Gearing up for the season?

[AstralTraveller]

It's that time of year when this astronomer emerges from his summer hibernation and faces the night. :scared2:

Two weeks ago I observed for the first time since October and now with the end of NightTime Wasting (aka Daylight Saving) the Observing Season is well and truly upon us. To celebrate I've bought a new eyepiece. [Last month the view through the 7mm OU ortho of Saturn was soooo good I've bought the 5mm version.] I've also just done some maintenance on the 25cm GSO dobs. I've cleaned the primary mirror, installed a laser pointer (I can't use that right-angle finder for crude positioning) and put locktight on some bolts which vibrated loose (my old 'Cruiser shakes more than a float at Mardi Gras). And if I wasn't in the market fotr a newer car I'd be after more class glass or some other new toy.

So, my question is: who else experiences this cycle of activity? Is summer full of other things and do 10pm starts put you off? Or do you observe all year round without noticing the passing seasons? Perhaps you even prefer summer? You might eschew cold nights and enjoy mossies?

When do you observe? If you have a seasonal cycle, do you prepare at the start of the season?

[h0ughy]

summer night time and mosquitoes kills it for me, though can be nice to be in shorts rather than thermals.....

the only thing that kept me going was the 16" lightbridge

[jjjnettie]

Well, the cooler weather is almost upon us. My preparation for winter is to make sure there's no redbacks living in my snow boots, and to check my winter woolies for moth holes. Might even look into investing in a freezer suit this season.:)
Summer observing has it's pros and cons. Like Dave said, you can be out and about in shorts and t shirt, but the mozzies can drive you to distraction. We grow them pretty big and feisty here in qld. The only place I don't spray repellant is on my fingers and around my eyes. You can guess where i get bitten. Fingertips and eyelids.:P

[Jen]

mmm Astral you have been a bit quiet lately ;):poke:
Thats a tuff question summer time is great for not freezing your butt off :cold:
But the mozzies do love me they still attacked me this weekend while i was out with the scope (scratch scratch:mad2:) And waiting to start viewing at 10pm seems like a long wait :rolleyes:
Winter time the sky is awsome and you can start viewing at 6:30pm :D but too dam cold specially if there is a south breeze brrrrrrrrr :cold: and my dam eyepieces fog up so there goes my nite of observing :tasdevil::tasdevil:
So spring and autumn do seem to be the best times for me :P:D:)
:2thumbs:

[Baddad]

Hey AstralT,:)
I'm a newbie really. Started in Feb. The number of times I have had anything resembling clear nights I can count on one hand.:mad2:

I was unaware just how rare clear nights are in Qld's Summer/Autumn.:mad2::doh:

Not Happy.:mad2::sadeyes: Been informed Winter is good.
It appears this will certainly be a seasonal activity for me.:) :astron:

Cheers Marty

[AstralTraveller]

Well Jen I'll never keep with your rate of posting, but yes I have cut back a bit, and also been a bit busy.

I think I've said before that you need freezer suit. Contact the wise old owl. One advantage of the suit is that you can keep your eyepieces in the pockets (one per pocket so they don't bang on each other). That will keep them warm enough that they won't fog. If they do fog put them in your pocket until they clear up. If you don't have them in your pocket keep them under cover.

[jjjnettie]

Jen, if you're going to buy a freezer suit, don't get the one piece.
The two piece is much more convenient for us female types.

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol: a one piece freezer suit that would look so funny :lol:

[ngcles]

Hi JJJ & All,



And for us male types too. I've had a one-oiece for 14 years and regretted choosing it over the two-piece it every time I had to put my arms up in the air.:whistle:

I bought the one piece because I thought it'd be warmer. Not so. It's more difficult to put on, take off and wear.

I finally bought a new 2 piece earlier this month -- its heaven !:D


Best,

Les D

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol: what do they look like :screwy:

[ngcles]

Hi Jen,



Do you mean "after I've put my arms up?" -- pleeease ... this is a family site!

Or do you mean what does the one piece look like ?

Well it's basically a parka and pants all in one piece. -- Like a big padded jump-suit. Hood for your head, zips down the sides of the pants, zip from neck to ... ummm the bits that get pinched like they're in a vice when I put my arms up ...

This is a pic of me (right) wearing the one-piece, 2003 with Rob McNaught at the controls of the 40" 'scope at Coona. It was about minus 5 at the time and blowing a gale outside.

Pretty stylish huh?


Best,

Les D

[Ric]

I must say that I prefer the cooler months for observing, there less chance of bumping into a tiger or a brown out on their night time frog hunts.

It scares the willys out of me when you pick one out under red torch light about a metre away. It's also a great excuse for building an observatory.

[bloodhound31]

I love challenging the weather to cold. I love being next to the telescope where the action is in the dome, rather than in a warm room.

Each night of winter, I gear up with multiple layers, daring the night to break zero and see how far it gets below.

Winter is my fav. I am hoping this year I crack my minus 7 record from last year.

Baz.

[MrB]

Yep, I'm a fan of the winter months too.



Well there's your problem.
Get rid of the torch.

[Ric]

Good point Simon :lol: