Subject: Winter Observing obstacles and how other amateurs deal with the issue
Hello Friend,
Winter is certainly a tough time many of us here in Northern US & Canada.
- It's takes time to set up equipment and allowing it to reach ambient temperature.
- electronics don't seem to like working below -13
- Feet get cold
- Telescopes fog up or get frozen over.
The list goes on.
So what can you do to get around that problem?
Here is how other amateur astronomers are dealing with the cold winter weather:
Gilles B. who lives in northern Quebec says that he resorts to binocular observing in the Winter. He has a pair
of binoculars that he mounts on a tripod. (He likely also has hot sugar pie with maple syrup, though he never mentioned that).
Roger J. has an observatory which mounts his Celestron 9.25" telescope. He says it's just to cold period.
Dave W. has an Meade LX10 telescope which he just uses manually without a drive. Aim and point. Plus he has
another dobsonian scope.
John A. moved from darker skies back to the city. Kind of of the reverse way to do things. He has the right idea.
He purchased a Meade ETX 80 Backpack computerized scope and is on his way to Florida to start using it shortly.
Chris H. from Western Canada, says that cloudy nights have been a problem. I will have to concur on that one.
Chris also has an observatory in a dark sky area in the US he uses part of the year. Great idea Chris.
Steven C. bought a telescope from Khanscope a few years ago. His wife ended up being the real serious astronomer
in the family, according to Steven. He lives way up in the frozen north.
So there you go.
My personal solution? Get on a plane and go south to somewhere warm. British Astroimager Damian Peach heads to Barbados,
one of my favourite places. Warm beaches and cool drinks, and a few Green monkeys.
What's not to like?
Clear Skies,
Ray Khan
PS Don't forget; the 5% discount offer ends tonite at midnite at www.khanscope.com Just enter the code: love5
on the checkout page. While you are it, check out our new website feature: Daily Deals. The deals change
on a regular basis, so if you see something you like, grab it before it's gone.
So what can you do to get around that problem?
Here is how other amateur astronomers are dealing with the cold winter weather:
Gilles B. who lives in northern Quebec says that he resorts to binocular observing in the Winter. He has a pair
of binoculars that he mounts on a tripod. (He likely also has hot sugar pie with maple syrup, though he never mentioned that).
Roger J. has an observatory which mounts his Celestron 9.25" telescope. He says it's just to cold period.
Dave W. has an Meade LX10 telescope which he just uses manually without a drive. Aim and point. Plus he has
another dobsonian scope.
John A. moved from darker skies back to the city. Kind of of the reverse way to do things. He has the right idea.
He purchased a Meade ETX 80 Backpack computerized scope and is on his way to Florida to start using it shortly.
Chris H. from Western Canada, says that cloudy nights have been a problem. I will have to concur on that one.
Chris also has an observatory in a dark sky area in the US he uses part of the year. Great idea Chris.
Steven C. bought a telescope from Khanscope a few years ago. His wife ended up being the real serious astronomer
in the family, according to Steven. He lives way up in the frozen north.
So there you go.
My personal solution? Get on a plane and go south to somewhere warm. British Astroimager Damian Peach heads to Barbados,
one of my favourite places. Warm beaches and cool drinks, and a few Green monkeys.
What's not to like?
Clear Skies,
Ray Khan
PS Don't forget; the 5% discount offer ends tonite at midnite at www.khanscope.com Just enter the code: love5
on the checkout page. While you are it, check out our new website feature: Daily Deals. The deals change
on a regular basis, so if you see something you like, grab it before it's gone.