From: blockedofcourse@foo.invalid   
      
   On 11/16/2025 1:01 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:   
   > On 16/11/2025 04:22, Don Y wrote:   
   >> Particularly, cloud cover.   
   >>   
   >> How can I quantify the extent and "density" (opacity) of cloud   
   >> cover?   
   >>   
   >> And, to make it even more interesting, doing so AT NIGHT, as well?   
   >   
   > I guess you want it somewhat more detailed than this   
   >  >https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okta. The section "How observers on the   
   ground   
   > try to estimate sky cover by eye" in ref 4 might be of interest.   
      
   Yeah, I was wanting to know what specific parts of the sky looked like.   
      
   E.g., I can look out my windows and tell what parts of *town* are   
   getting rain, today.  Or, if a storm is moving in.  Or out.  Or,   
   if it will be cooler or warmer, overnight.  etc.   
      
   I originally thought doing this optically with visible light might   
   be the trick (fisheye or directional camera "rasterizing" the sky).   
   Then, thought maybe moving to Ir (do clouds radiate Ir absorbed   
   during sunlit hours to appear more luminous than the blackness of space?).   
      
   I also thought looking for specific astronomical objects/features   
   (knowing my location and theirs at specific times) could be of   
   some use -- even with a crappy "light collector" (telescope).   
      
   I think I have to just start collecting data and seeing what turns up.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)