A Stargazer's Essential: The Astroweather Toolkit
Astroweather provides specialized weather forecasts tailored for astronomical observation. This valuable tool leverages data from 7timer.org, integrating astronomical weather predictions with precise sunset/sunrise and moonrise/moonset times.
The meteorological forecasts are primarily derived from the NOAA/NCEP Global Forecast System (GFS) numerical weather model.
7Timer!, the foundation of Astroweather, originated in July 2005 as a research project supported by the National Astronomical Observatories of China. Subsequently undergoing significant upgrades in 2008 and 2011, it now receives support from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Its creation stemmed from the founder's personal experience as an avid stargazer, frustrated by unpredictable weather impacting observations.
Astroweather offers a comprehensive suite of services, including:
- Predictions of astronomical events.
- Light pollution maps and satellite imagery.
- Rise and set times for stars, planets, moons, and satellites.
- An active astronomy forum for community engagement.
