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Re: Backyard winter sextant observatory?
From: Ken Muldrew
Date: 2005 Apr 20, 20:37 -0600
From: Ken Muldrew
Date: 2005 Apr 20, 20:37 -0600
> Sorry Jim, I don't think there is any simple answer to the cold > problem. Even in far warmer climes generally it can seem pretty grim > just before dawn. Was Napolean thinking of astronomers when he talked about "4 o'clock in the morning courage"? ;-) > Shivering is the body's answer, but the body just > doesn't consider what this does to the steadiness required! Its just > another movement complication to be added to all the others. A brisk walk of a couple of miles is usually sufficient to take the chill away and prevent any drastic measure like shivering. Plus it's easier to motivate yourself to walk than to do something that requires concentration and coordination. And once you're warmed up then everything becomes easier and more pleasant. But sometimes getting out of a warm bed just isn't natural and isn't right. > Which > brings us back to the desirability of examining a series of sights to > determine the best data that can be extracted from them. Sometimes the best datum that can be extracted from a series of sights that I've taken is the clear message that I need to take better sights. > Am certainly glad that frostbite is not an issue around here. Frostbite can be pretty unpleasant but given a choice between -30?C and +30?C I think I'd have to take the cold. Ken Muldrew.