Astropheric (www.astrospheric.com) is a website and app that provides detailed weather forecasts specifically tailored for astronomers and astrophotographers in North America. It gathers and presents various types of astronomy-related information to help users plan their observing sessions.

Here's a breakdown of the astronomy information you can gather on Astropheric:

• Cloud Cover Forecasts: Astropheric provides hourly forecasts of cloud cover, which is crucial for determining if the sky will be clear enough for observing. It often includes ensemble cloud forecasts, allowing you to compare different weather models.
• Sky Transparency: This indicates how clear the sky is, which affects the visibility of faint objects. Astropheric is unique in integrating smoke forecasts into its transparency reports, which is particularly important during wildfire seasons. It also uses Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) data to forecast pollutants that can reduce transparency.
• Seeing Conditions: "Seeing" refers to the stability of the atmosphere. Poor seeing causes stars to twinkle more and blurs the details when viewing through a telescope. Astropheric provides forecasts of seeing conditions, often updated hourly. It also includes a Jetstream data layer, as the jet stream can impact seeing.
• Darkness/Sky Brightness: While not explicitly listed as a separate feature in some descriptions, clear skies are generally dark skies away from light pollution. Astropheric's focus on cloud cover and transparency inherently helps users find darker locations.
• Wind: Wind can affect the stability of telescopes, especially for astrophotography. Astropheric provides wind speed and direction forecasts.
• Temperature and Humidity: These factors can affect observer comfort and the performance of equipment (e.g., dew formation). Astropheric includes temperature and humidity forecasts.
• Kp-index: This index measures geomagnetic activity, which is important for aurora viewing. Astropheric provides the Kp-index forecast and can send alerts when conditions are favorable for seeing the aurora (Astropheric Pro feature).
• International Space Station (ISS) Flyover Times and Paths: For those interested in observing satellites, Astropheric provides information on when and where the ISS will be visible.
• Sun and Moon Rise/Set Times: Knowing these times is essential for planning observing sessions around twilight and moonlight.
• Weather Alerts: Astropheric Pro offers customizable weather alerts that notify users when specific conditions meeting their requirements (e.g., clear skies) are predicted.
• Solar and Lunar Eclipse Data: Astropheric provides details about upcoming solar and lunar eclipses.
• Map Overlays: Astropheric features map overlays that allow users to visualize cloud cover, seeing, transparency, smoke, and jet stream patterns over a wider area. This helps in finding optimal observing locations and understanding regional atmospheric trends.

In summary, Astropheric is a comprehensive weather resource tailored for the needs of astronomers, providing detailed information about atmospheric conditions that can significantly impact observing quality.