Sky transparency — night of 19–20 October 2026

Cloud arrived at 03:56 — detected by the all-sky camera, independent of N.I.N.A. Before it the sky ran at index 100 (IQR 87–104); after it 2 (IQR 0–4). 65 of 72 light frames landed before the cloud. 29 of 34 failures are attributed to cloud; 5 remain unexplained and deserve a look. Guiding ran at 1.07″ RMS before the cloud and 1.59″ after; the worst minute was 7.11″ at 02:26. Morning sky flats: 63 frames (O 21, S 21, H 21), 06:32–06:36, auto-exposure 0.2–0.3 s.

Index before 03:56
100 · IQR 87–104
Index after 03:56
2 · IQR 0–4
Cloud onset (all-sky)
03:56 · independent
Errors after onset
29 of 34 · solve + PHD2
Guide RMS
1.10″ · RA 0.74 · Dec 0.81

Normalised transparency index, by filter

100 = that target and filter's own clear‑sky median (this night's own pre-cloud median). Shaded columns are autofocus runs; the first target is named at the top left and dashed vertical rules mark each target change; ticks along the base are errors.

H α O III S II ▲ Plate solve failed ◆ PHD2 error
05010015020021:0022:0023:0000:0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:00% of clear-sky medianclear-sky baselineNGC 7293→ IC 434 Panel 1→ IC 434 Panel 2→ IC 434 Panel 3OHS

All‑sky background brightness

Mean luminance of the upper sky per all‑sky still — independent of anything N.I.N.A. recorded. The camera auto‑exposes, so this is an instrumental number, not photometry.

030609012021:0022:0023:0000:0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:00Mean sky luminance (0–255)all-sky

PHD2 guiding

RMS tracking error per minute from the PHD2 guide log, taken about zero rather than about each minute's mean, so slow drift counts as error. 3917 guide frames over 8.0 h of guiding in 24 sessions; the gaps are slews, dither settles and autofocus runs, when PHD2 was not guiding. PHD2 discarded 996 further frames — usually a lost star. The worst minute (7.11″ at 02:26) is clamped at the top of the plot.

RA RMS Dec RMS ◆ PHD2 error
0.00.61.21.82.421:0022:0023:0000:0001:0002:0003:0004:0005:0006:00RMS guide error (arcsec)night RMS 1.10″DecRA

All‑sky frames at the key moments

Times come from the still filenames, so they line up with the charts exactly.

All-sky at 20:44
20:44 · start of night
All-sky at 03:56
03:56 · cloud onset
All-sky at 05:24
05:24 · peak brightness 106.1
All-sky at 06:01
06:01 · end of night

Clear‑sky reference medians

The divisors behind the index — median detected stars per light sub before 03:56.

TargetFilterMedian starsFramesSource
IC 434 Panel 1H1344tonight, clear frames
IC 434 Panel 1O914tonight, clear frames
IC 434 Panel 1S1084tonight, clear frames
IC 434 Panel 2H1434tonight, clear frames
IC 434 Panel 2O1123tonight, clear frames
IC 434 Panel 2S4398earlier clear nights
IC 434 Panel 3H3058earlier clear nights
NGC 7293H15816tonight, clear frames
NGC 7293O18313tonight, clear frames
NGC 7293S20617tonight, clear frames

Event timeline

All observatory events with their attributed causes.

