This expansive supernova remnant is a visual treat from dark skies. In this column, we sketch the entire field using white charcoal/pastel on black paper.
| Subject: | Veil Nebula/Cygnus Loop |
| Issue: | September 2010 Astronomy Now |
| Basic Media: | White Charcoal/Pastel Pencils on Black Paper |
| Featured Technique: | Creating a multi-field nebula sketch using white charcoal or pastel pencils on black paper. |
| Suggested Materials: |
|
Sketch of Cygnus Loop/Veil Nebula
Click image to view larger version.
Bright comet C/2009 R1 (McNaught) is the subject of this month's column. We look at graphite techniques for sketching a comet, and optional digital colorizing of the coma.
| Subject: | C/2009 R1 (McNaught) |
| Issue: | August 2010 Astronomy Now |
| Basic Media: | Graphite and Charcoal on White Paper |
| Featured Technique: | Using graphite and blending stump to sketch the main comet features: coma, condensation, ion tail and dust tail. Finishing with the digital addition of color to the coma using Adobe Photoshop. |
| Suggested Materials: |
|
Positive Sketch of C/2009 R1 (McNaught)
Click image to view larger version.
Original Negative Sketch of C/2009 R1 (McNaught)
Click image to view larger version.
The stunning view of a thin crescent moon cradling a bubble of Earthshine is irresistible. This column describes the use of white and black charcoal pencils on black paper to capture the scene.
| Subject: | Crescent Moon with Earthshine |
| Issue: | July 2010 Astronomy Now |
| Basic Media: | White and Black Charcoal Pencils on Black Paper |
| Featured Technique: | Creating a disc of subtly featured of Earthshine paired with the stark terrain of a thin crescent moon. |
| Suggested Materials: |
|
Sketch of Crescent Moon and Earthshine
Click image to view larger version.
Solar activity is on the increase and white light observing is starting to get interesting again. This article describes white light full disc and detail sketching using graphite on white paper.
| Subject: | White Light Sun |
| Issue: | June 2010 Astronomy Now |
| Basic Media: | Graphite and Charcoal on White Paper |
| Featured Technique: | Using an artist's chamois to create base limb darkening. Then using graphite and vinyl eraser to add sunspots and faculae. |
| Suggested Materials: |
|
Graphite and Charcoal Sketch of the Sun
Click image to view larger version.
Sketch of comet C/2009 R1 (McNaught)
Move mouse over sketch above to view labels.
Click image for larger version.
Observation Notes:
I really enjoyed the view of the comet this morning with the 8 inch Dob, 15 x 70 binoculars, and naked eye. Through the telescope, the ion tail stretched about 45 arc minutes at PA 305 degrees. The dust tail also appeared as a westward smearing of the coma at a PA of about 270 degrees. The coma itself was a cool turquoise color that contrasted beautifully with an orange 8th magnitude star just to its north. I didn't detect a distinct pseudo-nucleus, just a smooth rise in brightness toward the core.
The ion and dust tails showed up through binoculars as well. By comparing to two nearby stars of similar magnitude (TYC3330-3020-1 and TYC3330-2130-1) I estimated its magnitude at 5.7.
It was also visible to the naked eye, appearing as another faint star in Perseus.
| Subject | C/2009 R1 (McNaught) |
| Classification | Comet |
| Position* | Perseus: [RA: -- / Dec: --] |
| Size | Coma: 10 arc minute diameter Degree of Condensation: 4 Ion Tail: 45 arc minutes at 305° Dust Tail: 10 arc minutes at 270° |
| Brightness* | est. 5.7 vMag |
| Date/Time | JUN 15, 2010, 2:45-3:30 AM MST (JUN 15, 2010, 09:45-10:30 UT) |
| Observing Loc. | Cinder Hills Overlook, Sunset Crater National Monument, Arizona, USA |
| Instrument | SkyQuest XT8 (8 inch f/5.9 Dobsonian); 15 x 70 Oberwerk Binoculars; Naked Eye |
| Eyepieces/Mag. | 32 mm Sirius Plössl, Pentax XW10, Pentax XW10+2X Barlow |
| Conditions | Clear, calm |
| Seeing | 2/10 Pickering |
| Transparency | Mag 7+ NELM |
| *Sources | Starry Night Pro Plus 5.8 |
I've been falling behind here, I know. I've still got some doubles to post, and a new full-disc Lunar sketch. I'm also hoping to get a look at the latest McNaught (C/2009 R1) in the next few days...I'll be sure and post when I do!
One of the things that has kept me occupied was forecasting and preparing for an incredible storm chasing road trip last month. If you're interested in that sort of thing, the whole story, photos and video can be found here: The Cerulean Arc.
Sketch of 49 Leonis / Struve 1450 / TX LEO
Click image to view larger version.
Observation Notes:
Seeing conditions weren't the greatest this evening, so I couldn't snag this one until it approached culmination. I was able to finally spot the speck of the secondary emerging from the primary's diffraction pattern. Both stars appeared white. Haas sees them as bright yellow-white/white; Smyth sees silvery-white/pale-blue.
