On 30 Nov 2005 06:49:49 -0800, "sunwolf" wrote:

Hi gang,

What are your favorite observing targets for the month of December?

Do you have any winter observing hints?

Dawn Baird (Chleborad)


I think winter is good time for binocular viewing, especially in cold
climates. You can just grab a pair and go outside. Fortunately, there
seem to be an abundance of good targets: several good open clusters
(some of the big ones like the Pleiades and the Beehive are actually
better in binoculars IMO): M42, M31.

If you take your scope out, dress more warmly than you would for going
for a walk. Don't forget to put on a hat. I also sometimes put on a
pair of sweatpants over my jeans, and two pair of socks, and I don't
by any means consider myself a cold-weather wimp.

When telescope viewing in cold weather I sometimes have a problem with
fogging up the eyepieces. If you wear glasses, and you eyepieces have
enough eye relief to support it, leave your eyeglasses on and you will
reduce the amount of fogging. Or keep your eyepieces warm in your
pocket.

Nick
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Nick Theodorakis

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