Markarian's Chain is overflowing with galactic treasures and is the subject of the April 2010 column. Subject:Markarian's Chain Issue:April 2010 Astronomy Now Basic Media:Graphite on White Paper Featured Technique:Pre-plotting a stellar framework using an atlas or planetarium software, then sketching galaxies and fainter stars across multiple telescopic fields. Suggested Materials:...
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Tau and 83 Leonis make a stunning and colorful low power double-double and are the subject of March 2010 Drawn to the Universe Column in Astronomy Now. Subject:Tau and 83 Leonis Issue:March 2010 Astronomy Now Basic Media:Graphite on Paper and Digital Editing Featured Technique:Using image editing software to create digital...
Orion, Canis Major and the Winter Milky Way soar over Sunset Crater as seen from Cinder Hills Overlook Cinder Hills Overlook is a cul-de-sac at the top of a small hill on the eastern edge of Sunset Crater National Monument. The site is situated amid a stunning volcanic landscape...
Mars is making its closest approach of 2010 on January 27. The red planet can be challenging to observe, but sketching your observations will help you get the most from the view at the eyepiece. In the February issue of Astronomy Now, we cover methods you can use to sketch...
The winter Milky Way is moving into view. Although it's not as bold as its summer counterpart, it still has much to offer the naked eye from a dark site. In the January issue of Astronomy Now, we'll look at some methods you can use to capture the Milky Way...
NGC 2024 and its brilliant neighbor Alnitak are the subjects for the December 2009 Astronomy Now issue. While Alnitak can be a bit of a nuisance when observing the Flame Nebula, it also provides an opportunity to sketch a striking example of deep sky contrasts. Subject:NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula) and...
The Lunar crater, Ptolemaeus is the subject of the November 2009 Drawn to the Universe column. The focus is on creating a crater sketch along the rapidly changing terminator. In the tutorial, we use of 2H and HB pencils to shade the deep shadows and lighter surrounding terrain, while using...
The October issue of Astronomy Now focuses on NGC 7662, the Blue Snowball nebula. Two methods are covered in this column: 1) Using an isophote (contour) field sketch as a basis for a final shaded drawing, and 2) using Photoshop to add subtle color to the scanned drawing. Subject:NGC 7662...
The September issue of Astronomy Now features Jupiter and the impact region that appeared in July 2009. The column describes methods that can be used to create a graphite sketch of the planet and its moons. Subject:Jupiter, Impact Scar, Callisto and Shadow Transit Issue:September 2009 Astronomy Now Basic Media:Graphite on...
The August issue of Astronomy Now is available. The rich, open cluster NGC 6940 is featured in this column where we take a look at basic methods for scanning and inverting your black on white sketches to convert them to white on black positives. Subject:NGC 6940 Issue:August 2009 Astronomy Now...
The July issue of Astronomy Now is available. In the column this month, we visit Barnard 142 & 143, (Barnard's E, or the Triple Cave Nebula). Subject:Barnard 142 & 143 Issue:July 2009 Astronomy Now Basic Media:Charcoal and graphite on artist grade paper. Featured Technique:Use of charcoal, artist's chamois, plastic eraser...
One of the great values I attach to astronomical sketches is that they can help convey what an object looks like visually much better than a photograph can. However, there are some caveats I've been wanting to discuss. What you see in a well-executed sketch is not necessarily what the...
Article written for the Coconino Astronomical Society, February 2005 Newsletter Back in elementary school, I remember dwelling on books with beautiful pictures of Halley's Comet. Sweeping by every 76 years, seeing it was a once-in-a-lifetime event (or twice if you're born at the right time I suppose). According to those...
This past weekend I made a presentation to the CAS at Lowell Observatory about Visually Observable Comets for 2006. Preparing it turned out to be an excellent education for me in ways I hadn't expected. I wanted to generate ideal observing times and animations of the paths of C/2005 E2...
