Being an amateur astronomer in Alaska has a few ups, and many downs.  It's light half the year, thats bad, but it's also dark half the year, so that's good. Unfortunately the darker it gets the colder it gets, and that gets bad. (Ever bumped your lips up against a -10F telescope?) I think the worst aspect is that we are so far North that the planets, the Moon and the Sun do not climb as high into the sky as would be desirable for good steady seeing conditions. Jupiter cant even been seen from my location for another couple years. I have no recollection of ever seeing the Moon or Sun be directly overhead until a few trips to the continental USA in my late 30's! What a strange sight that is. Here are my best Saturns from last Winter. I'm a newbie astrophotographer, so my results suck compared to the experienced, but I enjoy trying. This Winter it will be Mars I'm snapping pictures of.