SHON - Visual observations

Notes on observing conditions


The state of weather during observations was recorded on most nights. 
The records concern especially the presence of clouds, haze and other 
phenomena that influence observations of variable stars. In the years 
1992-1996 there were altogether 149 nights for which notes on observing 
conditions are available. From May 1, 1993, to August 23, 1993, 
the state of weather was not recorded. The time values given below are 
expressed in Central European Time or Central European Summer Time 
(CET = UT plus 1 hour, CEST = UT plus 2 hours). 


1992

October 18-19     in the first part of the night clear sky, then small 
     clouds, after midnight clear sky

November 7-8     in the first part of the night clear sky with some haze, 
     then always overcast

November 27-28     in the first part of the night clear sky, then clear sky 
     with some haze, after midnight overcast

December 23-24     in the first part of the night overcast, then clear sky, 
     good observing conditions

December 28-29     in the first part of the night clear sky, then almost 
     overcast, observation impossible


1993

January 1-2     clear sky with little haze

January 3-4     clear sky with some haze, fainter comparison stars 
     in RZ Cas are not visible

January 16-17     at the beginning of the night overcast, only later 
     clear sky

January 17-18     clear sky, later haze, continuation of observations 
     is impossible

March 12-13     in the first part of the night clear sky with little haze, 
     for a while large cloudiness, after midnight increasing haze

March 13-14     clear sky with some haze, fainter comparison stars 
     in RZ Cas are not visible

March 19-20     clear sky, good observing conditions

April 23-24     at the beginning of the night small clouds, then always 
     clear sky with little haze

April 24-25     clear sky with little haze

April 30 - May 1     clear sky with little haze


1994

May 7-8     clear sky, good observing conditions

May 8-9     clear sky, good observing conditions

May 11-12     variable cloudiness, alternately small and large clouds

May 13-14     clear sky with some haze

July 2-3     clear sky, good observing conditions

July 3-4     clear sky, good observing conditions

July 5-6     in the first part of the night clear sky with some haze, 
     at midnight about one hour overcast, then half-cloudy, later clear sky 
     with some haze

July 9-10     in the first part of the night alternately large and 
     small clouds, later between clear sky and small cloudiness

July 11-12     in the first part of the night clear sky with little haze, 
     then between large cloudiness and overcast, later clear sky 
     with little haze

July 13-14     in the first part of the night alternately clear sky, 
     small and large cloudiness, later clear sky with little haze, 
     occasionally small clouds

July 14-15     during the night in succession overcast, large cloudiness, 
     half-cloudy, small cloudiness

July 16-17     in the first part of the night overcast, then clear sky 
     with some haze, later overcast

July 24-25     during the night in succession large cloudiness, 
     half-cloudy, small cloudiness, clear sky with little haze

July 25-26     during the whole night between half-cloudy and large 
     cloudiness

July 28-29     at the beginning of the night clear sky, then always 
     half-cloudy

July 29-30     in the first part of the night clear sky with little haze, 
     then half-cloudy, before the dawn clear sky

July 30-31     in the first part of the night clear sky with some haze, 
     later clear sky with little haze

July 31 - August 1     clear sky with little haze, good observing conditions

August 2-3     clear sky with some haze, later for a while small clouds

August 3-4     in the first part of the night half-cloudy, then clear sky 
     with some haze, later clear sky with little haze

August 4-5     clear sky, good observing conditions

August 9-10     clear sky with some haze

August 11-12     in the first part of the night variable cloudiness, 
     alternately large and small clouds, in areas without clouds good 
     visibility, then always between large cloudiness and overcast

August 12-13     in the first part of the night small clouds, then 
     in succession half-cloudy and large cloudiness, already before 
     midnight overcast, then always overcast

August 14-15     overcast, only from 1 hour 45 minutes 
     to 3 hours 15 minutes CEST clear sky with little haze

August 15-16     clear sky with some haze

August 16-17     in the first part of the night clear sky with little haze, 
     occasionally small clouds, then clear sky with some haze

August 22-23     in the first part of the night clear sky with little haze, 
     for a while small clouds, then always variable cloudiness, alternately 
     small and large clouds

August 24-25     in the first part of the night clear sky with little haze, 
     then in succession small cloudiness, half-cloudy and large cloudiness, 
     already before midnight almost overcast, observation impossible

