Mikes sketch the Messiers project.

[jabeoo1]

Well done Mike, those latest ones are looking fine. You should get them printed all into one spiral bound volume when you complete the series and make them available as a small batch run. I will buy # 1 ! Seriously.

[Mr Flibble]

I particularly like that sketch of M53 Mike. Lots of depth going on in that globular with the fainter mag stars.

[Mike73]

Just time for one sketch last night before the clouds rolled in, M58 in poor transparency.

[Mike73]

Another brief session last night.

Transparency was poor again, I could probably of carried on and sketched the rest of the galaxies in Virgo but all those lovely spiral galaxies wouldnt of shown any detail so I'II save those for another day. Its taken me 2 years to get this far sketching the Messiers and I'm not going to start rushing through them just for the sake of completing the list quickly.

[Mike73]

M87 (Virgo A) was interesting. At low power it stood out like a globular, but each time I increased the magnification another elliptical showed, I think if I increased the power one more time I would have spotted the fourth galaxy (which I marked as a star above M87).

[Mike73]

Another frustrating night at my local dark site, luckily its just 15 minutes from home but on a good night it will just reach LM 6.4, last night with poor transparency it could only manage LM 6.1.

M99 still looked good though.

[Mike73]

Busy night last night, didnt even stop for a coffee break!

Average seeing conditions at best making any detail really tricky to pick out.

Glad I managed M68 and M83, my observing site was on a cliff top looking south which sounds ideal for these low down Messiers but it does suffer from a haze that seems to come off the sea.

[jabeoo1]

Great to see you have done the magnificent Sombrero Mike.  I have never seen M104, but its very high on my list.  Lovely sketch (s).

[Moonshane]

simply wonderful stuff Mike.

[Mr Flibble]

Nice spiral structure on M100.

Very well defined band on the sombrero Mike; did you use one of those stencil erasers?

[Mike73]

Thanks James, Shane, David.

David I just used a charcoal stick for the black band in the Sombrero.

[Daniel-K]

looking good Mike .Nearly there now? will have to come down your way to bag M83

[Mike73]

looking good Mike .Nearly there now? will have to come down your way to bag M83

Do it mate.

My local dark site (where I went last night) is on top of a cliff overlooking the English channel with a Latitude of 50˚.2. Zero LP out at sea but theres sometimes a mist above the sea up to around 10˚ so these low down objects are still tricky for me.

[todd8137]

Very nice set once again I had a go at m104 on the 18th your dark skies,gives better detail great work once gain

Pat

[Mike73]

A few more last night, a report for the night is here http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/215685-a-great-night-in-the-dob-hole/

[jkwhinfrey]

Beautiful work Mike. I love the sketches and the blog. Here, and on your blog, M53 caught my eye, and I think you sketch frames it perfectly. I haven't even managed to see M101 yet, even near the zenith... great sketch too!

I'm going to try sketching at the EP to improve my observational skills, but with a small scope I'm going to start on brighter open clusters. Most Messiers would be a star field with a smudge in my scope ;-)

[Mike73]

Sketched the last of the Messiers last night....Its only taken me since May 2012 to do the entire list!

There are some sketches missing from the start of this thread for some reason but the link below should show all of them together.

http://www.pbase.com/mike73/messier_sketches

Thanks to everyone that commented on this thread, it certainly encouraged me to complete what I started.

Cheers

Mike

[kerrylewis]

Congratulations Mike - it must be hugely fulfilling to complete your project. It has obviously taken great dedication to produce your wonderful sketches and an inspiration to all us who keep saying 'one day I'm going to try sketching.......'

Kerry

[DirkSteele]

I have really enjoyed waiting for each new sketch to appear.  Congratulations on finishing the project.

[rory]

Mike, I've been looking at your remaining messiers matey.

I remember you starting out on them a few years back now . A brilliant collection I have to say .

I've not seen better sketches anywhere on the net. Really is a talent you have and you have mike.

Congrats in completing the list , a great effort.

So ..... What's next ?

[Mike73]

Thanks for the kind words Rory.

Its been kinda frustrating at times because I couldn't help but read other peoples reports on all sorts of amazing looking objects but still keep plugging away at the Messiers.

On to the RASC Finest NGC's list now but I'II also be doing some from the Herschel 400 list depending on what objects are best placed from my observing sites.

[jabeoo1]

Congrats in completing the list , a great effort.

So ..... What's next ?

I think he should have a big sit down

[JamesF]

Congratulations on completing the list, Mike.  Well worth the effort and I've certainly enjoyed seeing your sketches.  I look forward to seeing whatever you end up attempting next

James

[Siriusmeg]

Your sketches are brilliant - following this thread has inspired me to make a start on sketching too.  Now that's my kind of imaging    - looking forward to your next projects.

[JamesF]

Your sketches are brilliant - following this thread has inspired me to make a start on sketching too.  Now that's my kind of imaging  

Doing a few dozen of them to stack, though, that's a nightmare

James