Category: Naked eye

Crescent Moon Over the Campus Observatory

Crescent Moon over the Campus Observatory

The Crescent Moon Over the Campus Observatory
Sketch and Details by Frank McCabe

Over the past two evenings I sketched the view of our campus observatory dome and the waxing crescent moon with earthshine. On the first night beginning at sunset I drew the view of the observatory deck and dome from across the campus pond. The moon was already in the trees on this night so I knew I would need to return to capture the moon on the next evening if it was clear. The white dome was brightly illuminated by the parking and tennis court lights. As luck would have it, the sky was beautifully clear the next evening and I was able to finish the drawing as planned.

Sketching:

9″x 12″ sheet of dark blue construction paper, a set of Grumbacher oil pastels, x-acto knife for correcting mistakes, flat edge toothpicks for blending, fly tying pocket clip-on lamp.

Conditions:
Clear to partly cloudy both nights
29-30°C (84-86°F)
Very humid, calm
Time:
1:15-2:30 UT 6-24-2009
2:00-2:30 UT 6-25-2009
Location:
Palos Hills, Illinois

Frank McCabe

HoneyMoon

HoneyMoon

Honeymoon
Sketch and Details by Carlos E. Hernandez

I made an observation of the Waning Gibbous Moon (17.8 days old) on June 11, 2009 (04:00 U.T.) above the southeastern horizon. The Moon exhibited a golden color as it is appropriately called a “Honeymoon.” The origin of the word Honeymoon is vague but it may have originated in Northern Europe when the newly married couple was supposed to drink a daily cup of Mead (a drink made from honey) for the first month of marriage in order to provide strength and virility. The astronomical explanation may refer to the low (southern) position of the Moon along the Ecliptic (greater amount of haze) giving it a “golden” appearance. Whatever the explanation it is a beautiful sight for newlyweds and all of us.

Carlos

Beauty Cubed

Moon, Mars and Venus

Conjunction of the Moon, Venus and Mars on May 22nd, 2009
Sketch and Details by Carlos E. Hernandez

I was able to view a Waning Crescent Moon (~23 degrees above the eastern horizon), a brilliant Venus (-4.32m,~31* above the eastern horizon) and Mars (1.35m, ~27* above the eastern horizon) over a lavender to bluish-gray clouded horizon. The trio was impressive over the hazy sky.

A digital image produced in Gimp.

Carlos

The Shiny Shockwave Around the Moon

Moon Halo

Moon with Halo
Sketch and Details by Aleksander Cieśla

Hi!
Tonight I saw an impressive halo around the Moon. It looks like a shiny shockwave on the shining clouds.

Sketch information:
Object: Moon (94% of full) and halo
Scope: Naked eye
Place: Poland, Wroclaw – near city center
Weather: Quick passing clouds. Seeing 6/10. Light Pollution.
Date: 7 February 2009.
Technique: White pastels on black paper
Tooling: N/A

From Inside, the Waxing Crescent Moon Sets

Crescent Moon in Trees

January Waxing Crescent Moon
Sketch and Details by Frank McCabe

January Waxing Crescent Moon

As January comes to a close, I must say I am happy to see it going away. We have been having a cold and snowy winter so far with very few clear nights. However tonight I saw the sunset with Venus appearing about the same time and a beautiful two and one half day old crescent moon about 7% illuminated. As twilight deepened the earthshine presented itself quite well. Temperatures here near Chicago remain well below freezing so I made this observation out my kitchen bay window without the benefit of optical aid. By the time I gathered my sketching material the moon was already beginning to sink behind a few basswood trees along my line of sight. The moon was impressive and the comfort of indoor warmth made for ideal sketching climate.

Sketching:

Naked eye sketch out a large window
For this sketch I used: dark blue construction paper, 11”x 9”, white and black Conte’pastel pencils and a blending stump, for templating the moon as a circle I used a salt shaker bottom.. Brightness was slightly decreased after scanning.

