Category: Nebulae

Natal Clouds

M42

M42, The Great Orion Nebula
Sketch and Details by Themis Karterhs (ΕΥΘΥΜΙΟΣ ΚΑΡΤΕΡΗΣ), text by Rich Handy

Greek amateur astronomer Themis Karterhs’ (ΕΥΘΥΜΙΟΣ ΚΑΡΤΕΡΗΣ) sketch is remarkable for it’s beauty, subtlety and accuracy. This intricate emission nebula is a challenging object for even the seasoned astronomical artist, so seeing it done so well as a first effort is quite wonderful.

Hi this is my M42 i am new in sketches Thank
Themis Karterhs (ΕΥΘΥΜΙΟΣ ΚΑΡΤΕΡΗΣ)

Object Name M42
Object Type Emission nebula
Location Kitheron mounten Greece
Date 30 January 21:45 Greece time

Reflections on the Running Man

NGC 1977

NGC 1977, The Running Man Nebula in Orion
Sketch and Details by Jeff Young

At first I was somewhat disappointment with this sketch, as I only managed to capture about 1/2 the nebulosity that O’Meara did in his “Hidden Treasures” — and he was using all of 4″ of aperture (albeit from under pristine skies and with the advantage of altitude).

On the other hand, my considerable focal length (4000mm) is more similar to instruments of the 19th C, and if you equate my light pollution to their poorer-quality optics, then my sketch goes a long way toward demonstrating why Herschel (and later Dreyer) gave this nebula 3 separate designations (NGC 1973, 1975, 1977).

In any case, one draws what one sees, not what one should see.

Running Man Nebula / NGC1973, 1975, 1977

Reflection nebula in Orion

Sketched Jan 28, 2009 from County Louth, Ireland,

as viewed through 16” Mak-Cass @ 150X; Pickering 7, NELM 5, SQM 20.4

Daler-Rowney HB Graphic pencil on white 160gsm cartridge paper. Scanned and inverted in Photoshop.

— Jeff.

A Real Hoot

The Owl Nebula

M97 (NGC 3587), The Owl Nebula
Sketch and Details by Ferenc Lovró

M97 (The Owl Planetary nebula)

M97 (NGC 3587), also known as the Owl-nebula, is a very spectacular, famous planetary, in the vicinity of M108. It’s a nearly regular circle, slightly elongated in E-W directions. Also on the Eastern and Western corner one can find two darker spots, the eyes of the owl. The planetary itself is quite an easy object, looks much brighter than the 11th magnitude as listed in catalogues, a homogenous shape with sharply fading edges. Discovering the eyes is a bit harder: especially the Western spot which tends to blink. Using your averted vision helps a lot to see the details. I was using my Baader UHC filter to finish this sketch, however according to my experiences a slightly better seeing helps much more than the filter.
This is an inverted pencil sketch.

Sky location: R. A.: 11h 15m: Dec.: 55° 1′: Constellation: Ursa Major
Date/time: 2008.04.24 20:30 UT
Equipment: 12″ f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 20′
Magnification and filter(s): 167x + UHC filter
Seeing: 3/10 Transparency: 3/5
Sketching Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró

A Fine Reflection

M78

M78 (NGC 2068) reflection nebula in Orion
Sketch and Details by Frank McCabe

Reflection Nebula M-78 (NGC 2068)

This Orion gas and dust cloud extends 5 light years across and is illuminated by the two hot 10th magnitude B class stars (HD 38563A&B) that appear in front of this dust cloud. For comet hunters of the 18th century, this was an important entry made to the Messier catalog shortly after Pierre Mechan’s discovery in 1780, because it looks very much like a comet. At 1600 light years away this cloud of dust may best be seen without the use of a filter of any kind at least that is from my urban/suburban sky. It shines at about 8th magnitude and is rated as a bright diffuse reflection nebula. A great deal of star formation is taking place in this region. Dark light blocking gas and dust create the sharp edge at the top of the Northwestern margin of the nebula in the sketch. You will find the nebula at R.A. 5h 46.7m: Dec. 0° 3m.

Sketching

Date and Time: 1-25-2009, 1:15-2:00 UT
Scope: 10” f/5.7 Dobsonian. 21 mm Hyperion eyepiece 68x, no filter,
8”x11” white recycled sketching paper, 2H, 2B graphite pencils, blending stump, eraser shield, scanned and inverted, some star magnitude adjustments and background made after scanning using Microsoft Paint.
Temperature: -14°C (7°F), calm, partly cloudy
Seeing: Pickering 4/10
Transparency: Below Average 2/5

Frank McCabe

M42 Inverted

M42 inverted

M42, the Great Nebula of Orion
Sketch and Details by Serge Vieillard, translation by Frank McCabe

