Hello Friend,

      I am often amazed when people buy a telescope in the Fall/Winter then say that they are only going to use it in the Summer.
I actually heard those words out of customers mouth a few days ago...

Well the best observing in my opinion occurs during the Fall and Winter Months... there is so much to see!

Let's start with some easy objects:  Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, the Moon, Orion nebulae, Andromeda...the beautiful Pleaides.
How about the International Space Station? Double Stars.

What's that I hear you say?  You live in the City, and therefore can't see anything at all?

Let's also put that myth to rest as well...the fact is that you can actually see quite a number of  objects in the city
if you know where to look.

Use a planisphere, a Star Chart, An app on your smartphone (Apple or Android).

"But, Ray....it's too c-c-c-c-cold!"

And...even yours truly has been guilty of using that last one on occasion.

Yeah, it's cold, welcome to Canada! Get used to it....and get dressed for it. That is the answer.
If  your feet and head are warm, then for the most part you are gonna be just fine...
have a hot chocolate, a coffee, even a hot toddy....just don't use the cold weather as an excuse
to not observe.

My experience is that if you go out just a few times this Winter, and enjoy the night sky
( and since it get's dark early, you can go out early, and pack it in early) you will be glad that you
did and perhaps even come away with a sense of awe.

And isn't that what this hobby is all about?

Clear Skies,

Ray Khan

PS "I'm too busy to observe".  Well, that has become the mantra of our modern society it seems,
      however you really don't need a lot of time...just 30-45 minutes will do the trick, less time than
      it takes to watch any episode of "un-reality tv".