· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar General Astronomy >> General Observing and Astronomy Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 DavidC Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/24/05 Loc: Mesa, Arizona Early am, clouds & rain. An observers nightmare.       #5513093 - 11/10/12 12:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well between getting up before daylight, cloud cover, and rain, the last week has been an observers nightmare. But the weather's going to be drying out here for the next several days, and I plan to take advantage of it. With Veteran's Day being observed on Monday there is no work, so I'm going to go observing Monday night. I'll be tired the next day, but we need to sacrifice something, right? There's always caffeine and red bull. I live in a red zone and a green zone is about 45 minutes travel time for me, and the only light dome I will have is in back of me to the west. It will be nice again to see the Milkyway in it's full glory, Jupiter, and all the other DSO's I haven't seen for a while. I'm looking forward to getting out again, and I need to start building my observing lists. It will be a little chilly at night for this desert rat, but it will be worth it. David Post Extras:       csa/montana Den Mama Reged: 05/14/05 Loc: montana Re: Early am, clouds & rain. An observers nightmare. [Re: DavidC]       #5513221 - 11/10/12 01:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Uhhh, a worst observer's nightmare is getting over a foot of snow dumped on you, in a 24 hr period. This happened here, yesterday. Post Extras:       DavidC Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/24/05 Loc: Mesa, Arizona Re: Early am, clouds & rain. An observers nightmare. [Re: csa/montana]       #5513487 - 11/10/12 05:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well sorry I guess I'm wrong. No, mistaken. You can always get on your parka, get out the snow shovel and clear out an area big enough for your equipment. Then get on you ski boots, pants and coat, make something hot to drink and go observing. I don't know what's worse, 25 degrees and you can't ever get warm enough, or 110 degrees and you sweat your brains out, and can't get cool enough. I guess we all make the best of any situation that comes to us. David Post Extras:       csa/montana Den Mama Reged: 05/14/05 Loc: montana Re: Early am, clouds & rain. An observers nightmare. [Re: DavidC]       #5513505 - 11/10/12 06:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nah, not wrong! Some of the very best observing for me, is during winter; however when it's completely overcast, that does hinder it a bit. I don't even have to clear off the snow for my equipment, just open the roof of the dobservatory. Post Extras:       HellsKitchen Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/05/08 Loc: Melbourne Australia Re: Early am, clouds & rain. An observers nightmare. [Re: csa/montana]       #5513940 - 11/11/12 02:27 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   High cloud has been my source of rage lately. Yesterday was clear all day and I checked the satpic to make sure it will stay clear, but sure enough high cloud was visible on the satpic moving in just in time for sunset, and clearing by sunrise. Today dawned clear, clear all day and now yet again as the sun goes down, high cloud is racing in. And this has occured many many times this year, my nerves are freaking frayed Post Extras:       Jon Isaacs Postmaster Reged: 06/16/04 Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA Re: Early am, clouds & rain. An observers nightmare. [Re: HellsKitchen]       #5514073 - 11/11/12 08:19 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   We all have different crosses to bear. My house is about 5 miles from the ocean so clouds rolling in during the night and remaining until they burn off after sunrise is pretty much standard operating procedure. It's not a question of if but rather when... The other of the coin is that if one is observing from the nearby mountains where it is above the marine layer, then those same clouds may seal off the light dome from the city and further darken the skies... Last night was a pleasant surprise. We were out in the mountains, It was windy (up to 30 mph) and cold (not quite freezing) but it had been mostly cloudy all day. After sunset I went out to lock up the place and it had suddenly cleared up and I had a glorious evening under the stars. Jon Post Extras:       Pinbout Post Laureate Reged: 02/22/10 Loc: Montclair Re: Early am, clouds & rain. An observers nightmare. [Re: Jon Isaacs]       #5514180 - 11/11/12 10:09 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Jon, speaking of winds, how fast do the winds have to be to shut down your 25" scope? Post Extras:       BigC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/29/10 Loc: SE Indiana Re: Early am, clouds & rain. An observers nightmare. [Re: DavidC]       #5514322 - 11/11/12 11:41 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The last three nights have been excellent here although only last night did I get out a scope.Spent some time checking out M42 with different eyepieces.10" f6 Dob and 32mm 2" EP on a dark night and one begins to see the vast extent of the nebula. Saw both M42 and M43 and another smaller patch near the belt that MAY have been part of the Horsehead. Ran across a bright golden star-sure didn't look red or even orange as eye of the bull is said to look.Be nice to have DSC on this Dob,I wonder if Sky Scout will work since the tube is non-metallic? Jupiter and moons very good,planet very steady. THIS scope has nice optics and I am thinking a better focuser with finer adjustment will let me get the most from it. I'm thinking the best accessory is Carol's observatory.No setup time,no carrying stuff out. Post Extras:       JayinUT I'm not Sleepy Reged: 09/19/08 Loc: Utah Re: Early am, clouds & rain. An observers nightmare. [Re: csa/montana]       #5514459 - 11/11/12 01:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I also received over a foot of snow over the last two days. Now it warms back to the 50's so next Friday will look really good for a good night out. Love that it is dark so early. On another note, there are things worse than not observing. We got rear ended yesterday. The back is hurting and sore but at least my wife and I didn't have more serious impacts. Wish it hadn't happen but now the car goes in for repairs as we will also (the entire back end was damaged. The other driver hit us on the left rear here as she made an illegal lane change and unsafe lane change and got cited for it). Oh, weather wasn't a major factor here, snow plows entered the Interstate, slowing traffic and the other driver just didn't make a safe lane change Edited by JayinUT (11/11/12 04:12 PM) Post Extras:       csa/montana Den Mama Reged: 05/14/05 Loc: montana Re: Early am, clouds & rain. An observers nightmare. [Re: JayinUT]       #5514485 - 11/11/12 01:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Wow! Jay, sorry about the accident; but be sure both of you are checked out; injuries could be "hidden". Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 3 registered and 5 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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