Pegasus Cluster (M15) Sketch

[Andrew*]

I occasionally make a quick sketch at the eyepiece. I thought I would share this one I made last night. I'm happy with it, but I really need to get my stars a bit rounder!!

Sketching really makes you more aware of what you're looking at and view it very accurately. Saying that, though, only 6 stars are placed a bit accurately, the small mottled core represents the eyepiece view, but the rest of the stars are just smacked on [removed word]-nilly!

Hope you like!

object: Pegasus Cluster (Messier 15)

scope: 16" lightbridge

eyepiece: 19mm Skywatcher EF

magnification: 96x

seeing: average - 3/5

transparency: good - 4/5

processing: inversion, curves, blurring and sharpening.

(re-edit with cardinal points)

Andrew

[Talitha]

Looks good, Andrew.

"smacked on [removed word]-nilly" Love it.

[stefski]

Good one Andrew,

This one is on my list to sketch when I get to Kelling on Friday!

Stef

[jgs001]

Good sketch Andrew

[algol]

nice first try fella, very impressive.

anyone got any tips on drawing nebulae?

[Andrew*]

Thanks for your comments all. I should have made this sketch a little bigger. It's only about an inch across on paper! Meaning it didn't leave a lot of scope for tiny numerous stars...

Algol, that's now my 9th sketch! Most of the others are a little more half-hearted...

Nebulae, eh? :? I wouldn't know where to start, because as soon as you do a line with a pencil it looks like a wisp of nebulosity which wasn't at all there...

Andrew

[Talitha]

Algol, blending is the best way to render nebulae. One way is to lay the pencilpoint flat onto the paper and very lightly place a layer of graphite onto the paper, and then blend it with a blending stump or tortillon.

The other way is to work a bit of graphite onto another piece of paper (like paint on a palette) and then dab a blending stump or tortillon onto it and then apply the graphite to the sketch.. blend with a clean stump/tortillon.

Either way, practice the methods before getting behind the eyepiece and keep in mind that under a red light it's easy to apply too much graphite. If you look at the sketch the next day and the nebulosity looks a bit too intense, just use a kneadable art eraser to gently lift off the excess. It was applied layer by layer, and it can be removed the same way.

[mik]

Thats very nice Andrew i think you have done very well.

the items Talitha talks about can be obtained from Hobby Craft thats where i got mine.

Mick

[stefski]

I concur with Mik, Andrew....Hobby Craft is great for all the sketching bits you need.

Personally, I use the palette idea that Caroline describes. Great for drawing faint nebulae using a smudging stick.

Stef