The charts and cards explain the decision; they are not the first thing you need to solve. Read the report as a sequence: what to do tonight, when to do it, what can get in the way, and what to keep for another night.
The report is organized around a decision
MySkyDome is not trying to give you every weather variable first. The report is built around the question observers actually ask before dark: should I set up, adapt the plan, or save the effort? The email gives the short answer. The Night Planner shows the timing and evidence behind that answer.
That order matters. If the verdict is No-Go, you may not need target charts at all. If the verdict is Conditional Go, the useful part of the night may be narrow enough that timing, Moon, and target class matter more than a general clear-sky impression.
Read the email first
The nightly email starts with Tonight decision. That card shows the Go, Conditional Go, or No-Go label, a short summary, an action line when there is something specific to do, and the Best window when there is a meaningful observing window. The button labeled Open night planner in your browser takes you to the expanded report.
Understand Go, Conditional Go, and No-Go
Go means the night looks worth planning around. Conditional Go means the night may be useful, but only with limits: a shorter window, a brighter target, Moon or planets, equipment checks, or a plan that avoids the weakest part of the night. No-Go means the expected return is likely lower than the setup, travel, or imaging effort.
For a deeper explanation of these verdicts during a trial, read what to expect during your MySkyDome trial.
Use the best window
The best window is the usable observing window, not simply the whole night. It depends on astronomical darkness, Moon timing, forecast coverage, cloud timing, and whether the sky is likely to be useful when your target or target class is actually available. One strong hour can matter more than a vague all-night clear label.
Read the plan before the metrics
After the verdict, the email explains the plan. If conditions are poor, the report may show a home plan: planning, reading, maintenance, or another useful action that does not require setting up. If observing is viable, the report may show Different skies, different plans, with primary and secondary target classes.
On Conditional Go nights, the plan is especially important. You may need to use the strongest plan only during the workable window and keep a backup ready if the sky shifts. When the report says Less viable tonight, treat that as advice about what not to force.
Use forecast context after the plan
Forecast details explain why the plan looks the way it does. The email may show compact cards for Cloud, Seeing, Transparency, Best window, Wind, and Rain. It can also show Observer-Centered Night Setup details such as your saved site, timezone, elevation, light pollution, astronomical darkness, forecast coverage, Moon phase, Moon times, Moonlight, and setup.
Read those values as observing constraints, not as abstract weather trivia. Seeing is useful when it is shown as arcseconds plus a class such as Good or Poor. Cloud and transparency matter most when they overlap the dark window and the target timing.
Open the Night Planner for timing detail
The Night Planner is the expanded browser version of the report. Its navigation currently follows the report workflow: Forecast, optional Tonight's Targets, optional Planner, and News. You do not need every section every night. Open the browser view when you need to inspect timing, compare target options, or plan beyond tonight.
How to read Forecast
Forecast is the first Night Planner section because tonight deserves the most detail. Start with the Night verdict strip, then check the Best window. Below that, read the plan block or home-plan block, then the metadata tags for darkness, covered hours, dew, Moonrise, and Moonset.
The forecast heatmap is for timing. Use it to see when constraints improve or worsen through the night. Next Two Nights is secondary outlook context, useful for deciding whether a poor or short night should become a planning night instead.
How to read Tonight's Targets
Tonight's Targets appears when the report has an observing plan rather than an at-home plan. Targets are ranked for your saved setup, with altitude tracks, Moon altitude, and Moon phase markers across the observing window.
Each target card gives identifiers, summary and detail lines, coordinates, a time range, match label, bucket, rationale, and a per-target altitude chart. A target is not recommended only because it is interesting. It has to fit timing, altitude, Moon, forecast constraints, and gear. For more detail, read the guide on choosing the target your sky and gear can actually reward.
How to read Planner
Planner is for longer-range target timing. It shows monthly visibility, one month per box, with best targets for each month. Use it when tonight is poor, when the useful window is too short, or when a target is better saved for a later month.
How to read News
News is secondary context. The browser Night Planner currently shows YouTube Videos first, then News. This section is most useful when the night is short, Moon-limited, or not worth observing, and you want the time to become planning, reading, or learning time instead.
A simple decision flow
Prepare the main plan and use the best window as your anchor.
Prepare a shorter or adapted plan, and keep the backup target class ready.
Save the effort, or use the night for planning, maintenance, reading, or target selection.
If your immediate question is target choice, start with what should you shoot tonight?. If you are still learning what cloudy trial emails mean, start with the trial guide first.
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