MZack

As sunspot group 3664 heads towards the limb I thought I’d add a final sketch under this posting done today May 9th. 4 inch refractor, Nagler 13mm x115. I’ve heard that this group is nearly as large as the one noted by Carrington which caused the Carrington event!

Thought I’d share a quick update on sunspot group 3664 today. It continues to grow and has over 60 spots according to SpaceWeatherLive. Drawing done at 15:00 to 15:18 UT. Haze and increasing cirrus. 70mm Irving refractor x72

Thanks Ian. Probably the most detailed/populated sunspot groups I’ve done. They have got more and more complex as we reach maximum. 

Took advantage of the clear skies in the morning. Used my old Irving 70mm Refractor F12.8 for todays drawing. Showing 3663 and 3664 which appears to have split into two groups one now being labelled 3668

Thank you. Yes it was a productive morning before the clouds rolled in. I need to think about how to do the pastels for sunspots a bit more. They work well with prominences, not sure how well it works out on a yellow /orange background on black paper yet though. 

and finally..! A closer sketch of sunset group 3663. 3662 is on the limb, 3661 to the left of the group and 3666 below that. Correct image orientation. 4 inch refractor 18mm Ortho x83. Haze and increasing cirrus. 

Here’s a full disc sketch at x50 in the 4 inch done this morning too. Some haze and Cirrus cloud. Very busy with lots of groupings. Groups 3662 through to 3667. Correct image view. 

My first attempt using pastels for sunspots. I’ve used them for prominences but this is more challenging. May need a more yellow background. Sketch through my 4inch F15 Skylight Refractor 

Thank you. Much appreciated!

Hi. Thanks for the comment. It’s black paper in a bound book using pastels. The black parts are chiefly the paper itself. However I do use black pastel a bit within craters to help shape the floor shadows and sometimes the surrounds. Usually where I’ve done grey for surface area and then use the black to fine line over it to get the shadow. 

sketch last night using pastels via my 8 inch Classical Cassegrain. 

Super sketches. Hope to see more from the observing list!

3 hours ago, josefk said:

Lovely lovely sketch and that shadow is really nice. 

Appreciated. Shadows at that time were really long, especially from the mountains on Mare Imbrium

37 minutes ago, SwiMatt said:

Love this! The highlights really make the crater pop. Suggestive.

Cheers. It was a stunning view in the eyepiece. 

4 hours ago, Fraunhoffer said:

I do like the way you have been able to capture the bright sunlit parts.

 

Thank you. Complicated area in the dawn. 

Another cold evening but you have to make the most of it!  First attempt in many years at Plato as it appears on the terminator and the lunar dawn over Mare Imbrium.  Challenge to catch the details around the crater itself but a nice jagged shadow on the floor. The nearby mountain peaks of Tenerife mountains, Pico, Pico Beta and Piton all stood out. Lovely area, one of my favourites. 

Fantastic set of sketches and well done for doing such a long stretch in the cold! Liked them all. Nice one of M42 especially. 

Really good detail in your four inch! Great drawings. 
 

Had some time tonight before the clouds rolled in. Atlas and Hercules near the terminator and Mare Figoris. Pastels; white, aluminium grey, graphite grey on black paper. 200mm Cassegrain in hazy cloud below zero with 12.5mm Orthoscopic x195

7 hours ago, Fraunhoffer said:

Super.

I really am going to have to try black paper.

Do you use a selection of pastels, or mainly one? Im assuming the stars are with a pen? 

Hi

Thanks for the comment

I used two pastels for this one. Both from Derwent.  Aluminium Grey and Aluminium White.  The grey was built up slowly by adding light layers, spreading it about using either my finger tip or a blending stump.  I then added white on top to capture the brighter structure.  I used the tip of the white pastel pencil for the stars.  That can be a problem as its difficult to get a round shape with pastel. Took a couple of goes to avoid smearing.  I may try a harder tipped material next time as it may be easier to get a more star like result.  I try to avoid pens as once its done, its done!

First sketch of the season of M42 in Orion. 8 inch classical Cassegrain x135 including use of filters. Pastels on black paper. Malcolm, Chigwell Essex

1 hour ago, maw lod qan said:

I've admitted often, I'm so humbled by someone with talent!

From one  who can't draw a straight line, that's incredible!

Thank you. Much appreciated. Actually there are very few straight lines on the moon - so have a go!😁

9 hours ago, Paul M said:

Great! I can't imagine there being a better, more intense, method of studying a subject than to draw or sketch it. It must be a very salifying undertaking. 

Thank you. I enjoy sketching - not only the moon but other objects too. Most of my colleagues at my local Astro soc are imagers and produce some amazing shots but somehow for me it’s not quite the same as observing at the eyepiece. 

8 hours ago, Stu said:

Lovely sketch! I saw it unexpectedly last night, often the way.

Thank you. Yes just need the right timing to catch the details. 

Drafted this yesterday evening with the X right on the terminator. Lots of deep shadows in nearby craters of Le Callie , Blanchinus and Werner. Tricky area to capture with pastels.