It's winter in Victoria, just wondering how you people keep warm while observing.
From experience the parts that are most vulnerable to the cold are the extremities, that includes the feet, the hands, and the head. In fact a huge proportion of body heat is lost through the head. It's important to have your hands and feet well protected.... but it's even more important to keep your head covered up. I've learnt in my own experience that if you don't you're whole night can turn pear-shaped.
I usually wear a beanie/hood that I can pull down over my forehead.... and also a scarf as well. When wearing it I keep the ends of the scarf under my jacket so that it doesn't dangle and it stays in place. With my collar turned up, I then pull up my scarf up to cover everything under my eyes. Having the cold wind on my face is unbearable - and, as a hypochondriac, I also want protection from asthma attacks and head colds . I used to have one frostbitten ear as a kid so I make sure that my scarf covers both of them too. After that I'm pretty right to observe for the night. Well here's a pic of me covering up and you all should too.
I'd like to hear how you guys are dealing with the low temperatures out there on the observing field.
I was up at the ASV's site outside Heathcoate on the weekend and it got down to 1 degree...as for keeping warm..I wore my thermals...flying boots...coveralls..gloves..long arctic jacket and a double-knitt beanie..toasty warm!!!..only the dew caused a problem..have to get the hot water bottle next time to keep the eyepieces warm and clear!..still had great viewing though!!
Cheers !
Castor, I have to agree about keeping your head and neck warm above all else, if your head (the same applies to your chest area) is cold your body shuts down circulation to your extremeties (hands & feet) to keep your vital organs warm. In the days when I was a fanatical winter wavesailor the difference between having cold hands and feet was simply a neoprene helmet, once your head was warm, feet and hands were toasty warm again.
Just ask Ken and I, you sooky babs, cold is in the mind of the beholder, and you can control it, ask my dear wife, she reckons my thermostate don't work.
hmmmm, ambient was -3.1 and the mirror was -2.5 this morning at 5.30am.
lotsa layers and try and move around a little bit!!!
I purchased by first pair of 10x50 binoculars last week so I am truly a newbie. I am starting to think that stargazing is perhaps best suited to the warmer months.
I purchased by first pair of 10x50 binoculars last week so I am truly a newbie. I am starting to think that stargazing is perhaps best suited to the warmer months.
No, don't think that way.
The winter sky holds the best objects and also the clearest skies!!!
The winter sky holds the best objects and also the clearest skies!!!
Your right Ballarat.....I get my first look at the moon next week. I will need to rug up for it as I suspect it will keep me outside for quite a bit of time.
I purchased by first pair of 10x50 binoculars last week so I am truly a newbie. I am starting to think that stargazing is perhaps best suited to the warmer months.
Welcome aboard!
Mike's right, the winter milky way is awesome especially for binos! Summer, of course, is good too with Orion in the evening sky, but not as many rich fields.
Don't be put off by the cold. With a bit of planning, you can keep warm even on the coldest nights. I work on the layer principle too, but the last layer I put on are freezer pants and jacket. I start with thermals, jeans and shirt, thick socks and boots, fingerless woolen gloves (with the optional ski gloves if necessary), IIS beanie, a throat coat, windstopper jacket (with the option of a tech vest if its really cold) and then finally the freezer jacket and pants when it gets reeeeally cold!!!
If you're observing with binos, don't forget one of the best ways is to roll out a sleeping bag (with a therma-rest is good!) or swag and snuggle in! It beat's standing and looking up.
If you're observing with binos, don't forget one of the best ways is to roll out a sleeping bag (with a therma-rest is good!) or swag and snuggle in! It beat's standing and looking up.
Al.
If you are on the edge of a hill in your sleeping bag, be careful when you turn over. Someone in this forum wasn't careful and she went rolling down the hill unable to stop herself.
If you are on the edge of a hill in your sleeping bag, be careful when you turn over. Someone in this forum wasn't careful and she went rolling down the hill unable to stop herself.
. I used to have one frostbitten ear as a kid so I make sure that my scarf covers both of them too. After that I'm pretty right to observe for the night. Well here's a pic of me covering up and you all should too.
No, don't think that way. 
, a throat coat, windstopper jacket (with the option of a tech vest if its really cold) and then finally the freezer jacket and pants when it gets reeeeally cold!!!
