Rook Mountains

[mikeDnight]

Nicely placed for observation were the mountain ranges encircling Mare Orientale.  There was a lot of detai over a large area which makes it difficult to sketch, but its not every day these features are on view so I gave it a go. 

 

[SwiMatt]

Always astonished at your sketches @mikeDnight, especially your lunar work! 

[Ags]

Really superb!

[josefk]

Very nice, very evocative.

[Ratlet]

Fantastic!  I feel this is a silly question, but how do you get the curve looking natural?  Mine looks like they've been done by a 5 year old.  Also the shading of space, when I try that It looks awful

[shinebug777]

awesome angle, looks great!

[mikeDnight]

13 hours ago, Ratlet said:

Fantastic!  I feel this is a silly question, but how do you get the curve looking natural?  Mine looks like they've been done by a 5 year old.  Also the shading of space, when I try that It looks awful

I used a compass to draw a curve on card, which once cut along acts as a lunar limb template for any future limb drawings. It's worth having a go, as its very rare, even when full Moon, that there isn't something worth observing along the limb, and because of a favourable libration I couldn't miss this opportunity to sketch this region. It looked far better through the telescope of course. The sketch misses much of the finer detail, but it was fun trying to capture what I could on paper.