42 replies to this topic

[Danny Linguini]

Just wondering where you all are viewing from to get these beautiful clear images I’m seeing all over the place here. Because since I bought my scope back in November, plus a few EP’s and other accessories, I’ve had exactly two good nights, and one of those wasn’t even good enough for Starsense to work reliably. I even bought a solar filter so I could maybe use it a bit during the day. Nah. I’ve got EP’s, a binoviewer, and two new finders I haven’t even tried yet because it’s just been continuously awful out. Every night is either clouds, full moon, single-digit temps, or all three. I cannot recall such a string of rainy or cloudy days and nights as I’ve seen these past two months. I come in here to pass the time, and dive into SkySafari every few nights to see what I might look for IF THE SKY EVER CLEARS, but that only goes so far. I’m getting really frustrated and am actually starting to think about selling everything and canceling the order for the eQuinox 2.

 

What do you guys do to ward off the frustration during extended periods of absolutely crappy skies? 

Edited by Danny Linguini, 30 January 2023 - 11:21 PM.

[AhBok]

Ha! I don’t know where you are located, but plenty of us simply never sleep and dress in many, many layers. It’s been cloudy here in the mid south most of the winter, but I rarely go more than week without finding some clear skies for at least a few hours sometimes during the night. I used to avoid observing/imaging when the temps fell below freezing, but our friends in Canada shamed me so my cutoff is now about 20f, LOL!

[edify]

I feel you big time, I was on that same boat. What I did was to get familiar and informed with that starts I was looking at and its history. Its a lot better to know what your looking at then just looking at that night sky and say wow so beautiful.   

[Notdarkenough]

What do I do? Complain on CN, of course 

[wrvond]

I spend a lot of money.

 

Two new telescopes, two new to me mounts, not counting the new to me mount I resold and the brand new mount I put back in the box and can't decide what to do with. Some new eyepieces, a Daystar Quark, the list goes on.

 

I can't remember when I saw the last clear day or night...

[Larry Geary]

We're in the Northeast US. In winter. That's the way it is.

 

The other night I set a tripod outside with a mirror lens to let it cool down before I tested the optics. When I got to it, the focuser was so stiff it barely moved. The tripod ball head was the same. Then my fingers got stiff. And the sky was clouding over. I brought everything inside and decided to wait until March or April.

[Larry Geary]

What do I do? Complain on CN, of course 

I go to The Off Topic Observatory forum to see who died.

[Jim in PA]

Winter is slim pickin's in the NE.  The only astronmony stuff I do is acquire new gizmos (buy it or make it), maintenance, planning, etc.  Sometimes I get a nice day to do solar, mostly with a small refractor and Altair Astro wedge.  The rare night it's not cloudy I'll go out for a look with a GnG, but poor seeing and transparency is the rule.  Some winters are worse than others, and this one has been pretty bad so far.

[KWB]

. I come in here to pass the time, and dive into SkySafari every few nights to see what I might look for IF THE SKY EVER CLEARS, but that only goes so far. I’m getting really frustrated and am actually starting to think about selling everything and canceling the order for the eQuinox 2.

 

What do you guys do to ward off the frustration during extended periods of absolutely crappy skies? 

That unfortunate about your viewing situation. I haven't been able to go outside with my telescope at night for over a month. Bad weather and overcast skies happen in the winter time in many places in the U.S.

 

I would hope you would come here for more than just passing the the time. Such as you maybe learning a lot about this hobby as these forums and the threads that are the fundamental makeup of those forums are highly educational. I've learned a lot from them over the years. And making friends is always a good thing. 

 

I guess this hobby isn't suited for everyone. Patience and perseverance are also essential ingredients to enjoying this hobby. Without them, good luck.

[bobzeq25]

Go West, young man.  <smile>  Darker skies.  Better weather for astronomy.  The desert is particularly good.

[Anony]

Winter tends to be refractor season for me. During the brief window where it's not cloudy, nor super freezing, I want something quick and easy, with no cool down time.

 

I think I have the same scope as the OP too (C5) ... I should make a reflectix winter coat for it, which would make it a bit more grab and go-y .... something for the OP to consider too. It won't make clouds go away, but it will make it easier when the clouds do part.

[Stellar1]

Well I certainly don't contemplate selling off my stuff, you'll regret that I guarantee, I haven't seen a darn star in two months up in here!. give your head a shake and hang in there bud.

Edited by Stellar1, 30 January 2023 - 11:55 PM.

[Shane1200]

I feel your pain down here in upper Ne Florida. It's been mostly clouds here since December. We did have a cold front that came  in on Thursday that gave 3 nights of clear skies but after midnight Saturday night the clouds and rain came back.  I was wanting to view the Mars- Moon occultation but we have 100 % cloud cover with light drizzle as off 12:00 am.  I couldn't even see the glow of the moon thru the cloud cover.

