About 2 or 3 weeks ago it got down to -4 F here in Michigan. I was a little under dressed but was right outside my house so I didn't worry too much about it. What made me finally come inside was when I was changing eyepieces, a couple of them stuck to my fingers. I figured that was enough observing for one night.

Ha! I laugh at the cold! (but I don't think I'd try this at -50 F)

Last fall, in an effort to extend my motorcycle season, I bought a 12v heated vest that is wired into the bike's charging sysyem. It worked so well that I've adapted it to my astronomy hobby, too. I have a 12v deep-cycle battery that will power the vest for five or six hours at a low setting. If I want to stay out longer I plug in a battery charger and I'm good for all night. I saw a show on the tube that explained how this works. If I remember this correctly, if you can keep your body core temperature up the brain doesn't realize how cold the air temperature is and will continue pumping blood to your extremities instead of shutting them off to only keep the vital organs warm. I also have a balaclava that is made to be worn under a full face motorcycle helmet that is very warm, especially under a stocking cap, and a good pair of lightweight deerskin motorcycle gloves. Of course I have a good pair of Sorrel boots and a pair of Carhartt insulated coveralls that I wear, too.

Now, if it would just clear off for more than one day a month, I'd be warm and happy.

Jim

Hello,

Its been a while since I the weather cleared up for some viewing and last night was the first in couple of months. it -35 C. Went out with 6 layers and it turns out I was actually hot except the tips of my fingers since I had to remove my gloves every once a while to maneuver the laptop mouse.  

But it was my best viewing night so far. Didnt have any problems locating M41, M42, M44.

Tomorrow is another good night. will be about -30C. So I will may be wear a layer less.
 

 Antarctica has the coldest average annual temperatures, and the lowest temperature ever recorded on earth (-129 °F) was at Vostok on July 21, 1983. In New Hampshire the weather up here really is crazy, the coldest I have been out observing is -15F with a 10mph wind.
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Hi hedonist,

Know what it feels like at -30F. While taking photos to calculate the orbital elements of the asteroid Ceres in the 70s, I spent a lot of time wearing longjohns and goose-down, and taking hot tea breaks in the car every 20 minutes. I was happy with the results, and I got an A+ in Observational, so it really was worth the experience. The real payoff was the fact that the cold lowered the reciprocity factor of the film, which in plain terms, made it MUCH more light sensitive. Between that and pushing the film speed, I  managed to get some very workable photos for my project, and beautiful pictures to look at, for years.

eagleheart

firefighterjmr:

Tonight, the temperature was 19' F and was cold enough to convince me to pack it up--along with developing wind and clouds.

I spent over three hours observing at a "local" dark site last Saturday morning with the temperature hovering around the same temperature, 19 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 degrees Celsius).

Dave Mitsky

Well my son and I just observed the Geminid meteor shower with a measured temperature of 38° and a wind chill of about 32° with a wind running about 5 to 10 miles per hour. This was just after a cold front moved through on Saturday Dec 13th.
It was chilly and wet for Southern California....lol.

Nothing to brag about but that's what we did. I have observed when it was a few degrees colder but hey I'm from sunny Southern California...

Clear Skies   ---Silveradogold

Well, my hat's off to all of you Northerners!!

I decided to go out tonight.  A balmy 10 degrees F, but what the hey.  Other obligations recently have made it impossible to get out under the stars.  The crystal clear skies beckoned.  Seeing and transparency were just about as good as I've ever experienced...but, MAN, was it cold.  I lasted about two hours.  The only reason I'm typing this now is just to get my fingers to movin'.  And I really think my toes have given up the ghost!

Four nights ago I had -12F here in NE Michigan. I put my scope on a piece of cardboard and slid it out of my workshop on the ice and snow. I lasted for about two hours and personally could have made it longer but my tube and eyepieces actually started to frost. I had to keep my GO TO controller shoved down my coveralls in between objects to keep it working but even using body heat I had to give up and go manual after an hour or so.

Johnm- I hate to differ with you but it's not relavent to what your used to when you have to scrape frost off equipment!

I'd ABSOLUTELY do it again as the seeing was great!

Mark B:

Johnm- I hate to differ with you but it's not relavent to what your used to when you have to scrape frost off equipment!

My main scope is in an observatory, before the cold began to bother me so much, I observed regularly at -30°F and below. When conditions were right, I would get thick layers of hoar frost over every part of the scope.

To keep things working, I would have as many as 14/16 heaters running on various parts. I've got a 27AMP power supply to keep up with the power demands.

astronig:

Well , .......How about posting an observing report ?              

I'm afraid it wouldn't be much of a report.  Searched for Uranus.  Might have seen it, I dunno.  M42, 43, 35 and the NGC object 1/2 degree SW of 35, made the mistake of breathing on my EP once, that took some thought of what to do to clear that matter up, searched a bit for M81 and 82.  They were fairly low.  I need to sharpen my galaxy hunting skills apparently.  I usually can find them pretty quickly, but it was a no go last night.  Oh, and looked at m 72.  Or was it 75?  Which one is in Orion?  There's more than four stars in the Trapezium, correct?  I think I saw five.  Pretty sure of it.

That's about it.  Said all that here because it wasn't worthy of starting a new thread in the "reports".

Johnm- You lucky dog!!

WannaB:

astronig:

Well , .......How about posting an observing report ?              

I'm afraid it wouldn't be much of a report.  Searched for Uranus.  Might have seen it, I dunno.  M42, 43, 35 and the NGC object 1/2 degree SW of 35, made the mistake of breathing on my EP once, that took some thought of what to do to clear that matter up, searched a bit for M81 and 82.  They were fairly low.  I need to sharpen my galaxy hunting skills apparently.  I usually can find them pretty quickly, but it was a no go last night.  Oh, and looked at m 72.  Or was it 75?  Which one is in Orion?  There's more than four stars in the Trapezium, correct?  I think I saw five.  Pretty sure of it.

That's about it.  Said all that here because it wasn't worthy of starting a new thread in the "reports".

Any report is a good report, WannaB.  I think what you were talking about in Orion is M78, the reflection nebula between Alnitak and Betelguse (sp)?  There are a buch of stars in the Trapizium, but most amateur scopes can see between 4 and 6.  Thanks for the report, even a brief one.

zachsdad:

I think what you were talking about in Orion is M78, the reflection nebula between Alnitak and Betelguse (sp)? 

Yep!  That's the one.  Pretty small and fuzzy.  My book says it takes magnification well.  Well, it didn't the other night!  Seeing and transparency was the best I've ever seen.  I think it has something to do with needing to upgrade the EP's. 

-18F Last night! Could only handle it for an hour or so! M42 was the best I've seen it. Able to resolve 5 stars in the trapezium and noticed the green color some members have eluded to. M1-Crab Nebula showed up also without a filter, M81 and M82 were awesome! That's about all my fingertips could handle!

A nice balmy 36 degrees F. For some of you Vikings in this post, I guess it would be shorts weather.