Seeing today’s thick clouds spanning the vast distances separating CMAS’s astronomers as they prepare for tonight’s Workday and star party, we hear ya thinkin’… “What hath those fools running our club wrought, proposing we meet tonight?! Can’t they see the clouds everywhere, and feel the light rain on their shoulders?”
Yup! We can. But, all the forecasts are converging toward banishing most of the clouds in the mid- to late-afternoon. Astronomical seeing and transparency are expected to become good enough as darkness falls. There may be periods of lousy transparency and even a few clouds to dodge; but, Ye of Little Faith, take heart! CMAS anticipates, overall, a good evening for Workday, followed by a good enough night for astronomy. Conditions may not be perfect, but should be well worth the trip, a classic example of clear skies emerging after a storm.
It’s rare for the forecasts to change between early afternoon, when this was written, and nighttime. If they do, well; we were wrong. Those of you driving from several hours away may want to exercise extra caution. But, all looks well for Workday to begin at 5:30pm, with observing to begin afterward, at nightfall.
