DDO Sketching advice

[miguel87]

Afternoon folks

When the cloud finally cleared last night at around midnight it was CRYSTAL clear. Clearer than any of the nights we had in April (and there were lots of those).

I had a really nice night and continued my plan to sketch all the messier objects.

However, even with my red head torch (well reviewed black diamond) on, with parcel tape over the LED to dim further, to the point I can only just see my pencil marks well enough to sketch. And STILL this amount of light damages my night vision VERY noticeably. I tried with the head torch off but couldn't see the paper nearly well enough to sketch.

Instead of frequently going back and forth between eyepiece and sketch pad I have to try a longer study at the eyepiece then drawing from memory which is not ideal at all.

Does anybody have any tips or advice?

Thanks,

Mike

Edited May 11, 2020 by miguel87

[Wiu-Wiu]

I used to put even more tape on my torch to further dim it down. Even used nail polish to make a white torch red. 

Now I have one of those clamp lights, and that really does the trick, it has 2 separate faint LED bulbs, and it's red on its own, I could try to look what the name is if you want. 

 

To further see any more details, I usualy start by drawing the stars, then the outlines of the object(s), and then just observe for 10 to 15 minutes. Only then you can really confirm details, and try out direct or averted vision. Making notes after that accordingly is easy and doesn't need much more switching between paper and eyepiece. 

 

[Trikeflyer]

I use one of these on a clipboard with red acetate off eBay sellotaped on to dim the white led. Cheap but Works a treat. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rechargeable-Portable-Brightness-Daylight-Included/dp/B078JJV7YN/ref=asc_df_B078JJV7YN/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=375418948447&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9593595124716622557&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9041126&hvtargid=pla-441365112842&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=83648335344&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=375418948447&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9593595124716622557&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9041126&hvtargid=pla-441365112842

Steve 

[miguel87]

Thanks guys, I will try another layer of parcel tape on the led and also try to commit more of the image to memory before adding to the sketch.

Should get plenty of practice tonight as forecast is fantastic 🤞

Heading into the virgo bowl to tick off some messier sketches