August 26-27     in the first part of the night clear sky with some haze, 
     then alternately small and large clouds, later almost overcast

August 27-28     during the night between half-cloudy and large cloudiness, 
     clouds impair observations, later for a while small cloudiness

August 29-30     during the night in succession small cloudiness, fine 
     clouds impair observations, large cloudiness to overcast, clear sky 
     with little haze, large cloudiness, clear sky with little haze

September 3-4     clear sky with some haze, at least at the beginning 
     of the night the haze strongly impairs observations

September 4-5     in the first part of the night large cloudiness, then 
     between small cloudiness and clear sky with little haze, then 
     almost overcast, later for a while small cloudiness

September 9-10     during the night variable cloudiness, alternately 
     clear sky with little haze, small clouds, half-cloudy, for a while 
     large cloudiness

September 16-17     clear sky with some haze, moonlight impairs 
     observations, later large clouds

September 19-20     in the first part of the night large cloudiness, 
     then clear sky with some haze, moonlight impairs observations, 
     later thick haze, no stars are visible

September 22-23     clear sky with little haze, moonlight impairs 
     observations

September 23-24     clear sky with little haze, later overcast

September 24-25     clear sky with some haze, later (between 3 o'clock and 
     4 o'clock CET) for a while between large cloudiness and overcast

September 27-28     in the first part of the night clear sky with little 
     haze, then clear sky with some haze, then always variable cloudiness, 
     alternately clear sky with some haze and between large cloudiness 
     and overcast

September 28-29     in the first part of the night clear sky with some 
     haze, then between large cloudiness and overcast, then for a while 
     clear sky with some haze, later overcast

September 29-30     clear sky with some haze, later (after 4 o'clock CET) 
     between half-cloudy and large cloudiness

September 30 - October 1     in the first part of the night small clouds 
     and some haze, but soon it became overcast, then always overcast

October 2-3     clear sky with some haze, great humidity (bedewed 
     object-lens), later overcast (thick haze)

October 4-5     during the night in succession between large cloudiness 
     and overcast, small cloudiness, clear sky, good observing conditions, 
     half-cloudy, between small cloudiness and clear sky, good observing 
     conditions

October 5-6     in the first part of the night between large cloudiness 
     and overcast, for a while small clouds, only after one o'clock CET 
     between small cloudiness and clear sky, good observing conditions

October 6-7     clear sky with little haze, higher above the horizon 
     good observing conditions, later overcast (thick haze)

October 8-9     clear sky with some haze, later thick haze, only 
     sporadically stars shine through

October 10-11     clear sky with some haze, after one o'clock CET overcast 
     (thick haze)

October 13-14     clear sky with little haze, later (after 5 o'clock CET) 
     overcast (thick haze)

October 18-19     during the night in succession clear sky, small clouds, 
     clear sky, half-cloudy

October 19-20     in the first part of the night small clouds, then 
     clear sky with some haze, moonlight impairs observations

October 20-21     in the first part of the night small clouds and some 
     haze, then clear sky with some haze, later clear sky with little haze

October 26-27     variable cloudiness, in the first part of the night 
     clear sky, then alternately between large cloudiness and overcast, 
     large cloudiness, occasionally half-cloudy, in clear spaces among 
     clouds good visibility

November 1-2     clear sky, only at midnight for a while small clouds, 
     very good observing conditions

November 2-3     in the first part of the night between small cloudiness 
     and half-cloudy, then large cloudiness, after midnight at first 
     clear sky with little haze, then clear sky with some haze

November 4-5     clear sky with some haze, occasionally (at midnight 
     and at 3 o'clock CET) large clouds

November 15-16     the state of weather was not recorded, probably 
     in the first part of the night small cloudiness or half-cloudy, 
     after 21 hours 40 minutes CET it became overcast, then always overcast

November 16-17     the state of weather was not recorded, probably 
     clear sky all over the night

November 21-22     in the first part of the night between large cloudiness 
     and overcast, then clear sky, then small clouds, later mostly 
     large cloudiness

November 22-23     in the first part of the night clear sky with little 
     haze, after 21 o'clock CET always overcast, thick haze

December 1-2     clear sky with little haze, higher above the horizon 
     good observing conditions

