Do you get much observing done during the summer?

[Captain Scarlet]

I guess part of the problem for you Nicola, even more of a problem for me, is that in Wicklow you are several degrees west of 0 degrees longitude. Which means sunset and darkness happens 20-odd minutes later local time than if you were in say London. For me, it’s 36 minutes. During the summer by the time it gets dark it’s very late and I’m often just too tired. Having said that, I am seriously considering getting my SV 140 out tonight as it’s a clear and windless evening, the first for a while.

Magnus

[JeremyS]

Variables, doubles, globulars etc

Lots to see and your Mewlon is ideal 👍🏻

[Xilman]

24 minutes ago, Captain Scarlet said:

I guess part of the problem for you Nicola, even more of a problem for me, is that in Wicklow you are several degrees west of 0 degrees longitude. Which means sunset and darkness happens 20-odd minutes later local time than if you were in say London. For me, it’s 36 minutes. During the summer by the time it gets dark it’s very late and I’m often just too tired. Having said that, I am seriously considering getting my SV 140 out tonight as it’s a clear and windless evening, the first for a while.

Magnus

You think you've got problems.  I am at 18W and in the same time zone as the UK.

Local solar time is over an hour adrift from civil time for half the year and over two hours during the summer. Despìte being at 28N, the sky is still bright over in the west and it is notionally 21:45 right now. Anyone would think I was living in Scotland!

FWIW, the cloud cover has been total today / tonight.

[Nicola Fletcher]

10 hours ago, Captain Scarlet said:

I guess part of the problem for you Nicola, even more of a problem for me, is that in Wicklow you are several degrees west of 0 degrees longitude. Which means sunset and darkness happens 20-odd minutes later local time than if you were in say London. For me, it’s 36 minutes. During the summer by the time it gets dark it’s very late and I’m often just too tired. Having said that, I am seriously considering getting my SV 140 out tonight as it’s a clear and windless evening, the first for a while.

Magnus

Yes, I think you’re right Magnus. Often I go outside for a look around 10.30 or so and it’s still quite bright. It’s easier to go to bed, especially if I have to function the next day! 
I think I just need to make more of an effort - the answers are overwhelmingly in support of summer observing!

[Paz]

I observe all year round, and the only things that determines how often are the weather and real life priorities, not how dark it is.

There lots to see in lighter skies, and lots other than just the sun to observe in ptretty much  broad daylight, and many things are only doable in summer e.g. Sagittarius and looking in towards the centre of the milky way.

[mapstar]

I don't use my main scope at all between may and the back end of August.  Planets are often nice though for the warmer nights but I tend to concentrate on other hobbies.

[MarkRadice]

Defo worth an hour or two of double stars in the long summer twilight. 

[Gonariu]

Very very beautiful!!!

Edited June 22 by Gonariu

[magnahrl]

Nice sketches, MarkRadice👍

Magnus A.

[Orange Smartie]

I've not done any observing at all during the summer period. Back issues/weather/family commitments haven't helped. I was lucky to spend 10 nights camping on St Martin's in the Isles of Scilly (they seem to have an astronomy group - any of you on here?) and on one night I wandered to the loo and was lucky enough to see M31 very clearly with the naked eye - not really possible from my place - so that was nice.

[jjohnson3803]

I don't know if it's an age thing or if summers are becoming objectively crappier for observing - heat, humidity, storms, mosquitoes.  I'm at 42° north, but even here astro twilight doesn't end until 2230 or so and starts at 0330 in high summer.  That makes for short nights and with the other things has me seriously wondering if I should take a hiatus from mid-May to mid-September.  Or maybe I need to buy a smart scope and observe on my phone inside.

I consider myself very lucky that I found a last-minute cabin rental in B4 skies last weekend and it was beautifully clear one morning about 0300, so I did get some bino time in.

 

Edited July 22 by jjohnson3803

[Doctor D]

I've mostly been observing doubles this summer. 

[Ags]

11 hours ago, Doctor D said:

I've mostly been observing doubles this summer. 

I've mostly been observing hubbles this summer (on apod).

[GasGiant]

I dont. I like to get to bed early and get my 7 hours 😁