Comparing locations is useful when you have a real choice between observing spots. Choose up to three listed cities and the target type you care about. The table compares the same calendar date in each place's local time zone, not one simultaneous moment around Earth.
Check what the columns mean
Eligible darkness counts the sampled time that meets the goal's Sun-altitude rule. Hourly coverage describes the part supported by a usable forecast. A place with missing or aging weather has no session score; it should not be treated as better or worse than another place merely because its number is absent.
Cloud averages apply to the eligible part of the selected session. A faint-object comparison and a Moon-and-planets comparison can therefore produce different results from the same underlying forecast. Read the session details for the Moon, target availability and exact local and UTC windows.
Add the real trip
Distance, public transport, road conditions, night access, local terrain and light pollution are separate checks. A higher score does not establish that a location is reachable or suitable for your equipment. Two nearby cities can also share a forecast grid, so their weather estimates are not necessarily independent evidence.
Use the comparison to narrow options, then inspect the actual spot and a local forecast before leaving. If the difference is small, a familiar accessible site with a clear horizon may be the more practical choice. Keep a backup plan that works from home when the forecast changes or the journey is no longer sensible.
Sources and review
Reviewed October 22, 2026 by PiSpace Sky editorial. Date-sensitive details can change.