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RussL
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1390
Loc: Cayce, SC
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Quote:
Me: Winter stargazing is really no problem at all if you have appropriate clothing.
I quite agree--I don't like it, but the cold isn't going to keep me from going out with the scope or binos. It may shorten my session, but I just can't resist those winter skies. I also ride a motorcycle in the winter, so I'm used to searching for fortitude in my attitude toward it being cold. I do ride less in winter, however. After all, the wind chill factor at say, 60 mph, when it's freezing out can cause frostbite, hypothermia(hyperthermia?), disorientation, dizziness, all which can cause death or serious injury. At least when I'm observing I can go inside periodically and get a hot drink or stay in awhile. I sure get tired of bundling up, though. And I DO have a winter jacket--my riding jacket. And an aviator hat with a strap. 
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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Tom Polakis
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/20/04
Posts: 535
Loc: Tempe, Arizona
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Tony,
That's a very good assessment of why people in the Southwest are scared off by the Winter chill. I absolutely despise bitter cold, and you won't hear a complaint from me when I'm observing in 95 degrees at night in June.
But in my case, I have made a science out of staying warm, paying top dollar for every layer of warm clothes. And I still get cold, particularly my fingers, which are susceptible to frostbite. Despite all the suggestions, there is no realistic solution for keeping fingers warm that have to be bare.
Back to the original question, I observe in equal amounts from late September through June, and take a monsoon break for the Summer months.
Tom
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Tom Polakis
Tempe, AZ
Visual observing, DSLR photography, lunar & planetary imaging
http://www.pbase.com/polakis/
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Tony Flanders
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 1914
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Quote:
Despite all the suggestions, there is no realistic solution for keeping fingers warm that have to be bare.
It's absolutely true -- fingers are the Final Frontier. I'm lucky to have what my wife (with borderline Reynaud's) calls bionic hands. They stay much warmer than most people's. But even so, and even wearing half mittens with hand warmers inside, after a couple of hours out in really cold weather, I'll suddenly hit a wall where my hands become nearly non-functional. In such conditions, I try to find activities that can be done wearing full mittens, such as binocular or naked-eye observing.
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Tony Flanders
eyeglasses
6x15 and 8x32 monoculars
8x25, 7x35, 10x30 IS, 10x50, and 15x70 binoculars
70mm and 100mm achromatic refractors
4.5", 7", and 12.5" Dobs
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Joe Bergeron
Vendor - Space Art
Reged: 11/10/03
Posts: 840
Loc: Upstate NY
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Here in upstate NY I am disinclined to observe during the winter. I'm capable of it, but I resist it. For one thing, to reach my site requires walking up a slight hill, and if it's icy and snowy that can be a challenge. So I take what I can get during the warmer months. August-October tend to be best.
But...if I happen to be in Arizona during the winter, then fine! Since lowland AZ "winter" nights are about the same as NY fall or even summer ones, they are no obstacle to me. In fact, as I recall it worked out pretty well this past winter.
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Seven telescopes of a diverse nature.
Multiple chums glittering in the sky. New friends await.
My Web Site
English Lessons for Amateur Astronomers
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FirstSight
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 2433
Loc: Raleigh, NC
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A CHEAP BUT VERY EFFECTIVE winter observing outfit is available for around $50 from Wal-Mart - Walls brand "blizzard-proof" coveralls (which even come in astro-friendly black color as an option)! Think: poor man's snowmobile suit. But extraordinarily effective in the range of cold temperatures when sane people should still be out, and as a bonus, it's very rugged and very handy for cold-weather daytime yard work as well. Combine this with a thick toboggan, ski socks and thick shoes, and most importantly, a pair of power-stretch thin (but very warm) gloves from Mountain Hardware (REI carries them in their catalogue) for $25 - BTW, Mountain Hardware's trademark is a silver-colored nut logo.
But the Walls coveralls from Wal-Mart are a bargain, and the cat's meow for comfortable winter observing. Add long underwear as your local climate demands.
