8
Bring the Right Gear
A chill that seems bearable
at first can cut right through you after a few hours, ruining the event.
This tip sounds like a no-brainer,
but last year I subjected my family to the aforementioned field in Maryland
to watch the Leonids. We snuggled into pretty good sleeping bags for about three
hours, fully clothed, gloves, hats, the works. Even so, we all quit before dawn
because of the cold. I should have taken extra blankets.
Hot chocolate would have
helped, too, especially for the kids. This and snacks might have helped keep
them awake. Instead, they slept through much of it.
I knew this, but still I
blew it. Bring more layers than you think you need. Get out the ski gear. Over-plan,
overdress, and over pack.
Otherwise, you’ll need little
equipment. Binoculars and telescopes are of no use with meteors, which move
quickly and disappear before they can be tracked.
In Tip #9, something
else to do while you're out ...
advertisement
