We don't control weather... just expertly predict it
IS YOUR SKY GOING TO BE CLOUDY TONIGHT OR TOMORROW NIGHT?
This 72-hr weather forecast is made for astronomers by the astronomer Attilla Danko. We rely on it because it's ALMOST never wrong.
If you're not sure how to read this, click on the chart for detailed instructions. But basically, for the non-astronomer, the red lines mark midnight, and the more darker blue squares you see... the better!
For the incredulous "Sky Watchers," who can also find us on a map, here's a multi-spectrum satellite loop from GOES-16. Though its geostationary orbit isn't directly above the DRO (though we did ask nicely) it's close enough to prove helpful, in gleaning future cloud behavior. Go to GOES-16 data as managed by the College of DuPage.
Leave the weather worrying to us! Try and relax. Your are on vacation!
Please don't call us to offer help in predicting OUR weather. We don't even care what Al Roker, or Jim Cantore might have to say. They still get all their money even when they are wrong. We are the local weather experts, because our livelihood depends on us getting it right... the vast majority of the time.
From us, no news, is good news. If you don't hear from us, it means we have either all been destroyed by asteroid impact (we ironically didn't accurately predict coming), or we are NOT AT ALL worried about whatever might be worrying you (e.g. a general weather forecast for lay people, whatever you think your are seeing in the sky now, etc). When we are certain there is no hope for stargazing we might be able to let you know before noon the same day. When we uncertain we will contact you (usually text and/or email) between 6:30pm and 7:00pm to build your confidence, or discuss cancellation options.
OTHERWISE, no news is good news.
P.S. It's less annoying if you still want to text or email us about your pre-show weather concerns. That way we can easily reply with the exact same URL [link] you should be reading now. :-)
From us, no news, is good news. If you don't hear from us, it means we have either all been destroyed by asteroid impact (we ironically didn't accurately predict coming), or we are NOT AT ALL worried about whatever might be worrying you (e.g. a general weather forecast for lay people, whatever you think your are seeing in the sky now, etc). When we are certain there is no hope for stargazing we might be able to let you know before noon the same day. When we uncertain we will contact you (usually text and/or email) between 6:30pm and 7:00pm to build your confidence, or discuss cancellation options.
OTHERWISE, no news is good news.
P.S. It's less annoying if you still want to text or email us about your pre-show weather concerns. That way we can easily reply with the exact same URL [link] you should be reading now. :-)
Cloudy Sky Cancellation Policy
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The Weather is Different Here...
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Here. cloudy days are fairly common, but cloudy nights are rare. Therefore daytime weather has little bearing on what will happen later at night. So, we follow the 30/70 rule:
If during the 3-hr course of a Telescope Tour, the sky never gets better than 30% clear (NWS definition of "Mostly Cloudy") for at least 30 minutes, we offer 79% REFUNDS. When we are sure it will be too cloudy, we will call/text and email to alert you of cancellation. Otherwise, when it is too close to call, you are still obligated to attend so as to earn your refund. We'll still offer the multimedia show while we wait for sky to clear. So at worst, you get a fun show with a 79% refund. At best the sky will clear, and all will rejoice. If additionally, you purchase Alternative Night Insurance and fulfill the alternative night(s) booking agreement (see below), you will get 94% refund of your tour tickets, when the sky remains more than 30% cloudy on your intended AND your booked alternate night(s). |
Folks like to brag about their rapidly changing weather. In reality few places rival the clearing speed of the Colorado Plateau. The time-lapse above goes from 100% overcast, with lightning, to 100% clear in 90 minutes!
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The bottom line is: Trust us! Since we run a weather dependent business, we have to be both VERY good at predicting our local weather, and generous when we're wrong. If we weren't, we would have already gone out of business, long ago. :-)
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