LA's basin traps light pollution (Bortle 8–9), but the surrounding mountains provide a dramatic escape. Mount Wilson Observatory sits above the glow with Bortle 5–6 skies, and Joshua Tree National Park (2.5 hours east) offers Bortle 3 darkness. Southern California's climate gives over 280 clear nights per year — one of the highest rates in the US. Santa Ana wind conditions in autumn bring exceptional transparency, making planets and the Moon razor-sharp. If you're checking the Los Angeles sky tonight, the question is usually simple: clear or not? ClearSkys scores the LA night sky hour by hour so you know exactly when conditions are worth catching from the hills or the coast.