| Subject | 49 Leonis (Struve 1450 / STF 1450 / ADS 7837 / TX LEO) |
| Classification | Double Star |
| Position (J2000)* | Coma Berenices [RA: 10 35 02.2 / Dec: +08 39 01.5] |
| Position Angle | AB: 153° [My Measurement 2009.9] AB: 154° [WDS 2008]* |
| Separation | AB: 2" [My Measurement 2009.9] AB: 2.2" [WDS 2008]* |
| Magnitudes* | A: 5.8; B: 7.9 |
| Spectral Types* | A: A2V |
| Date/Time | NOV 26, 2009 - 5:50 AM (NOV 26, 2009 - 12:50 UT) |
| Observing Loc. | Flagstaff, AZ - Home |
| Instrument | Orion SkyQuest XT8 Dobsonian (203 mm dia./1200 mm F/L) |
| Eyepieces/Mag. | Pentax XW10 + 2X Barlow (240X) Meade Astrometric EP + 2X Barlow (200X) |
| Conditions | Clear, cold |
| Seeing | 3/10 Pickering |
| Transparency | Mag 6.0 NELM |
| *References | The Washington Visual Double Star Catalog (Mason+ 2001-2009); Catalogue of Stellar Spectral Classifications (Skiff, 2009); SIMBAD; Double Stars for Small Telescopes - Sissy Haas |
Sketch of 2 Comae Berenices / Struve 1596
Click image to view larger version.
Observation Notes:
The color in this pair reminded me of Gamma Leporis with a white primary and dull orange-yellow companion. Sissy Haas sees yellow-white/green-white. Others see the secondary as "rosey" (Webb), "lilac tinted" (Smyth), "deep yellow" (Hartung)
| Subject | 2 Comae Berenices (Struve 1596 / STF 1596 / ADS 8406) |
| Classification | Double Star |
| Position (J2000)* | Coma Berenices [RA: 12 04 16 / Dec: +21 27 31] |
| Position Angle | AB: 235° [My Measurement 2009.9] AB: 235° [WDS 2007]* |
| Separation | AB: 5" [My Measurement 2009.9] AB: 3.7" [WDS 2007]* |
| Magnitudes* | A: 6.2; B: 7.5 |
| Spectral Types* | A: F0IV-V; B: F0IV-V |
| Date/Time | NOV 26, 2009 - 5:40 AM (NOV 26, 2009 - 12:40 UT) |
| Observing Loc. | Flagstaff, AZ - Home |
| Instrument | Orion SkyQuest XT8 Dobsonian (203 mm dia./1200 mm F/L) |
| Eyepieces/Mag. | Pentax XW10 + 2X Barlow (240X) Meade Astrometric EP + 2X Barlow (200X) |
| Conditions | Clear, cold |
| Seeing | 3/10 Pickering |
| Transparency | Mag 6.0 NELM |
| *References | The Washington Visual Double Star Catalog (Mason+ 2001-2009); Catalogue of Stellar Spectral Classifications (Skiff, 2009); SIMBAD; Double Stars for Small Telescopes - Sissy Haas |
White Light Solar Sketch
Move mouse over sketch above to view labels
Click image for larger version.
White Light Sketch of AR1057
Click image to view larger version.
White Light Sketch of AR1059
Click image to view larger version.
Observation Notes:
The Sun in white light is starting to get interesting. Active regions 1057 and 1059 put on an interesting show at the end of March. Although I observed in late afternoon, the seeing cleared up frequently enough to show penumbral filaments in AR1057. Some of the neighborhood kids stopped by for a look and were impressed by the view of these striking spots on the Sun.
| Subject | Solar White Light |
| Date/Time | MAR 27, 2010 4:15 - 4:45 PM MST (NOV 27, 2010 23:15 - 23:45 UT |
| Observing Loc. | Flagstaff, AZ - Home |
| Instrument | SkyQuest XT8 - 203 mm f/5.9 Dobsonian |
| Eyepieces/Mag. | 32 mm Sirius Plössl (37.5X) Pentax XW 10 (120X) / +2X Barlow (240X) |
| Conditions | Clear, light breeze |
| Seeing | Ant. III |
Sketch of Struve 1521
Click image to view larger version.
Observation Notes:
The diffraction patterns were subtle, and color elusive. The primary appeared palest blue, and I couldn't shake the impression of a dull orange secondary.
| Subject | Struve 1521 (STF 1521 / ADS 8105) |
| Classification | Double Star |
| Position (J2000)* | Leo [RA: 11 15 21 / Dec: +27 34 15.6] |
| Position Angle | AB: 97° [My Measurement 2009.9] AB: 97° [WDS 2007]* |
| Separation | AB: 5" [My Measurement 2009.9] AB: 3.7" [WDS 2007]* |
| Magnitudes* | A: 7.7; B: 8.1 |
| Spectral Types* | A: A7III; B: A8IV |
| Date/Time | NOV 26, 2009 - 5:20 AM (NOV 26, 2009 - 12:20 UT) |
| Observing Loc. | Flagstaff, AZ - Home |
| Instrument | Orion SkyQuest XT8 Dobsonian (203 mm dia./1200 mm F/L) |
| Eyepieces/Mag. | Pentax XW10 + 2X Barlow (240X) Meade Astrometric EP + 2X Barlow (200X) |
| Conditions | Clear, cold |
| Seeing | 3/10 Pickering |
| Transparency | Mag 6.0 NELM |
| *References | The Washington Visual Double Star Catalog (Mason+ 2001-2009); Catalogue of Stellar Spectral Classifications (Skiff, 2009); SIMBAD |
From a dark site, Messier 101 rewards determined observation with spiral structure and embedded H II regions.
| Subject: | Messier 101 |
| Issue: | May 2010 Astronomy Now |
| Basic Media: | Graphite on White Paper |
| Featured Technique: | Building up increasing levels of detail from large to small. Comparing extended and stellar details in the sketch to a chart to identify H II regions in a galaxy. |
| Suggested Materials: |
|
Inverted, Positive Sketch of Messier 101
Move mouse over image to view labels
Click for larger version.
Original Pencil Sketch of Messier 101
Click image to view larger version.
Recent Comments