Sketchy discovery

[Moonshane]

In no way would I describe myself as artistic. In fact, I am the epitome of someone that cannot draw to save their life. However, sometimes you just have to 'go for it' and last night was the night when I did my first 'prioer' sketches.

I thought that as stars are just dots on a grid, I should be able to at least get a broad representation of what I am seeing in the eyepiece with a little care. This I thought would be helpful particularly with small NGC open clusters as often you really have difficulty separating what's a cluster and what's not a cluster, especially so as I don't use a laptop at the eyepiece so cannot look at pics online to check if what I am seeing is what I think it is.

So, armed with my pad and a pen I created seven sketches last night and I have to say they worked rather well. In fact one of the objects (NGC 7142) was sketched and I could not reconcile the pattern I found with the images later on when I returned inside. The othersmatched well. It turned out I had found the star cluster which gives NGC 7129 its nebulosity (although none could be seen). Armed with this I went back out and correctly identified 7142. I'll sketch this next time out.

Having done this I am enthused to try other objects as although I'll never reach the beauty of some of the artists on here, at least it will give me a future reference and an opportunity to confirm sightings with images later. Spending more time observing an object is also more fun than 'a quick look and move on'.

[wookie1965]

Look pretty good to me. At least they show what can be seen through the eyepiece so anybody else looking at this can say yes that is it.

[paul mc c]

Sketching is a great way of actually really concontrating on what they are observing  rather than just looking,the longer you observe an object the more you can see  with in abd around it.

Great work Shane by the way it gives you great satisfaction, i think sitting at the eyepiece and recording what you are looking at and making notes on it.

I try to sketch when ever i am out and only when i sketch the object i then tick it off my list of seen objects.

Well done.

[Moonshane]

cheers guys. look forward to doing more in due course

[nightfisher]

you have done well shane, i cant draw a short straw to save my life, keep at it

[Naemeth]

Sometimes I see objects I can't quite match up to anything else. Perhaps sketching is the answer? Hmm..

[wayneh]

have to say post's like this just really make me wont to get out and give it ago.. ;-)

[Moonshane]

go for it! if I can do it anyone can, trust me.

[scarp15]

Doing the sketches is the physical evidence, that you can take with you, alongside any notes, that will reactivate your captured memory of the characterists of particular objects, during a session, days, weeks, months later. 

'Rough and Ready' is good.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Nice ones Moonshane. Good find too. I used to sketch quite a bit. Maybe I should pick up that part of the hobby again.

[Mike73]

Very nice Shane and looking forward to seeing more.

[rory]

im not much cop at drawing either ,but I found the sketching of some objects lead to me seeing more details.  also a good resource to look back over .

 keep it up moonshine.

[Ccolvin968]

Where do you find your star charts you use to find all of the NGC's and other lesser known lists? I just found out that my star walk app on my iPad severely lacks most of the NGC objects. Has all of the Messiers, but none of the lesser known lists.

[Moonshane]

I use the Sky and Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas as my main at the scope chart. I don't do gadgets really as 1) they ruin your dark adaptation unless modified and 2) I cannot be bothered with them

[Ccolvin968]

Thanks much. I'll for sure grab one of those. I just sent in my subscription to them. I have it modified a bit with a few layers of red photography gel when I go into the field.

[Moonshane]

that's the mod I meant. it will help a lot. the book is an excellent reference and consider making a starhopping mask.

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/184741-whats-in-the-finder/

[wookie1965]

that's the mod I meant. it will help a lot. the book is an excellent reference and consider making a starhopping mask.

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/184741-whats-in-the-finder/

When you laminated yours did you use A4 then cut round it or can you buy different size pockets.

[Ccolvin968]

Got it now. I'll print and laminate them at work tomorrow. Shhhh. :-P

[Moonshane]

LOL. I'd never do that.........yeah, I just used an A4 sheet and cut round it at the end.

[Ccolvin968]

Dang it, I need A4 sheets. Guess I do have to go buy one or find somewhere that prints on A4. Now I'm sad. Haha. Are there any good downloadable ones I can use until I get my next paycheck? I'm kinda tight right now.

[Moonshane]

there are lots of downloadable maps online. I use this one a lot but it goes into some detail:

http://www.deepskywatch.com/