What To Do, What To Do?

[JayTee]

Last night at 6 p.m. it was dark and it was cloudy. It was yet another night of clouds that has been going on since forever. By 9 p.m. dinner was eaten, the dishes were done, and I had changed into my PJs and was ready to settle down for an evening of this Forum, astronomy apps, and a little TV (The Expanse). As I walked from my kitchen, with my hot cup of cocoa, to the TV room I passed by one of my windows that looks North. I always look out my windows because you never know what you're going to see.

This time I saw a star, wait, what? So I sat down my cocoa and went out my front door and the Eastern hemisphere of sky was showing stars. I then quickly moved to my back door and looked out that door and saw that the Western hemisphere of sky was showing stars. I checked the temperature and it was a frigid 19°F (-7°C). I'm in my warm house, with my hot cocoa, in my PJ's. Outside, I have two feet of snow and my driveway is a solid sheet of ice, so I'm uncertain of where I would even set up one of my scopes. I was unable to decide what to do because the drive to do some observing was very strong. But, I'm getting much less tolerant of the cold at this stage of my life. So, with some remorse I decided that my intended course of the Forum, apps, and TV is what I would continue to do, forgoing even a short time out with one of my grab-and-go scopes.

What would you do?

[Bigzmey]

I am going to hibernation when temps start approaching 0 C, so I would have done the same as you JT. However, when I lived in colder climate I used to observe with binoculars through windows from within the house during the winter.

[MistrBadgr]

Go clean some astronomy equipment or line up eyepieces on a table top like little toy soldiers! ....maybe read some posts here or watch an astronomy video of some sort.

[John Baars]

It wouldn't be the first time I'd quickly pulled thick clothes over my pyjamas and then proceeded to wrap myself up thickly. When I was young.......

Now that I'm a little older, I would prefer to observe with G&G (if possible) or binoculars from behind a window. Last time I did that was....last week.

[sdbodin]

Obviously, a roll-off is your summer project. As I am just a couple hundred away from you, all that was required was a day of lethargy then a day to shovel the foot path to the shed. Have been blessed with two clear nights, first in a month. Just a half hour out to set-up then back inside to drink hot coffee while the autoguider does its trick. But I was a bit warmer, last night only 24F and it took 4 hours before the corrector plate iced over on the guide scope.

What we do to see the sky!
Steve

[helicon]

Finally had a session the other night. (Clear!)

Still, it was only 46 outside, hoodie weather still. I don't know if at this stage I could handle 19. So you probably did the right thing JT.

[WilliamPaolini]

Last night ... saw that the Western hemisphere of sky was showing stars. I checked the temperature and it was a frigid 19°F (-7°C). ... Outside, I have two feet of snow and my driveway is a solid sheet of ice, so I'm uncertain of where I would even set up one of my scopes....
What would you do?

Easy...find a movie on TV and enjoy.

Whenever it snows I immediately shovel a patch for observing. Don't care how cold it is outside, but if the ground is not prepped then not a night for observing!

[Greenman]

In my minds eye: I dress up as Nanook of the north, load my gear on the sled, ready the huskies & mush - off to a dark site just a bit slower than the clouds rush in. 🌧

In reality; stir my hot drink (Bovril in my case) retire to the lounge and surf some astro sites.

[turboscrew]

I might have gone out for a while, when it's still warm.
Probably no observing, due to waking up for work next morning.
It's actually warm here now (about -5°C), but the mattresses also called as clouds seem pretty heavy.

[pakarinen]

What would you do?

I like the old addage:

"When in danger or in doubt,
Run in circles, scream, and shout!"

I'd observe from inside through a window if possible. That might be Orion for me tonight if I can stay awake until it's past the stupid larch trees.

[Thefatkitty]

I hear you JT; I think with me too its age. 10 years ago 0 to -10F wasn't a big deal. Now? I won't sit out in that. Maybe some shots of the Moon if it's up, but that 2 minutes outside and gives me something astronomy-related to do for the next hour in the warm basement

Glad to know I'm not the only one!

[Butterfly Maiden]

Sophia and I are predominantly warm weather observers

We have on occasion got wrapped up and ventured outside into the cold but it is not as much fun

We are only admitting this openly now because this thread has been started and other people have been honest too

[SkyHiker]

I don't force myself to go out because the enjoyment is diminished by setting up and breaking down each time. It takes me about 5 minutes in marked spots but I redo my PA each time, which takes about 5 minutes. And taking flats and biases too, altogether I spend 3x5+1x2 minutes outside. If I had an observatory it would be 3x2 minutes. One improvement that keeps me fom havig to go outside is the low light webcam that I got, I can now see what my scope does for real inside - saves me time to go check for crashes.