December 5-6     during the night from 18 o'clock to 4 o'clock CET clear 
     sky with little haze, only for a while (between 2 and 4 o'clock CET) 
     small clouds, later between large cloudiness and overcast

December 6-7     in the first part of the night mostly between large 
     cloudiness and overcast, after 23 o'clock CET always clear sky 
     with little haze, higher above the horizon good observing conditions

December 8-9     in the first part of the night clear sky with some haze, 
     after 19 o'clock CET always overcast

December 9-10     in the first part of the night clear sky with little 
     haze, after 20 o'clock CET always overcast, haze

December 11-12     during the night between large cloudiness and overcast, 
     at midnight for a while small clouds, only after 3 o'clock CET 
     alternately small clouds, half-cloudy, large clouds

December 15-16     at the beginning of the night half-cloudy, then always 
     clear sky with some haze, from 4 o'clock to 6 o'clock CET half-cloudy, 
     after 6 o'clock CET overcast

December 16-17     the state of weather was not recorded, during 
     observations, i.e. from 1 o'clock to 6 o'clock CET, probably 
     between half-cloudy and large cloudiness

December 18-19     in the first part of the night clear sky with some 
     haze, after 20 o'clock CET between large cloudiness and overcast, 
     at 2 o'clock CET for a while half-cloudy, then always overcast


1995

January 4-5     the state of weather was not recorded, probably 
     clear sky during the whole night

February 13-14     the state of weather was not recorded, 
     probably in the first part of the night clear sky, then 
     after 20 hours 40 minutes CET always overcast

March 1-2     in the first part of the night clear sky, then clear sky 
     with little haze, after 3 o'clock CET overcast

March 6-7     clear sky, occasionally small clouds

March 8-9     in the first part of the night clear sky, then small clouds, 
     after 23 o'clock CET always between large cloudiness and overcast 
     (haze, only the brightest stars shine through)

March 20-21     in the first part of the night small clouds, after 
     23 o'clock CET always between large cloudiness and overcast

March 23-24     in the first part of the night variable cloudiness, 
     alternately clear sky with little haze, small clouds, and half-cloudy, 
     observations done only till 20 hours 30 minutes CET

April 3-4     the state of weather was not recorded, probably clear sky 
     during the whole night

April 22-23     clear sky with little haze

April 29-30     observations at the Klet Observatory, clear sky during 
     the whole night

May 2-3     clear sky with little haze

May 3-4     in the first part of the night clear sky with little haze, 
     then clear sky with some haze

May 4-5     clear sky with some haze, occasionally small clouds

May 5-6     clear sky with little haze, fine clouds impair observations

May 15-16     clear sky with little haze, occasionally small clouds, 
     fine clouds impair observations

May 19-20     during the night always between large cloudiness and 
     overcast, only after two o'clock CEST for a while small cloudiness

May 28-29     in the first part of the night clear sky with little haze, 
     then clear sky with some haze

June 3-4     in the first part of the night clear sky with little haze, 
     then half-cloudy, fine as well as larger clouds impair observations

June 20-21     clear sky with some haze

June 27-28     in the first part of the night small clouds, then always 
     clear sky, good observing conditions

June 28-29     clear sky with little haze

June 29-30     clear sky with little haze

June 30 - July 1     clear sky with some haze

July 1-2     in the first part of the night between small cloudiness 
     and half-cloudy, then always half-cloudy (haze)

July 2-3     during the night between large cloudiness and overcast, 
     occasionally half-cloudy (haze)

July 7-8     clear sky with some haze

July 8-9     clear sky with some haze

July 10-11     in the first part of the night clear sky with little 
     haze, from 1 o'clock to 2 o'clock CEST small clouds, from 2 o'clock 
     to 3 o'clock CEST half-cloudy, later small clouds

July 16-17     in the first part of the night half-cloudy, then large 
     cloudiness, after 1 o'clock CEST small cloudiness, fine clouds 
     impair observations

July 19-20     in the first part of the night small cloudiness, 
     fine clouds impair observations, then clear sky with some haze, 
     from 3 o'clock to 4 o'clock CEST occasionally half-cloudy

July 21-22     clear sky with some haze

July 24-25     clear sky with some haze

July 25-26     in the first part of the night small cloudiness (haze), 
     then clear sky with some haze

July 26-27     small cloudiness (haze)