PHD2timed-out waiting for guider to settleunexplained
PHD2timed-out waiting for guider to settleunexplained
PHD2timed-out waiting for guider to settleunexplained
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedunexplained
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedunexplained
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
PHD2failed to find a suitable guide starcloud
PHD2timed-out waiting for guider to settlecloud
AF failedautofocus run started 04:30:42 did not completecloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
PHD2timed-out waiting for guider to settlecloud
AF failedautofocus run started 04:46:19 did not completecloud
PHD2timed-out waiting for guider to settlecloud
AF failedautofocus run started 04:55:59 did not completecloud
PHD2Guiding stoppedcloud
PHD2failed to find a suitable guide starcloud
PHD2failed to find a suitable guide starcloud
PHD2timed-out waiting for guider to settlecloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
AF failedautofocus run started 05:15:04 did not completecloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
solve failedASTAP plate solve failedcloud
PHD2timed-out waiting for guider to settlecloud
PHD2failed to find a suitable guide starcloud
PHD2timed-out waiting for guider to settlecloud
All 216 frames (excludes the 63 sky flats — no stars to detect)
TimeClassTargetFilterExpStarsHFRIndex
20:44:42autofocusNGC 7293L5s326.25—
20:44:59autofocusNGC 7293L5s1292.36—
20:45:14autofocusNGC 7293L5s913.03—
20:45:29autofocusNGC 7293L5s604.01—
20:45:44autofocusNGC 7293L5s465.23—
20:46:04autofocusNGC 7293L5s365.66—
20:46:24autofocusNGC 7293L5s1392.08—
20:46:44autofocusNGC 7293L5s1511.90—
20:47:04autofocusNGC 7293L5s772.95—
20:47:24autofocusNGC 7293L5s653.84—
20:47:39autofocusNGC 7293L5s455.61—
20:47:54autofocusNGC 7293L5s346.78—
20:48:14autofocusNGC 7293L5s1531.91—
20:54:50lightNGC 7293S300s1473.7571%
21:00:28lightNGC 7293S300s1813.2588%
21:05:59lightNGC 7293S300s1803.2287%
21:11:26lightNGC 7293S300s1783.2486%
21:16:54lightNGC 7293S300s1893.1792%
21:22:30lightNGC 7293S300s1973.1696%
21:28:05lightNGC 7293S300s2082.96101%
21:33:35lightNGC 7293S300s2232.79108%
21:39:06lightNGC 7293S300s2292.68111%
21:44:33lightNGC 7293S300s2362.66115%
21:50:07lightNGC 7293S300s2242.68109%
21:55:38lightNGC 7293S300s2062.80100%
22:01:07lightNGC 7293S300s1893.0392%
22:02:58autofocusNGC 7293L5s1022.47—
22:03:13autofocusNGC 7293L5s317.53—
22:03:28autofocusNGC 7293L5s406.25—
22:03:43autofocusNGC 7293L5s544.93—
22:03:58autofocusNGC 7293L5s703.56—
22:04:18autofocusNGC 7293L5s982.49—
22:04:38autofocusNGC 7293L5s1711.71—
22:04:58autofocusNGC 7293L5s1641.62—
22:05:18autofocusNGC 7293L5s1442.02—
22:05:38autofocusNGC 7293L5s982.96—
22:05:53autofocusNGC 7293L5s574.06—
22:06:08autofocusNGC 7293L5s325.24—
22:06:28autofocusNGC 7293L5s1791.50—
22:13:33lightNGC 7293S300s2202.56107%
22:19:04lightNGC 7293S300s2312.54112%
22:24:33lightNGC 7293S300s2262.56110%
22:30:01lightNGC 7293S300s1622.7779%
22:35:58lightNGC 7293O300s1482.9481%
22:41:29lightNGC 7293O300s1443.2479%
22:46:59lightNGC 7293O300s1034.0956%
22:47:48autofocusNGC 7293L5s1232.01—
22:48:03autofocusNGC 7293L5s246.96—
22:48:18autofocusNGC 7293L5s435.20—
22:48:33autofocusNGC 7293L5s494.58—
22:48:48autofocusNGC 7293L5s623.46—
22:49:08autofocusNGC 7293L5s902.39—
22:49:28autofocusNGC 7293L5s1411.70—
22:49:48autofocusNGC 7293L5s1411.62—
22:50:08autofocusNGC 7293L5s1182.15—
22:50:28autofocusNGC 7293L5s683.30—
22:50:43autofocusNGC 7293L5s454.44—
22:50:58autofocusNGC 7293L5s315.54—
22:51:18autofocusNGC 7293L5s1521.64—
22:57:10lightNGC 7293O300s1842.82101%
23:02:44lightNGC 7293O300s1892.71103%
23:08:26lightNGC 7293O300s1882.78103%
23:13:59lightNGC 7293O300s1842.62101%
23:19:28lightNGC 7293O300s1882.66103%
23:25:16lightNGC 7293O300s1832.70100%
23:26:18autofocusNGC 7293L5s1431.75—
23:26:33autofocusNGC 7293L5s475.12—
23:26:48autofocusNGC 7293L5s594.12—
23:27:03autofocusNGC 7293L5s663.10—
23:27:18autofocusNGC 7293L5s1231.96—
23:27:38autofocusNGC 7293L5s1471.60—
23:27:58autofocusNGC 7293L5s1431.71—
23:28:18autofocusNGC 7293L5s1072.38—
23:28:33autofocusNGC 7293L5s583.69—
23:28:48autofocusNGC 7293L5s414.65—
23:29:08autofocusNGC 7293L5s1461.67—
23:34:59lightNGC 7293O300s1812.7799%
23:40:30lightNGC 7293O300s1892.70103%
23:46:28lightNGC 7293O300s1722.8794%
23:51:55lightNGC 7293O300s1672.9091%
23:57:52lightNGC 7293H300s1762.83111%
00:03:24lightNGC 7293H300s1603.16101%
00:09:02lightNGC 7293H300s1682.97106%
00:14:56lightNGC 7293H300s1802.84114%
00:21:01lightNGC 7293H300s1762.92111%
00:26:58lightNGC 7293H300s1613.21102%
00:28:33autofocusNGC 7293L5s1311.91—
00:28:48autofocusNGC 7293L5s315.96—
00:29:03autofocusNGC 7293L5s514.56—
00:29:18autofocusNGC 7293L5s573.77—
00:29:33autofocusNGC 7293L5s892.50—
00:29:53autofocusNGC 7293L5s1431.78—
00:30:13autofocusNGC 7293L5s1411.82—
00:30:33autofocusNGC 7293L5s1132.29—
00:30:53autofocusNGC 7293L5s583.50—
00:31:08autofocusNGC 7293L5s554.00—
00:31:28autofocusNGC 7293L5s1381.89—
00:37:25lightNGC 7293H300s1523.1796%
00:43:12lightNGC 7293H300s1413.3389%
00:49:03lightNGC 7293H300s1493.2294%
00:55:04lightNGC 7293H300s1583.06100%
01:00:56lightNGC 7293H300s1622.87103%
01:06:31lightNGC 7293H300s1393.1488%
01:12:27lightNGC 7293H300s1233.0778%
01:13:43autofocusNGC 7293L5s611.93—
01:13:58autofocusNGC 7293L5s125.84—
01:14:13autofocusNGC 7293L5s224.23—
01:14:28autofocusNGC 7293L5s423.18—
01:14:43autofocusNGC 7293L5s572.51—
01:15:03autofocusNGC 7293L5s581.83—
01:15:23autofocusNGC 7293L5s481.76—
01:15:43autofocusNGC 7293L5s362.50—
01:16:03autofocusNGC 7293L5s273.42—
01:16:18autofocusNGC 7293L5s124.81—
01:16:33autofocusNGC 7293L5s115.86—
01:16:53autofocusNGC 7293L5s751.77—
01:22:51lightNGC 7293H300s953.1960%
01:28:21lightNGC 7293H300s693.2444%
01:34:07lightNGC 7293H300s1063.1867%
01:40:08autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s1532.32—
01:40:23autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s764.25—
01:40:38autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s843.81—