M42 uninverted

M42 before sketch inversion
Sketch by Serge Vieillard

Inverted sketch of M-42

It was January 3, 2009, on a beautiful and cold (- 7°C) evening in Royal Port (78) and I was with the buddies of the club. The crescent moon was bright and interfered somewhat with the observation. However, I want to try out the technique of color application by what I call filters interferential. M42 passes to the meridian line and lends itself magnificently to the test.
T400mm-c (Obsession Telescope) is equipped with Ethos 13mm ocular. A first vision without filter makes it possible to place with the lead pencil the star field and the various luminous zones of nebula. Then the use of a filter OIII makes the object more filamentous and accentuates the thinner extensions. These additional details and these appreciations are drawn with the purple pencil. (Upon inversion this will provide the green shades commonly see at the eyepiece)
Lastly, the filter H-beta radically changes the vision into literally revealing invisible zones under the current terms, like the broad wing on the left of the drawing and the fine line wing which borders its green neighbor, here completely extinct by the filter. On the other hand M43 is almost invisible with the OIII whereas it is detached well with H-beta. These additional details are drawn with the green pencils which reveal the reds and pinks at the eyepiece after inversion.
After passage into negative and treatment of the colors, one obtains this result which I describe as L, R (H-beta), V (OIII).

Returning to the Great Nebula

M42

The Great Nebula of Orion, M42
Sketch and Details by Robert Ignisdei

After long period of my inactivity, I’ve come back to sketching. It has been caused by changing my astronomical equipment.So now, I want to present you my new sketch of The Great Orion Nebula from 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. It is not so impressive like my former sketches from 12” newton, but lot of details such as a delicate fibres of gas and dust are still visible.

In general, The Orion Nebula was one of my first object, which attract my attention., has becomed a beloved, often observed nebula, observed very attentively, carefully and closely. It is always a great pleasure for me to watch it, to photograph it and finally to sketch this magnificent wonder of our a starry sky.

Yours sincerely,
Robert

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Object Name : The Great Orion Nebula (Ignisdei)
Object Type: Nebulae/emission/reflection
Location: Poland/ Oborniki/suburbia
Date: January 2009
Equipment: MEADE 203/SC EMC , UB”, SWAN 2″ 40mm

Hubble’s Variable Nebula NGC 2261

Hubble’s Variable Nebula

Hubble’s Variable Nebula NGC 2261
Sketch by Kiminori Ikebe, text by Frank McCabe

As can be seen in Kiminori Ikebe’s excellent sketch, the Hubble variable nebula is an example of a cometary reflection nebula associated with a bright protostar known as R Monocerotis. R Monocerotis is a large, young, hot binary surrounded by a close in orbiting dust and molecular gas cloud that is common to stars that are massive and entering the main sequence. Beyond the close in orbiting gas and dust is a larger, empty paraboloid shaped gas and dust cloud we see as the visible nebula with R Mon. occupying the vertex. This region extends out nearly 1 light year from the illuminating protostar. The nebula variability is due to shadows cast upon on the visible nebula created by irregularities in density of the orbiting inner gas and dust clouds which are cutting off some starlight. Variability can be detected in time intervals of weeks and months. It is fascinating to watch the shape and brightness of NGC 2261 as it varies over time. The nebula measures 2′ x 4′ in size and can change by 2 magnitudes or more in brightness.

Sketching:

Date: 2002.12.14 02:26

Telescope 32 cm. at 150x

Object Location: Constellation Monoceros

R.A.: 6h 39.2m Dec. : +08: 44′

Sketching Location: Kyushu, Japan

The Spirograph Nebula, IC 418

IC 418

IC 418, The Spirograph Nebula
Sketch by Serge Vieillard, text by Frank McCabe

This beautiful planetary nebula shows a distinct green color in Serge Vieillard’s impressive drawing. The central collapsing star (about 10th mag.) is somewhat variable in brightness as it continues to evolve to the white dwarf stage of its life. This planetary is about 2000 light years away in the constellation of Lepus the hare. Some observers have reported this planetary as appearing red accounting for its other name the “Red Planetary”. The visual magnitude of this planetary is about 11. This observation was made at St. Véran in the French Alps back in October of last year as a club group of 6 ascended the mountain to visually observe with the great 620mm Cassegrain there. Serge commented that all in the observing group were surprised by the color of this nebula.

Blue Beauties

M45

M45, The Pleiades or “Seven Sisters”
Sketch and Details by Przemysław Horoszkiewicz, text by Rich Handy

This beautiful arrangement of stars is the Open Cluster M45. The Pleiades or the “Seven Sisters” contain nebulae that reflect and scatter the blue light of the hot cluster stars. This gives the dust clouds the characteristic blue color. This superb sketch was submitted to ASOD by Polish amateur astronomer Przemysław Horoszkiewicz.

Sketch information:
Obiect name: Messier 45
Scope:Orion APO ED 80
Eyepieces: Super Plossl 25mm
Place: Poland, Zielona Góra (A few kilometers for city)
Seeing: 5/10
Date: 30.12.2008 r
Technique:Pencil,graphics GIMP2
Amateur astronomer: Przemysław Horoszkiewicz (Poland)