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Extreme astronomy

Share your most extreme observing experiences.
Coldest Weather
Last post 06-09-2009 08:48 PM by Matthew Ota. 47 replies.
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  • 01-27-2009 02:02 PM In reply to

    Re: Coldest Weather

    My lowest observing session temperature for 2009 is now 8 degrees Fahrenheit (-13 degrees Celsius).  I spent 5 hours at a dark site on Saturday night.  It was damp, slightly windy, and cold!

    Dave Mitsky

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    Chance favors the prepared mind.
    De gustibus non est disputandum.
  • 03-03-2009 06:08 AM In reply to

    Re: Coldest Weather

    We gave up at CSAC Sunday morning (March 1st) at 12.5 F. The batteries in my electric vest died about a half hour earlier and that was it for me!

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    The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it's stranger than we CAN imagine. --- JBS Haldane
  • 03-03-2009 11:32 AM In reply to

    Re: Coldest Weather

    Last friday night I was out in -15 C with a 25 km/h wind. I was only out long enough to see Saturn and Lulin and then I was outta there.
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    Orion XT12 Intelliscope
  • 03-11-2009 09:21 PM In reply to

    Re: Coldest Weather

    The coldest conditions I have observed in were about 4 degrees Fahrenheit and about -15.5 Celsius. The Celsius temperature just seems lower haha. I live in Michgan.

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    Open the pod-bay doors, please HAL.

    60mm homemade refracting telescope
    101mm reflecting Bushnel telescope
    LXD75 Meade mount
    Cannon 350d DSLR
    Logitech quickcam

  • 03-14-2009 08:25 AM In reply to

    • stars4life
    • Joined on 08-06-2004
    • South Jersey (at the edge of the pine barrens)
    • Posts 1,488

    Re: Coldest Weather

    I did a few hours each night 2 nights in a row for Lulin 2 weeks ago. Both nights were rather gusty with temps according to NOAA in the high teens to mid 20s. Never saw a even a hint of frost on my scope though... Gotta love that! 

    The coldest apparent temp record for me would be about 15 years ago. I went solo camping for some celestial event, I don’t remember which one at the moment, some meteor shower I guess. Anyway, it was about 20F and clear, but it got very windy sometime after midnight. My small camp fire started blowing flat across the ground and had to be put out. The only thing that kept my 2 man dome from blowing away as morning approached was the dead weight of my body wrapped in 2 (yes 2) 30 degree bags. At times the tent was also just about flat on the ground as the wind seemed to get worse every time I roused a bit.

    When I finally got up to go home, I had a huge surprise waiting outside. There was about a half inch of crystal clear ice on everything… except the tent. I remember that I had to work to get my truck’s doors open. I guess that maybe I don’t recall the reason that I was out to the dark site… because my brain froze while I slept.

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  • 05-19-2009 10:13 AM In reply to

    • Starwolf
    • Joined on 03-26-2006
    • Glenside, Pennsylvania
    • Posts 926

    Re: Coldest Weather

    I am in Pennsylvania so we hover around single digits at night in the dead of winter. I don't know how cold it was but it was cold enough that my breath froze the focuser assembly after a few minutes of viewing.

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    "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." - Plato

    ~Starwolf~

    http://www.joecaggiano.com
  • 05-29-2009 08:50 PM In reply to

    • Kyle
    • Joined on 06-07-2008
    • Glendale, Southern California
    • Posts 383

    Re: Coldest Weather

     Wind isn't very common here in Glendale, and temperatures rarely get below 40 degrees, if ever. I guess things are pretty nice where I live

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    Geeks will rule the world, eventually.

    Equipment:
    Zhumell 8 inch Dob
    Oberwerk 20x80 lightweight binoculars
    Orion Paragon-Plus binocular mount
  • 06-09-2009 08:48 PM In reply to

    Re: Coldest Weather

     I set up last January because I heard a sunspot had appeared. It was 23 degrees outside. My cables were hard as rocks, and it was very uncomfortable. I do not like observing in the cold. Most serious astronmers in New England have observatories, but I cannot afford one.

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    It is easier to apologize than to ask for permission
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