Sign in Form

Existing Users:

Email Address:

This is the email address that all Clear Sky Alarms will be sent to. It is also used to log into the site.

Password:

This is the password that you selected for your account. If you forgot your password, type in your email address and click the "Forgot Password" button. This will cause your password to be changed to a random value and the new password will be emailed to you.

New sign ups:

Email Address:

This is the email address that all Clear Sky Alarms will be sent to. The sign up process will confirm that you can receive email from csac@casazza.net

Password:

This is the password that you want assigned to your account.

Repeat Password:

This is also the password that you want assigned to your account. We require that you type it twice to insure you know what you typed as the letters are not display on the screen.

User Profile

First Name:

This is your first name. This information is optional. It will only be used to address email correspondences that are not Clear Sky Alarms.

Last Name:

This is your last name. This information is optional. It will only be used to address email correspondences that are not Clear Sky Alarms.

Postal Code:

This is your postal (zip) code. This information is optional. It will be used if I can locate a source of hour by hour temperature forecasts by postal code that is will to provide the data at no charge.

Email Address:

This is the email address that all Clear Sky Alarms will be sent to unless overridden in the subscription's details. Please confirm that you can receive email from csac@casazza.net. The easiest way to test this is to press the "Test Email Address" button. When you press the button an email will be sent to the email address currently on the page.

Email Format:

This will determine the format of the email that is sent when conditions meet your requirements for observing. The format can also be overridden in the subscription's details. Examples of these formats can be found here.

Tester:

If you are willing to test new features as they become available, check this box. You will receive an email prior to any testing. Your contribution to the service is greatly appreciated when you participate in testing of new features.

Out of Town:

If you check this box, you will not receive Clear Sky Alerts until to uncheck the box.

Password:

If you want to change your account’s password, type in the new password here.

Password (again):

If you want to change your account’s password, we require that you type it twice to insure you know what you typed as the letters are not display on the screen.

Clock Conditions

Basic Information

State:

Please select the state or province to help narrow down the list of clocks to select from. You will not be able to select a clock until you first select the state. This list is based on the clock listing created by Attilla Danko at cleardarksky.com.

Clock:

This is the clock as described by Attilla Danko. Please select the state or province to help narrow down the list of clocks to select from. You will not be able to select a clock until you first select the state. This list is based on the clock listing created by Attilla Danko at cleardarksky.com.

Clouds:

This reflects the maximum forecast percent cloud cover that will qualify as conditions acceptable for observing. The forecasts generated by the Canadian Meteorological Center range from 0% to 100% in increments of 2%. In the Clear Sky Charts, Attilla generalizes this detail in his forecast from the 50 possible values to 8 possible values. If your clock does not have a cloud forecast, or you don’t care at all about that aspect of the forecast, select "No Forecast".

Seeing:

This reflects the worst seeing forecast that will qualify as conditions acceptable for observing. The forecasts generated by the Canadian Meteorological Center range from Excellent to Bad/Clouds. There are 6 possible values. If your clock does not have a seeing forecast, or you don’t care at all about that aspect of the forecast, select "No Forecast".

Transparency:

This reflects the worst transparency forecast that will qualify as conditions acceptable for observing. The forecasts generated by the Canadian Meteorological Center range from Transparent to Opaque. There are 5 possible values. If your clock does not have a transparency forecast, or you don’t care at all about that aspect of the forecast, select "No Forecast".

Nickname:

This is a description for the setting selected that will appear on the list of clocks. If you have multiple settings for the same clock, this will allow for easy distinguishing between them. The most common reason for setting up multiple instances of the same clock is so you can address the requirements for solar observing with one while the other addresses the requirements for deep sky observing.

Temperature:

This reflects the lowest temperature you or your equipment can (or are willing to) observe in. This forecast is still under development at CMC and it is not yet implemented. If your clock does not have a temperature forecast, or you don’t care at all about that aspect of the forecast, select "No Forecast".

Humidity:

This reflects the maximum humidity you consider acceptable to observe in. You can also use this part of the forecast to help determine the amount of anti-dew equipment you should expect to need. This forecast is still under development at CMC and it is not yet implemented. If your clock does not have a humidity forecast, or you don’t care at all about that aspect of the forecast, select "No Forecast".

Wind:

This reflects the worst wind conditions that will qualify as conditions acceptable for observing. The forecasts generated by the Canadian Meteorological Center range from Calm to Storm. There are 6 possible values. If your clock does not have a wind forecast, or you don’t care at all about that aspect of the forecast, select "No Forecast".

Alternate Email Options:

Alternate Email Address:

This email address will over ride the default email address for a single subscription. This is a good place to put your pager email address. If the field is left blank, your default email address will be used. Please confirm that you can receive email from csac@casazza.net. The easiest way to test this is to press the "Test Email Address" button. When you press the button an email will be sent to the email address currently on the page.

Alternate Email Format:

This email format will over ride the default email format for a single subscription. If "Default" is selected, your default email format will be used. Examples of these formats can be found here.

When you observe:

After Dusk:

This represents the number of hours after nautical twilight that you are willing to observe. Nautical twilight is defined at: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/RST_defs.html

Before Dawn:

This represents the number of hours before nautical twilight that you are willing to observe. Nautical twilight is defined at: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/RST_defs.html

Solar Observer:

Check this box if you observe the sun. With this box checked time when the sun has an altitude of over 20 degrees will be considered as well as dark time.

Weekend vs. Weekday:

This site defines weekends as Friday dusk to Sunday dawn. Calculations for Sunday evening will be treated as a weekday as most people return to work the next morning.

Lunar Considerations:

Maximum Lunar Altitude:

This is the maximum altitude that the moon can achieve during the period for the period to be considered acceptable for observing.

Maximum Percent of Full:

This is the maximum percent of full that the moon can achieve during the period for the period to be considered acceptable for observing.

Lunar Logic: (AND/OR)

When set to AND, the default, the moon must be higher than the maximum altitude AND fuller than the maximum percent full to not send an email. If set to OR, an email will not be sent if either the moon is too high OR too full.

Miscellaneous:

Minimum good conditions duration:

This is the minimum number of consecutive hours of good conditions that are required to trigger a Clear Sky Alarm. This is designed to prevent alerts that are highly speculative because the skies are only expected to been good for 1 hour.

Minimum age of forecast:

This is the minimum age (in hours) the forecast must archive prior to analysis. Several clocks have the forecast refined after the initial publication. Setting this option to 2 hours, for example, will prevent multiple Clear Sky Alarms when the forecast is revised so long as it is revised within 2 hours of the first forecast. This will delay notification by the number of hours specified.

Hours ahead to consider:

This is the number of hours of the forecast to consider. These hours are counted from the beginning of the forecast period. The forecast is currently a 44 hour forecast

Do not disturb:

This is a period of time when you do not wish to receive Clear Sky Alarms. This is primarily designed for pagers to prevent them from going off when the 5:00GMT (1:00 AM EDT) forecast is processed. All times are in the time zone of the Clear Sky Chart.