Quote from Terry Doucet on November 1, 2021, 9:10 am

The winter viewing season presents some incredible clear sky opportunities but you have to be prepared for the cold weather.

Dress in layers.  Warm boots, long underwear, hoodies, tuques, mitts (not gloves) and a well insulated winter coat will help.  Chemical warmers inside your mitts will help greatly. There are also electrical warmer options for socks and mitts that can help keep you warm.   Keep your cell phone inside your coat where your body heat will help keep it working.  Many cell phones stop operating when they go below 0º C.

Know the lower limit of operation for all of the electrical devices that you need while observing or doing astrophotography.  Some electronic circuits stop operating below 0º C while the lubricants in gears become more viscous and perform erratically.   The "push to" and "go to" circuitry may not work.

Manual telescopes may be your best option.  Allow your telescope at least 30 minutes to stabilize temperature. A dew shield extension will help prevent dew on your secondary mirror. Electric heating options are also available here.  Chemical hand warmers can be wrapped around your finder scope to protect your lens from moisture. Include extra lens cleaning clothes in your kit bag to cover your glass pieces and protect them from dew formation while not in use.

Lay a ground sheet to isolate you and your telescope from the icy surface. The ground sheet also allows you to find something that may have dropped; perhaps a lens cap. In very cold weather, a second, insulated mat will help insulate your feet from the cold ground.

When packing up after observation, pack your eyepieces in a sealed bag. This will prevent condensation from forming on them when you bring them inside your home.  When you bring your telescope back inside your home, lay the telescope such that glass surfaces are vertical and any condensation that forms will drain off the surface and not leave deposits on your critical surfaces.

Cold, clear winter nights mean that there is significantly lower moisture in the air  than in the summer so get out there and enjoy your viewing opportunities.