Wintertime delights
When I first arrived in Wisconsin, I was an unstoppable force of observing. Ignoring the harsh winter weather, night after night I hauled a 17.5-inch Dobsonian north of Milwaukee, along the shore of Lake Michigan, and went after all the galaxies and nebulae I could. Frigid temps and wind were no match: When it was super cold, I observed for 10 or 15 minutes and then piled into my running truck for 10 minutes to warm up. And then repeated the cycle.
Well, I don’t have as much stamina for cold-weather observing as I once did, but the winter sky still holds spectacular treats. Michael Bakich’s story “Astronomy’s Tips for Winter Observing,” delivers comprehensive advice on tackling the glistening highlights of the this seasonal sky. You’ll find lots of practical info in that piece that will help you make the most of those precious moments when, if you’re in a place like Wisconsin, you’ll want to soak up the view efficiently before your eyes freeze up.
Gems abound in the sparkling sky of the winter Milky Way. Obvious treasures like the Orion Nebula, the Crab Nebula, and the Pleiades are no doubt favorites. But all manner of intriguing and lesser-known quarries lie scattered, awaiting your attention and a dark, moonless sky.
You can even spot a few galaxies in the wintertime evening sky, peering away from the plane of the Milky Way. You might spy some in the north, from Cepheus through Cassiopeia to Camelopardalis. And rising in the east will be the start of the realm of the galaxies, including countless targets in Canes Venatici, Ursa Major, Leo, and Coma Berenices.
Don’t let cold weather impede your wintertime observing goals. Some of the most beautiful telescopic sights you can see exist under chilled skies, and you’ll be glad you opened your eyes in the path of their photons.