DarkSkyNow

DarkSkyNow is a mobile + web app that helps astronomers and astrophotographers pick observation locations based on what actually matters at the moment: cloud cover, transparency, seeing, smoke/haze, moon brightness, and local light pollution. Instead of generic “clear sky” icons, it combines multiple forecast sources and satellite layers into a single, brutally practical score per spot and time window. Users can save sites, set travel radius, and get alerts when conditions cross a threshold (e.g., “seeing < 1.5 arcsec, transparency high, moon below horizon”). It also includes a simple “drive-worthiness” estimate that factors commute time, forecast confidence, and how quickly conditions are changing. This is not a social network; it’s a decision tool to avoid wasted nights and long drives to cloudy, hazy, or bright locations.