I see we have a full house here tonight

its actually a good sky out there tonight - quite clear. but jaysus that wind is something else. I might venture out later when Saturn rises, if it dosent rain.

Windy as hell and "good sky" are mutually exclusive terms! When it's windy the seeing will always be terrible. The effect will be amplified by the wind buffeting your telescope. Little to no point in going out. You're unlikely to catch any good views ... pneumonia on the other hand .......

Bart.

thanks for the heads-up, i hadnt realised how much of an effect wind would have on viewing.

Next question, as im new to this whole malarky ; in Ireland, how many days do you actually get, in a given year, without wind or rain?

Clear but windy is ok for casual bin observing. God knows over the last 20+ years i've had thousands of bin observing night with clear skies and wind.

I didnt even think about wind as a factor until i bought a scope.

Next question, as im new to this whole malarky ; in Ireland, how many days do you actually get, in a given year, without wind or rain?

Hard to say really but NONE would be a good guess.

thanks for the heads-up, i hadnt realised how much of an effect wind would have on viewing.

Next question, as im new to this whole malarky ; in Ireland, how many days do you actually get, in a given year, without wind or rain?

Sod all

There was a time when I kept maticulous observing records. I never filled more than 50 pages in a year and regularly went well over one page on a night.

Bart.

Go on !!!!! get the hell out of here and do some observing.

I'm more of a theoretical amateur astronomer

I stand corrected. Its a beautifully clear night in the east NOW. Wind seems to have died down too. Think i might wrap up and risk it.