Astro Tourism Trip Planner

Balance weather odds, lunar phase, and travel costs to judge whether an astro-tourism plan is worth it. The calculator returns expected clear nights, the chance of landing at least one moon-friendly session, and an estimated trip spend in USD.

Historical probability that a given night is clear and usable at your destination (%).
Number of nights you will spend at the observing site.
Average Moon illumination over your travel window (%).
Estimated nightly lodging plus ground cost in USD (leave blank to assume $150).
Up-front airfare, equipment shipping, or tour costs allocated to the trip (USD).

Examples

  • Aurora hunt in Iceland, 7 nights, 65% clear odds, 20% Moon ⇒ Expected clear nights 3.64, spend $1,970
  • Desert star party, 4 nights, 40% clear odds, 5% Moon ⇒ Expected clear nights 1.52, spend $640

FAQ

How do I get reliable clear-sky probabilities?

Pull historical cloud cover data from meteorological services, astronomy weather portals, or local observatory logs for the month you plan to visit.

What if I need multiple clear nights for imaging?

Use the expected clear-night figure as a baseline and raise the clear-night probability to the power of the nights you need—for example, success² for two required nights.

Can I include daytime activities or non-astronomy costs?

Yes. Fold additional tours or meals into the nightly cost or travel overhead so the estimate reflects the entire getaway budget.

Additional Information

  • Assumes nightly weather outcomes are independent—use multi-night climatology for the clearest approximation.
  • Moon illumination scales down clear-night odds because bright lunar phases wash out deep-sky targets.
  • Budget combines nightly variable costs with fixed travel overhead so you can compare itineraries quickly.
  • Success probability reports the odds of scoring at least one usable night; multiply manually for multi-night imaging campaigns.

Related calculators