Over the past year and a half, I've managed to get some great observing out of this 150mm newtonian. With the great skies around Flagstaff, I've been able to see some incredibly beautiful sights, and a healthy dose of next-to-nothing sights. My main complaint has been with the responsiveness of...
The 2009 All Arizona Messier Marathon has been over for a few days. And only now have I been able to recover my senses enough to write about it. My first Messier Marathon in 2006 was plagued by a clouds, and was only able to log an even 100 objects....
The June issue of Astronomy Now is now available. This month's column features the colorful double, Struve 2259 in Hercules. Subject:Struve 2259 Issue:June 2009 Astronomy Now Basic Media:White ink marker, white pastel and colored pastel pencil on black paper. Featured Technique:Using white ink along with white and colored pastel to...
I just received a copy of the November 2008 issue of Astronomy Now. The Focus section this month is dedicated to visual observing and sketching. I had the pleasure of preparing one of the articles, "How to Draw the Universe". Peter Grego wrote the article "Moonwalking". Neil Bone and Keith...
Photograph of Columbia Scientific Balloon AssemblyJune 11, 2009 - 8:42 PM MSTClick image to view larger version. One evening, earlier in June I read an email alert that a scientific balloon was crossing central Arizona. I ran outside with my family to check it out. To the naked eye, it...
The way the contours of this galaxy danced and materialized with increased dark adaptation, averted vision, and patience was particularly enjoyable. When I first centered my telescope on the galaxy, it was easy to spot and appeared elongated with a strongly condensed core. With time spent at the eyepiece, the...
Subject:Messier 51 (NGC 5194/5195) Issue:April 2009 Astronomy Now Basic Media:Graphite on white paper Featured Technique:Use of blending stump and kneaded eraser (putty rubber) to build progressively fainter details in a sketch. Suggested Materials: Strathmore 80# drawing paper 2H and HB drafting pencils Blending stump White plastic eraser Kneaded eraser...
Subject:Messier 3 (NGC 5272) Issue:May 2009 Astronomy Now Basic Media:Graphite on white paper Featured Technique:Using stippling to indicate granularity in a globular cluster. Suggested Materials: Strathmore 80# drawing paper HB, 2H and 4H drafting pencils Blending stump White plastic eraser Kneaded eraser (Putty rubber) Clipboard and adjustable red light...
If you are a galaxy cluster chaser, you've probably been rummaging through the Hickson clusters on a regular basis. I am not a seasoned Hickson observer--not even close. The only one I've tracked down is Hickson 92: Stephan's Quintet...and even then, I wasn't able to see all 5 members. An...
A few months ago, I invested in a Meade 12 mm Astrometric Eyepiece that I could use in measuring double stars. I calibrated the eyepiece scale in June, and have used a few times since them. I'm definitely at the novice stage of using this eyepiece to measure doubles, but...
7) Insert the barlow through the hole in the protractor disc to check for fit. The fit should be snug and some twisting and wiggling may be needed to insert it the first time. If it is too snug, use your knife to evenly trim out a bit more material...
Calibrating the separation scale 1) Pick several stars from a list of calibration doubles. The table on page 3 of Ronald Charles Tanguay's article "Observing Double Stars for Fun and Science" is an excellent resource. Look for wider doubles to help reduce estimating errors. 2) Rotate the eyepiece so that...
What motivates an amateur astronomer to hunker down over an eyepiece and draw what they see? Have you ever looked at an astronomical sketch and wondered why the artist handled it the way they did? If you are a long-time astronomical sketcher, you probably have a some goals and methods...
A couple months ago, I got around to testing some diopter flippers I borrowed from my optometrist. I was really REALLY impressed with the clarity they gave my naked-eye observing. I had the results of my test quickly digested into a set of stargazing glasses. I ended up requesting an...
The Willard Springs Road observing site as viewed from the eastern entry point, facing west. The Willard Springs Road observing site is a cindered clearing in the middle of ponderosa forest 14 miles south of Flagstaff on I-17. The available observing area is large and receives a nice windbreak...