Date: 1-28-2009 11:10-11:40 UT
clear skies
Lunation: 2.64 days
Illumination: 7 %

Frank McCabe

Two Views of Venus

Venus naked eye

Venus over Brzeźno, Poland
Sketch and Details by Krzysztof Rajda

These two excellent sketches of Venus by Krzysztof Rajda demonstrate that the Planet presents wonderful views whether seen naked eye or through the eyepiece of a telescope. Superb work Kris!

Sketch information:

Obiect name:Venus
Place:Poland,Brzeźno
Date:09.01.2009
Amateur astronomer:Krzysztof Rajda

Venus 2

Venus seen through the telescope
Sketch and Details by Krzysztof Rajda

Sketch information:

Obiect name: Venus
Scope:SkyWatcher 150/750
Eyepiece:Vixen NLV9mm
Place:Poland,Brzeźno
Seeing:3/5
Date:05.01.08r
Technique:Pencil,graphics GIMP2
Amateur astronomer:Krzysztof(Kris)Rajda

Mixed Media Daytime Moon

Daytime Moon

Gibbous Moon
Sketch and Details by Frank McCabe

On Saturday October 18, 2008 at 8:00 am local time, I was out walking in east Mesa, Arizona on a gorgeous morning with the air temperature about 22°C (72°F) and the humidity in the high teens. Over in the western sky the 19 day old waning gibbous moon was riding high and bright in a remarkable deep blue sky. Never in my life have I seen such a bright daytime moon. I stopped in front of a nearby building roof with a tall palm tree on the other side. I took out of the folder I was carrying an index card and using a pencil I drew the moon on one side and the building roof and palm tree on the other side. I jotted down some notes on colors and positions. When I got back home to Illinois, I combined the pencil drawings and notes into a mixed media sketch. For the moon I used pastel pencils (white and black) and for the building and palm tree I used Cray-Pas oil pastels on deep blue construction paper. Of course the view was much better than I am capable of capturing but I will never forget the treat of this perfect morning.

Sketching:

Naked eye drawing
Date and Time: 10-18-2008 8: 00 am PST
Location: Power Road and Broadway Ave. Mesa, Az.
Weather: Perfect
Moon at 19 days, high in the western sky.

For this sketch I used: dark blue construction paper, 10”x 8”, white and black Conte’pastel pencils and a blending stump. Also cray-pas oil pastels for the building and tree. This sketch was put together from pencil sketches and notes made at the time of the observation.

Frank McCabe

Moon River

Naked Eye Moon
Waxing Gibbous Moon
Sketch and Details by Carlos E. Hernandez

We are experiencing hurricane season (June 1 to December 1) in South Florida and therefore lots of rain. On July 16, 2008 (01:45 U.T.) I was fortunate to experience a break in the clouds which exposed a Waxing Gibbous Moon (12.7 days old) which had a copper glow to it floating within a river of dark blue sky. The clumps of clouds on either side of the Moon had a lavender tint to them. The cloud border west of the Moon had a reddish-orange half arc visible over it. It was a very beautiful sight to behold while fighting off bad weather.

A digital rendering made using Corel Painter X.

I hope to post telescopic observations as soon as possible. My hectic work schedule and weather have prevented me from making them. I look to everyone’s observation in the future.

Carlos

Unusual Earthshine

Earthshine

Moon with Earthshine
Sketch and Details by Carlos E. Hernandez

I was struck by the Waxing Crescent Moon (2.4 days old) over the western horizon (~11 degrees) tonight (January 11, 2008 at 00:00 U.T.) as it appeared that the Earthshine over the unilluminated portion was asymmetric. I turned my 11 x 56 Oberwerk binoculars upon it and noted a brightening over the Moon’s northern (upper) limb. My wife also noted the brightening without my suggestion. There also appeared to be a “glow” surrounding the crescent Moon. I have never observed this over the Moon at this or any other phase. This most likey represnts an atmospheric phenomena (e.g. haze or diffuse cloud).

A digital rendering in Corel Painter X.

Carlos