CASSINI SEPT 21 2008

[mike bacanin]

At last, a chance to properly view the moon with the tak 225!

here's a sketch i made this morning, using the Zeiss Abbe orthos 10mm and 16mm i just purchased.

powers used x168, and x270

seeing very average no more than 3/5 clear sky, cool temperature.

sorry about photo colour rendition, i've had to simply take a digital photo rather than scan for now.

contrast on this scope is phenomenal, there was too much detail to draw properly, but i tried to get a feel of the view before me.

regards

mike

[mik]

Nice sketch Mike like that.

Mick

[mike bacanin]

thanks for that Mick, much appreciated.

regards

mike

[Talitha]

Well done, Mike! Cassini has a very odd 'pudding-like' glacis which I've always found difficult to interpret and render.. you handled it quite nicely, though.

[mike bacanin]

Thank you Carol. Years ago i did alot of sketching at the eyepiece, this is the 1st lunar sketch for a very long time! I look forward to trying more as soon as i can.

Regards

Mike

[barkis]

I admire people who have the patience to do this kind of recording. It's a discipline than can only enhance their observing skills. Sadly, my artistic prowess leaves a lot to be desired. Everything I do, turns out like something LS. Lowry did, minus the high price tag of course.

That is a fine sketch.

Ron.

[MartinB]

Lovely work Mike. I am planning to do more lunar sketching. I'm pretty hopeless but that's beside the point. Was this a pencil drawing.

[SteelRat]

Real nice sketch that Mike 8)

[mike bacanin]

Thanks Matt, it is the first "proper" observation with the tak.

i'd forgotten what the moon looked like! due to poor weather over the previous weeks.

I hope to do more lunar sketches as soon as i can. one problem i have is that the seeing really settles in the early hours when the surrounding houses stop giving off heat. Jupiter for example is low above rooftops and usually "boils" in the turbulent air in evening.

regards

Mike

[mike bacanin]

Hi Martin,

Thanks for your kind comment. Yes it was a pencil sketch using hb, 2b, and 4b pencils.

background shading was achieved by rubbing 4b shading with a finger. intensity of shading was varied by pressure of the pencil.

the sunlit white areas were done by erasing the background with a pointed rubber eraser.

black shadows were done with a pointed permanent black marker pen.

hb and 2b were used to lightly define edges of bright areas.

its a great way to record observations and very nice to look back at them later.

give it a try, a simple line outline sketch is a good way to start.

regards

Mike

[TheThing]

I think sketched like this are sometimes overlooked as we're all used to the 'wow' factor and (relative) ease of astrophotography. Sketches seem to be a dying art!

That is a really lovely drawing Mike and has inspired me to have a go (for private consumption only - I'm no artist!)

Thanks for sharing.

[MrEd]

I love the moon but i am pants at

sketching to that standard mike.

I guess that why i opted for a webcam,

But well done in such a detailed sketch and keeping that

dying art alive and well. :salute:

Ed

[mike bacanin]

Ed, check out Peter Grego's article on lunar sketching in latest Nov issue of astronomy now.

shows how a simple line sketch is a great way to start.

Mike

[jamesFSO]

excellent stetch, like others got to admire you to taking the time to do this.

[stefski]

Great sketch Mike . Given some of postings in the last few weeks, there seems to be a growing number of us sketchers coming out of the wood work! :hello1:

I think you and Mik have inspired me to stop thinking of our closest neighbour as a source of light polution...I need to give the moon a go!

stef

[mike bacanin]

Hi Stef,

I think while we await the planets being well placed, the moon can be a great target for detailed observation.

sketching does help you to look more closely at the moon.

Also,if you can get a good lunar atlas, that helps alot.

I have a copy of Hatfield's moon atlas for sct's,which has all photos mirror imaged, as would appear in an sct using a star diagonal.

This helps greatly to identify a feature.

I also use a pretty detailed atlas by Rukl, to check out the finer details of a particular crater or feature. The Rukl atlas is unfortunately hard to find and very expensive used, on amazon. I got lucky and got one from USA at a good price, its an ex library copy.

Peter Grego has an ebay shop with some excellent maps for sale.

Regards

Mike

[TheThing]

Peter Grego has an ebay shop?!?

Damn and blast! I've got 3 lunar maps at present - incl. the Sir Partick Moore one - another won't hurt will it?

Is his shop under his name?

[stefski]

Cheers for the heads up Mike....I'll look into the Hatfield atlas...

Stef

[mike bacanin]

Just enter "lunar atlas" on ebay search, it goes straight to grego's items.

Mike

[SteelRat]

8)

[stefski]