Category: Media Combinations

Lunar crater Maurolycus and environs
Sketch and Details by Frank McCabe

Among the craters in the southern highlands this large walled plain crater (115 km.) really stands out. Seeing this crater on the sunrise terminator was all the motivation I needed to attempt a sketch. The atmosphere was somewhat turbulent so I keep the magnification in the medium range.
I drew this crater back in late July of 2008 when it was illuminated by a higher sun at the waning gibbous phase. As I continued to sketch, the central peak of this crater began to catch the rising sun, and I immediately recalled a beautiful sketch of this crater under similar lighting made by Rich Handy back in 2006 or there about.
Just above Maurolycus which would be south in the sketch, the dark crescent seen is a partial remnant of a more ancient crater than the old Nectarian period Maurolycus. The outer wall of this crater and its partner to the south, south east Barocius (83 km.) stand tall and steep more than 4 kilometers above the floor.

Sketching:

For this sketch I used: black Strathmore 400 Artagain paper 9”x12”, white and black Conte’ pastel pencils and a blending stump. After scanning, Brightness was decreased (-3) and contrast increased (+2) using Microsoft Office Picture Manager.

Telescope: 10 inch f/ 5.7 Dobsonian and 8 mm eyepiece 181 x
Date: 10-24 to 10-25-2009, 10:40-12:05 UT
Temperature: 13° C (55° F)
Partly Cloudy, calm
Seeing: Antoniadi III-IV
Colongitude 347.1 °
Lunation 6.75 days
Illumination 40.2 %

Frank McCabe

Crater Cabeus near the Lunar South Pole
Sketch and Details by Frank McCabe

On Monday September 28, 2009 the LCROSS Science Team at NASA decided to change the impact target for the October 9, 2009 11:30 UT impact based on a better chance of striking a more robust hydrogen concentration and hopefully creating a plume that reaches a higher altitude. At the newly selected site inside a valley on the floor of crater Cabeus a large hill in the vicinity will be casting a shadow that should provide good background contrast for viewing, imaging or sketching the event. The NASA LCROSS report states, “During the last days of the mission the LCROSS team will continue to refine the exact point of impact within Cabeus crater to avoid rough spots, and to maximize solar illumination of the debris plume and Earth observations.

From my location in the Chicago south suburbs the morning sky will be in twilight and the moon will be past the meridian but at a respectable 66° altitude in Taurus. The locations get darker the further west you are in the USA.

On the only recent clear night in some time I went out and sketched the South Polar Region including crater Cabeus. I did this primarily for practice and to see how much of the region I could sketch in a reasonable amount of time; so now I know about when to get started on October 9th. On the date of impact the crater Cabeus will be in about the same viewing position from the limb as in the sketch.

Sketching:

For this sketch I used: black Canson paper, white and black Conte’
pastel pencils , a blending stump, gum eraser.
Telescope: 10 inch f/ 5.7 Dobsonian with 6mm (241x) eyepiece
Date: 9-30-2009 9:15-10:45 pm local time
Temperature: 11°C (51°F)
Clear, calm
Seeing: Antoniadi III,
Co longitude 56.7°
Lunation 12.3 days
Illumination 90.4%

Oak Forest, Illinois

Frank McCabe

Webmaster’s note: Anyone who is able to observe and possibly sketch the LCROSS impact dust plumes are invited to submit their drawings to ASOD for publication.

Lunar crater Copernicus
Sketch and Details by Andrew Phethean

Copernicus

I was a bit daunted by the intricacy of detail in the banks of the crater, so rather than render accuracy, I attempted just to capture the “mood” of the crater – the 3-D-ness, the grandeur, the complexity. Details follow:

Location: Aberdeen, UK
Conditions: transparency: IV/V. Seeing III/V
Time: approx 11.20 pm – 12.00 am (4th April)
Scope: 6″ f/8 Skywatcher Evostar
Eyepiece: 7mm TS Planetary (171x)
Materials: White and black Conte chalk pastels on A5 black 270gsm drawing paper

I only heard of ASOD today, reading Astronomy Now magazine. I was regretful that I hadn’t heard of it before, because I love seeing the work that people produce with their own hands. I’ve had a good browse of the site and am enjoying the work on there.

I have only made a handful of sketches before. My first was a lunar sketch of Gutenburg. I make DSO sketches once in a while to check my observations. I’m 21 and have been into astronomy for 3 years.

I have attached two sketches here. Both of which I was very proud to have published in Astronomy Now magazine.

Andrew Phethean

Webmasters note: Thank you Andrew and we will be delighted to feature your second of hopefully many submissions to come! -Rich Handy and Jeremy Perez