Cloudy Weather
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Our online training has a comprehensive course that gives further details about planning a successful observing session.
Observing in Partly Cloudy Weather
In writing the materials on this website, the Faulkes Telescope Team have tried to take into account as many of the variables as possible that could affect your observing. However, one of the things that we cannot always take account of, or control of, on your behalf is the weather!
However, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that successful observing can take place during partly cloudy weather. If the sky is too cloudy the telescope dome will close. In partly cloudy weather the dome will remain open.
Partly cloudy weather may take two forms. It could be that there is cloud present only in part of the sky (for example, in the east and south) or it could be that cloud cover is across the whole sky but is thin enough to still observe through.
Sometimes, the cloud cover can confuse the pipeline processing that creates your JPEG images and they can appear washed out. However, if you download the raw FITS files and make your own colour image, you can greatly improve your image.
During telescope commissioning the FT team managed to obtain some successful images during thin cloud cover. These are shown below as examples of what is possible during these sorts of conditions.
M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula
NGC 7479
