{
  "$schema": "https://ontarionightsky.com/schemas/near-snapshot.v1.json",
  "version": "1.0",
  "generatedAt": "2026-08-15T02:05:10.737Z",
  "snapshotMeta": {
    "schemaVersion": "1.0",
    "tieBreakVersion": "2.0.0",
    "metricsVersion": "1.2.0",
    "ladder": [
      "verdictRank (desc)",
      "windowHours (desc)",
      "windowMeanCloudPct (asc)",
      "tonightMinCloudPct (asc)",
      "tonightMeanCloudPct (asc)",
      "bortle (asc — darker wins)",
      "distanceKm (asc)"
    ],
    "changelog": [
      {
        "version": "1.2.0",
        "date": "2026-04-26",
        "type": "metrics",
        "summary": "Added `tieBreakComparisons[]` to each item: per-step a/b values, equality flag, winner, and `decidedBy` marker for the rule that broke the tie."
      },
      {
        "version": "2.0.0",
        "date": "2026-04-26",
        "type": "tieBreak",
        "summary": "Replaced verdict+distance-only ranking with 7-level ladder (verdict, window length, window cloud, min/mean cloud, bortle, distance)."
      },
      {
        "version": "1.1.0",
        "date": "2026-04-26",
        "type": "metrics",
        "summary": "Added per-site `tieBreak` block (windowHours, windowMeanCloudPct, tonightMinCloudPct, tonightMeanCloudPct, bortle) for transparency."
      },
      {
        "version": "1.0.0",
        "date": "2026-04-25",
        "type": "schema",
        "summary": "Initial near-snapshot.v1 schema with bestTonight + closestSites[]."
      }
    ],
    "docs": "https://ontarionightsky.com/llms.txt"
  },
  "cities": [
    {
      "id": "toronto",
      "name": "Toronto",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/toronto/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/toronto/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "torrance-barrens",
        "name": "Torrance Barrens",
        "distanceKm": 142.4,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ottawa",
      "name": "Ottawa",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/ottawa/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/ottawa/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "la-mauricie-np",
        "name": "La Mauricie",
        "distanceKm": 255.1,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "hamilton",
      "name": "Hamilton",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/hamilton/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/hamilton/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "torrance-barrens",
        "name": "Torrance Barrens",
        "distanceKm": 189.8,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "kitchener-waterloo",
      "name": "Kitchener–Waterloo",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/kitchener-waterloo/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/kitchener-waterloo/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "torrance-barrens",
        "name": "Torrance Barrens",
        "distanceKm": 185.1,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "london",
      "name": "London",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/london/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/london/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "binbrook",
        "name": "Binbrook",
        "distanceKm": 118.3,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "sudbury",
      "name": "Sudbury",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/sudbury/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/sudbury/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "bruce-peninsula",
        "name": "Bruce Peninsula",
        "distanceKm": 146.4,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "thunder-bay",
      "name": "Thunder Bay",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/thunder-bay/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/thunder-bay/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "pukaskwa",
        "name": "Pukaskwa",
        "distanceKm": 242.2,
        "verdict": "Fair"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "kingston",
      "name": "Kingston",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/kingston/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/kingston/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "bon-echo-pp",
        "name": "Bon Echo",
        "distanceKm": 93.4,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "vancouver",
      "name": "Vancouver",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/vancouver/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/vancouver/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "north-cascades-np",
        "name": "North Cascades",
        "distanceKm": 154.4,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "montreal",
      "name": "Montréal",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/montreal/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/montreal/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "mont-megantic",
        "name": "Mont-Mégantic",
        "distanceKm": 188.4,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "calgary",
      "name": "Calgary",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/calgary/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/calgary/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "glacier-np",
        "name": "Glacier NP",
        "distanceKm": 254.9,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "edmonton",
      "name": "Edmonton",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/edmonton/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/edmonton/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "elk-island-np",
        "name": "Elk Island",
        "distanceKm": 43.6,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "new-york",
      "name": "New York",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/new-york/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/new-york/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "north-frontenac",
        "name": "North Frontenac",
        "distanceKm": 525.8,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "los-angeles",
      "name": "Los Angeles",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/los-angeles/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/los-angeles/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "death-valley-np",
        "name": "Death Valley",
        "distanceKm": 300.3,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "chicago",
      "name": "Chicago",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/chicago/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/chicago/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "newport-sp-wi",
        "name": "Newport SP",
        "distanceKm": 378.5,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "dallas",
      "name": "Dallas–Fort Worth",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/dallas/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/dallas/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "copper-breaks-sp",
        "name": "Copper Breaks",
        "distanceKm": 311,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "miami",
      "name": "Miami",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/miami/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/miami/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "stephen-foster-sp",
        "name": "Stephen Foster SP",
        "distanceKm": 602.2,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "atlanta",
      "name": "Atlanta",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/atlanta/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/atlanta/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "stephen-foster-sp",
        "name": "Stephen Foster SP",
        "distanceKm": 376.6,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "boston",
      "name": "Boston",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/boston/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/boston/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "mont-megantic",
        "name": "Mont-Mégantic",
        "distanceKm": 344.2,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "phoenix",
      "name": "Phoenix",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/phoenix/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/phoenix/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "kartchner-caverns-sp",
        "name": "Kartchner Caverns",
        "distanceKm": 241.2,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "san-francisco",
      "name": "San Francisco Bay Area",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/san-francisco/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/san-francisco/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "death-valley-np",
        "name": "Death Valley",
        "distanceKm": 505.4,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "seattle",
      "name": "Seattle",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/seattle/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/seattle/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "north-cascades-np",
        "name": "North Cascades",
        "distanceKm": 147.8,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "minneapolis",
      "name": "Minneapolis–St. Paul",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/minneapolis/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/minneapolis/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "isle-royale-np",
        "name": "Isle Royale",
        "distanceKm": 473,
        "verdict": "Fair"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "denver",
      "name": "Denver",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/denver/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/denver/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "curecanti-nra",
        "name": "Curecanti",
        "distanceKm": 246.8,
        "verdict": "Good"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "portland-or",
      "name": "Portland",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/portland-or/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/portland-or/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "olympic-np",
        "name": "Olympic NP",
        "distanceKm": 263.9,
        "verdict": "Good"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "las-vegas",
      "name": "Las Vegas",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/las-vegas/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/las-vegas/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "death-valley-np",
        "name": "Death Valley",
        "distanceKm": 165.5,
        "verdict": "Excellent"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "salt-lake-city",
      "name": "Salt Lake City",
      "url": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/salt-lake-city/",
      "json": "https://ontarionightsky.com/near/salt-lake-city/snapshot.json",
      "best": {
        "siteId": "weber-county-north-fork-park",
        "name": "North Fork Park",
        "distanceKm": 62.1,
        "verdict": "Fair"
      }
    }
  ],
  "attribution": {
    "source": "Ontario Night Sky",
    "license": "CC-BY-4.0 — please link back to https://ontarionightsky.com",
    "data": {
      "weather": "Open-Meteo (cloud, smoke, moon, AQI)",
      "aurora": "NOAA SWPC"
    }
  }
}