01:40:53autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s1742.14—
01:41:08autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s1872.05—
01:41:28autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s1842.23—
01:41:48autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s1133.14—
01:42:08autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s834.10—
01:42:28autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s654.94—
01:42:48autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s615.59—
01:43:08autofocusIC 434 Panel 1L5s1491.91—
01:50:39lightIC 434 Panel 1S300s1653.38153%
01:56:16lightIC 434 Panel 1S300s1083.44100%
02:01:52lightIC 434 Panel 1S300s563.3152%
02:07:20lightIC 434 Panel 1S300s623.3757%
02:14:54lightIC 434 Panel 1O300s353.6138%
02:27:21lightIC 434 Panel 1O300s113.8312%
02:33:07lightIC 434 Panel 1O300s963.80105%
02:38:41lightIC 434 Panel 1O300s913.78100%
02:44:39lightIC 434 Panel 1H300s1283.4596%
02:50:18lightIC 434 Panel 1H300s1443.55107%
02:55:51lightIC 434 Panel 1H300s1343.51100%
03:01:32lightIC 434 Panel 1H300s1153.4786%
03:02:08autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s1012.01—
03:02:23autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s275.30—
03:02:38autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s474.04—
03:02:53autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s593.06—
03:03:08autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s562.33—
03:03:28autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s552.01—
03:03:48autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s442.06—
03:04:08autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s223.03—
03:04:28autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s143.86—
03:04:43autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s105.12—
03:05:03autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s1181.99—
03:12:36lightIC 434 Panel 2H300s1063.4574%
03:18:22lightIC 434 Panel 2H300s1243.5687%
03:23:57lightIC 434 Panel 2H300s1543.45108%
03:29:31lightIC 434 Panel 2H300s1433.51100%
03:35:13lightIC 434 Panel 2O300s1373.46122%
03:40:42lightIC 434 Panel 2O300s1123.65100%
03:46:15lightIC 434 Panel 2O300s1053.7394%
03:47:08autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s562.16—
03:47:23autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s175.03—
03:47:38autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s263.96—
03:47:53autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s373.10—
03:48:08autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s462.73—
03:48:28autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s572.17—
03:48:48autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s642.13—
03:49:08autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s363.45—
03:49:28autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s214.53—
03:49:43autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s175.22—
03:49:58autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s166.45—
03:50:18autofocusIC 434 Panel 2L5s461.93—
03:56:10lightIC 434 Panel 2O300s444.4039%
04:01:56lightIC 434 Panel 2S300s193.914%
04:07:31lightIC 434 Panel 2S300s113.633%
04:13:05lightIC 434 Panel 2S300s103.632%
04:30:11lightIC 434 Panel 2S300s10.000%
04:30:59centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s10.00—
04:31:13centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:31:28centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s10.00—
04:31:43centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s10.00—
04:31:58centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s10.00—
04:32:28centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s31.90—
04:32:48centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s10.00—
04:33:08centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s10.00—
04:33:23centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s10.00—
04:33:43centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s10.00—
04:46:44centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:46:58centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:47:13centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:47:28centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:47:43centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:48:13centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:48:33centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:48:53centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:49:13centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:56:00lightIC 434 Panel 3H300s00.000%
04:56:19centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:56:33centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:56:48centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:57:03centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:57:18centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:57:48centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:58:08centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:58:28centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
04:58:48centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
05:13:24lightIC 434 Panel 3H300s10.000%
05:15:24centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
05:15:38centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
05:15:53centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
05:16:08centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
05:16:23centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
05:16:53centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
05:17:13centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
05:17:33centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—
05:17:53centeringIC 434 Panel 3L5s00.00—

Star counts come from Hocus Focus detection on each saved sub, tagged with the filter in place at exposure start and the target then being imaged. Frames inside completed autofocus runs are excluded. Still capture times come from the AllSky filenames. All times are local.