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Chris M., aka "First Sight"
Orion XT12i Dob with Moonlite CR-2 focuser
WO Megrez 90 refractor on UniStar Light mount
Nikon 10x50 Binoculars
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zee
super member
Reged: 07/04/07
Posts: 104
Loc: Arizona (varies)
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depends on the weather--this last winter was a cold one in AZ, so Sept-Nov and March-May were good. This summer I'll be in a place without monsoons, so I'm hoping for a good summer too. Ideally, living mobile as I do, I can follow the good weather. But with gas prices as they are, I don't know that I'll do it again after this next year.
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8" Orion classic dob
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Mattias
member
Reged: 08/22/07
Posts: 94
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Whenever the skies are dark and clear 
...which means mid-July to mid-May, but the weather between November and February is usually very bad. That leaves the second half of summer and autumn as the most frequent seasons. It is the best part of the year anyway IMO because the Milky Way is in a good position.
The solution to my clothing problem was to visit an army surplus store. I have never had cold feet in my army boots.
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Carol L
Reged: 07/05/04
Posts: 5867
Loc: Tomahawk, WI 45N//89W
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Quote:
That is a good point Carol. There is a lot more night in the winter. But yikes! How cold does it get where you're at in the winter? Don't entire lakes freeze over in the winter there? We get warnings here when there is a chance for frost.
You have my respect for going outside at night when its so cold. 
 Hi Shane! Yes entire lakes freeze over, and on average the ice gets about 3' thick. Ever see 'Grumpy Old Men' where they drive their trucks out onto the ice to get to their fishing shacks? That's what it's like here. Sometimes when there's a fishing derby, there's so many trucks out on the lake it looks like a parking lot.
Getting back to observing.. mine is done from the east deck in the winter because my Starpad's snowed in. But that's ok, because I'm only 25' away from Puff, my 500°F wood stove.
Usually there's a goodly number of nice winter nights to observe, but this past winter was absolutely merciless. Every time it would clear up, the temp would plunge down to about -25°F. Needless to say it was the worst winter I've ever had for observing.. hope it never happens again.
Generally, 10°F is usually my limit. Even though all of the -ahem- 'glue' in my mounts has been replaced with snowmobile grease, the equipment still begins to bog down when it gets below 10°F.
I guess the worm gears can't compete with the rpm's of a Yamaha. 
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 *Step-by-Step Lunar Sketching*
CN Gallery
Photo Gallery
8"SCT ~ 120achro ~ 90Mak ~ 80ST ~ 11x70s ~ 22x100s
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Thunderhead
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/27/05
Posts: 562
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
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Quote:
Tony,
That's a very good assessment of why people in the Southwest are scared off by the Winter chill. I absolutely despise bitter cold, and you won't hear a complaint from me when I'm observing in 95 degrees at night in June.
I despise cold aswell, ( i turn blue and have to wear 2 jackets at 40ºF) but having to wear a jumper and trackies on those 95F nights here to avoid being eaten by mosquitos is equally pathetic!!! The sweat just runs of your body like a waterfall.
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SAB - Melbourne, Australia
GSO 10" F5 Dob with flocking & dewshield
12" (304mm) F4.6 truss dob with premium optics
Edited by Thunderhead (05/18/08 10:06 AM)
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physik
super member
Reged: 10/14/07
Posts: 173
Loc: Wichita Falls, TX
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I observe all year, but I'd have to say that my favorite time is during the winter. I hate being out in the cold, but the skies are always much clearer during those months. I also enjoy not having to fight off mosquitoes and other miniature flying attack vehicles.
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Wes
Celestron C9.25 S-GT XLT SCT
Orion AstroView 100mm Refractor
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spoolboyy
super member
Reged: 08/01/05
Posts: 184
Loc: Lewiston, Idaho
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Personally, I tend to observe when my targets are visible and when the weather cooperates.
I prefer to observe when its a comfy 60 degrees in spring or summer, but objects like Orion will drag me out in the dead of winter wearing insulated coveralls, a hat, two pairs of pants and as many shirts as I can wear without losing mobility.
I was able to spend quite a few hours observing M42 and other wintertime targets a few years ago in 15 degree weather for quite some time, taking occasional breaks indoors to warm up.
I agree with the others, hands are the limiting factor for how long you can stay out!
-adam
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//ADAM
Celestron 'Hopper 6"
Galileo 120mm Reflector
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