]

I will be out there tonight, Mark. An planning to try out the DMK with the 6" Mak. Cass. Last time I looked I could not get rid of enormous dust bunnies on the Barlow!!!! I will have to disguise them as craters!!

[MarkS]

At the top left is "myMap Server" - you need to register as a new user.

Once registered you can login.
A map will then be displayed - click on "Astronomy Seeing" just above the map.
Now click your mouse somewhere in Kent - a red cross will appear.
Now click "make Map" (near the top right)
A hour by hour table for the next few days will appear.

Go to the bottom of that page for an explanation of what it all means!

[Mike]

Thanks Mark - I've registered.

[MarkS]

www.meteoblue.com is currently predicting perfect seeing conditions for Sunday night (11 May).

But don't blame me if it's wrong!

[Mike]

Ooohh! Hopefully i'll get a chance to get out at last and do some imaging !!

[Rick]

...and what about the transparency? 

[mickw]

No - He's using digital not slide film 

[MarkS]

Another good seeing forecast for tonight (Monday 19 May) according to www.meteoblue.com

[MarkS]

Seeing forecast is excellent for tonight (Wed 4 June).  But I think I've forgotten how to use my scope after so many weeks of cloud ...

[MarkS]

Seeing should be very good tonight (Sun 12 Oct)

Mark

[MarkS]

www.meteoblue.com has just started to include a forecast of the seeing measured in arcseconds. (You need to create a free user account to get to the Astronomical Seeing forecast).

Mark

[Whitters]

Thanks Mark

[RobertM]

Thanks Mark, that'll be very useful.