Astronomy Weather Indicators and How To Use Them To Your Advantage

Astronomy weather is the atmospheric conditions that influence your chances of observing stars, planets and other celestial bodies. The atmosphere influences how long the Moon is visible, whether you will be able to see a meteor shower and the visibility of some planets. The Moon, for example, has a very small effect on the weather, but the Sun and planets have much larger effects. This is because the Sun is much warmer than the Earth and so has a greater warming power.

Stargazers have to deal with a range of different astronomy weather conditions, from cloud cover and darkness to wind speed and temperature. This article looks at a few key astronomy weather indicators and how to use them to your advantage.

One of the most important factors for observing is cloud cover. Having clear skies means you can see more of the Moon, stars and other objects. A good way to find out if the sky will be clear is by looking at the clear skies chart which predicts hourly cloud cover and air transparency (also known as seeing) for one location. The chart is updated every hour and is accurate to about 20km.

The chart shows the predicted cloud cover, based on the forecast from the UK Met Office. A solid blue block indicates a clear sky and a red block means it is cloudy. The chart also shows the wind speeds and direction and the barometric pressure. A high barometric pressure usually indicates clear weather and a low reading warns of unsettled conditions, clouds and stronger winds.

Another important factor is the Moon’s phase and position in its orbit. This determines how often it will be visible and the quality of the viewing. The next full Moon is in March, which means you will be able to see the planets as they move past it. Venus and Mars will be easy to spot, but Uranus will need good dark skies or a telescope to see.

If the Moon is a gibbous moon, it will appear yellowish in colour. This is because the Sun’s light will be reflected off of it. If the Moon is full and in direct alignment with Earth, it will appear a red colour because the Sun’s light will be refracted by the atmosphere of our planet.

The data for this study was collected through focus group discussions, experimental groups and key informant interviews with Borana Oromo pastoralists in southern Ethiopia. This was to identify indigenous astronomic seasonal weather forecasting knowledge and practices. The research found that the astronomical weather representative variables of future observable external physical features of the Moon were categorized in to three distinctive interrelated features; (1) the probable inclination/direction of the new Moon, (2) formation of the ring/cloud surrounding the moon and (3) its color patterns. The results show that the aforementioned indigenous weather forecasting techniques provide sufficient lapse time to enable community members make early preparedness decisions in advance of adverse events.