[Skyfisher]

Here on the south shore of Lake Ontario we have been a bit over two months w/o a clear sky    I've been modifying my ES 10" hybrid Dob and starting to plan two make projects.  Usually we have one or two clear night in January and a few more for Feb but not looking good for here.  Take a look at Stellarium !

[Sketcher]

What do you guys do to ward off the frustration during extended periods of absolutely crappy skies? 

Well, for one, there's CloudyNights for cloudy nights 

 

Then there's that other major hobby -- the one that can be enjoyed inside regardless of what conditions are outside.  I watched coverage of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament for the past two weeks.  It didn't look like it was going to happen, but in the end everything fell into place and Anish Giri won   

[Jon Isaacs]

Go West, young man.  <smile>  Darker skies.  Better weather for astronomy.  The desert is particularly good.

 

Jon

[Tony Flanders]

I agree that so this has been the cloudiest late-fall to early-winter that I've ever experienced in the Northeast. There's often a major shift in weather patterns in February; I'm hoping for an improvement soon.

 

Single-digit temperatures (F) don't bother me, especially if the single digit is positive rather than negative.

[rhetfield]

Ha! I don’t know where you are located, but plenty of us simply never sleep and dress in many, many layers. It’s been cloudy here in the mid south most of the winter, but I rarely go more than week without finding some clear skies for at least a few hours sometimes during the night. I used to avoid observing/imaging when the temps fell below freezing, but our friends in Canada shamed me so my cutoff is now about 20f, LOL!

in this part of the country, those conditions would be called mostly sunny. Time between clear nights is measured in months instead of days.

[HouseBuilder328]

I agree that so this has been the cloudiest late-fall to early-winter that I've ever experienced in the Northeast. There's often a major shift in weather patterns in February; I'm hoping for an improvement soon.

 

Single-digit temperatures (F) don't bother me, especially if the single digit is positive rather than negative.

 

I was just about to say this also.  This winter  has been ridiculous - almost makes you think about all this money spent on equipment and I just have to stare at it indoors.  Maybe I forgot how less cloudy it is in the spring/summers and I can get into action again?

[Jim in PA]

Hey...I think Jon went EAST for that photo.

[TayM57]

This winter has been cloudy almost every night. Most winters, theres at least a stretch of clear nights. Not so this year. I've almost given up on observing this winter. Just going to wait for the weather patterns to shift.

[Stellar1]

 

 

 

Jon

 

Wow that's some spot you got there, jealousy meter overload, I can just imagine Perseverance rover wandering out there behind you.

Edited by Stellar1, 31 January 2023 - 09:48 AM.

[NeroStar]

I live in Texas now,, but moved back here after 16 years in the Northeast and 5 years in the Northwest (Seattle region). I've been there and I feel you.  There's an old wives tale about new astronomy gear negatively effecting the weather. Fact is, weather is crappy in some regions all the time regardless.  I've read Seattle is one of the top 5 cloudiest American cities and I believe it.  I would get giddy anytime the sky cleared up while living there.  The lake effect of the Great Lakes region is a detriment to observing too.

 

If it's any consolation, observing down here has its share of misery too.  Near-100 degree temps at 2am, no-notice angry thunderstorms, excessive dew, annoying bugs and huge mosquitoes make for another kind of viewing misery. Ever been jumped by a swarm of fire ants while you're looking through an eyepiece?  It sucks.  

 

I guess the only way to look at is that you'll appreciate the good viewing nights only after you've had a number of bad ones. 

Edited by NeroStar, 31 January 2023 - 09:54 AM.

[UnityLover]

Just wondering where you all are viewing from to get these beautiful clear images I’m seeing all over the place here. Because since I bought my scope back in November, plus a few EP’s and other accessories, I’ve had exactly two good nights, and one of those wasn’t even good enough for Starsense to work reliably. I even bought a solar filter so I could maybe use it a bit during the day. Nah. I’ve got EP’s, a binoviewer, and two new finders I haven’t even tried yet because it’s just been continuously awful out. Every night is either clouds, full moon, single-digit temps, or all three. I cannot recall such a string of rainy or cloudy days and nights as I’ve seen these past two months. I come in here to pass the time, and dive into SkySafari every few nights to see what I might look for IF THE SKY EVER CLEARS, but that only goes so far. I’m getting really frustrated and am actually starting to think about selling everything and canceling the order for the eQuinox 2.

 

What do you guys do to ward off the frustration during extended periods of absolutely crappy skies?

Im on pluto.

[BlueTrane2028]

As others have said, it's the Northeast US, welcome to the club of pain.

That said, you basically have to be ready at a moment's notice.  Last night, I looked up and saw a clear Moon and Jupiter.  Hmm, that's cool, I'll come back out in a bit and setup.  Well, went outside and it was cloudy.

I had one opportunity to see the comet everyone seems to be posting about... family responsibility kept me home.

It'll clear eventually and you'll get to see all sorts of things again.

As others have mentioned, smaller telescopes are great for the quick looks, less cool down means more quality observing time.