A Gloomy Forecast

Every amateur astronomer talks about "the Curse" of ordering new equipment. Supposedly, when an astronomer orders new equipment, conditions are poor for using it for a long time after.

They may just be right. When I got my ETX-90 last Stellafane, there were thunderstorms in the surrounding area, but somehow that evening it was only mostly cloudy - you could see some stars overhead for a minute and then they'd be gone. This was nature's way of taunting me, I suppose.

I have a 4" refractor coming within the next week or so, and tonight it's clear. Unfortunately when I opened my door I was greeted with this sight in my backyard:

That snow is 5 inches deep. No observing without a pair of boots.

It's supposed to get warmer this week, but with that warmth comes clouds. The weather forecast does not show clear skies until at least the weekend.

Oh well. When it's clear again I'm going to begin my Messier observing program.