July 27-28     in the first part of the night half-cloudy, larger 
     as well as fine clouds impair observations, then large cloudiness, 
     after 1 o'clock CEST overcast

August 2-3     clear sky with little haze

August 4-5     clear sky with some haze, observations disturbed by lights 
     from the nearby stadium where a concert of the Rolling Stones is being 
     prepared

August 5-6     clear sky with little haze, before midnight light effects 
     accompanying the concert of the Rolling Stones slightly impair 
     observations, after midnight observations disturbed by lights 
     from the stadium

August 6-7     in the first part of the night small cloudiness (haze), 
     from one o'clock CEST between small cloudiness and half-cloudy, 
     in clear spaces among clouds hazy

August 9-10     clear sky with little haze

August 11-12     during the greater part of the night small cloudiness, 
     fine clouds impair observations, only after three o'clock CEST 
     clear sky with little haze

August 12-13     in the first part of the night small cloudiness (haze), 
     then clear sky with little haze, later small cloudiness (haze)

August 18-19     in the first part of the night small cloudiness, 
     then from 21 o'clock to 23 o'clock CEST overcast, rain, later 
     always small cloudiness (haze)

August 22-23     in the first part of the night half-cloudy (haze), 
     then small cloudiness (haze)

August 23-24     during the night between small cloudiness and half-cloudy, 
     even in areas without clouds hazy, larger as well as fine clouds 
     impair observations

September 16-17     in the first part of the night clear sky with little 
     haze, after midnight clear sky with some haze, great humidity, 
     20 cm object-lens bedewed, before 5 o'clock CEST it became overcast 
     (thick haze)

September 17-18     in the first part of the night clear sky with little 
     haze, after midnight clear sky with some haze

September 22-23     in the first part of the night half-cloudy, 
     from 22 o'clock to 2 o'clock CEST clear sky with little haze, then 
     for a while large cloudiness, then small clouds, after 4 o'clock CEST 
     overcast

September 28-29     during the night variable cloudiness, alternately 
     small clouds, half-cloudy, and large clouds

October 4-5     during the night small clouds, but even in areas without 
     clouds hazy, fine clouds impair observations, after 22 o'clock CET 
     observation ended

October 7-8     at the beginning of the night half-cloudy (thick haze), 
     then the haze becomes still more thicker, observation ended

October 8-9     small cloudiness and haze, fine clouds and moonlight 
     impair observations

October 9-10     clear sky with some haze

October 10-11     small cloudiness and haze, fine clouds and moonlight 
     impair observations

October 11-12     clear sky with some haze

October 22-23     in the first part of the night clear sky with little 
     haze, then clear sky with some haze, after 23 o'clock CET 
     observation ended

October 24-25     clear sky with some haze

October 26-27     clear sky with some haze, relatively good observing 
     conditions


1996

January 22-23     the state of weather was not recorded, probably 
     clear sky, observations done only from 21 hours 21 minutes 
     to 22 hours 36 minutes CET

April 6-7     clear sky with little haze, after midnight moonlight 
     impairs observations

April 7-8     clear sky with some haze

April 15-16     in the first part of the night half-cloudy, from 22 o'clock 
     to 4 hours 30 minutes CEST clear sky, good observing conditions, 
     later between half-cloudy and large cloudiness

April 17-18     clear sky with some haze

April 21-22     clear sky with some haze, occasionally small clouds

April 23-24     small cloudiness (haze), fine clouds impair observations

May 31 - June 1     all the night between clear sky and small cloudiness, 
     fine clouds as well as moonlight impair observations

June 7-8     clear sky with some haze, estimates of brightness fluctuate 
     between up to two estimate steps (degrees)

June 8-9     in the first part of the night between overcast and large 
     cloudiness, only after one o'clock CEST clear sky with some haze

June 9-10     at the beginning of the night between clear sky and small 
     cloudiness, then half-cloudy, all the time fine clouds impair 
     observations, after two o'clock CEST for a while overcast, later 
     always large cloudiness, all estimates are probably inaccurate

June 10-11     small cloudiness, fine clouds impair observations, 
     after one o'clock half-cloudy, observation ended

June 11-12     the state of weather was not recorded, probably clear sky 
     during the whole night

June 13-14     the state of weather was not recorded, probably clear sky 
     during the whole night

June 14-15     the state of weather was not recorded, probably clear sky 
     during the whole night