Recording Observations in Cold Weather

Hello all... I live in Canada and occasionally observe in temperatures below -20C (below 0F), and am curious if others who observe in these conditions still record their observations. I find it such a pain to record and sketch what I see in those temperatures, as I don't have the dexterity to hold a pencil accurately enough to sketch fine details while wearing gloves. I love recording my sessions, but I have struggled to be diligent when it's so cold... I've thought about getting a mini-tape recorder to record what I see, then write it down later once inside. Anyone have any suggestions?

David,

I have very good results with thick gloves with two fingers and thumb cut (a tramp gloves variety). They allow me to change eyepieces, focus and sketch down to -10C. I thought that if the temperature went below that I would get myself thick fur mittens to ware upon the gloves while I'm only looking and not doing anything with my hands, but so far I was spared

Dmitri

One observer (me) once used a technique were you do the outline
of the image, then divide it into numbered sections, and
simply write down basic descriptions for each section. If you've
observered enough deepsky, you can use a kind of shorthand, then
when you are inside and thawed out, you can re-do the sketch according
to the numbered diagram. It's almost like paint by number.
But it's easier to write words than properly sketch under those
conditions. Also, you can observe more objects since the bulk of the
sketchwork is done indoors after observing.

David:

Screw the cold. Do like I'm doing. Remote your scope and sit inside in a nice warm den.

You don't think for one minute that the pros at the Naval observatory in Flagstaff, AZ are out in the cold do you?

Heck no, Blaise and the others sit in a nice warm 16x20 room with heaters and color monitors.

Darrell

I live in Minnesota, in the north central USA. The winter temps are often -30 C. in the northern part of the state. In the northern part of MN, there are few people, and therefore fewer lights to intrude on dark skies. I live in the southeastern part of the state, and temps where I live rarely get much below -27 C. Still cold!

Some of our astronomy club's members use a handheld tape recorder to record their observing sessions when it's really cold outside.

Many of them also use the "fingerless" gloves with a mitten covering, and some use those handwarmer packets that contain iron filings. These actually work, even though I have limited experience with observing in below-zero weather myself.