A Stunning Leo Triplet

Leo Triplet

The Leo Triplet: NGC 3628, M65, M66
Sketch and Details by Dale Holt

Last week using the 14″ Newt & Watec Camera, I sketched each member of the Leo Triplet individually. There is only a very small FOV using the camera with this scope but the detailed revealed is quite incredible. Have made 3 individual sketches I asked my very good friend & accomplished planetary imager Simon Kidd if he could make up a composite for me in Photoshop and add some field stars. He duly did this (something I couldn’t contemplate doing myself!)

If I do say so myself the result is pretty impressive, what do you guys think?

Sketches made using black conte pastel & blending stumps on white cartridge paper, scanned and inverted to white on black. All the magic is then carried out by simon 🙂

Let me know what you think? Dale

7 thoughts on “A Stunning Leo Triplet”

  1. Dale,
    ImpreSSIVE ! Personally, I prefer sketches taken directly from eyepiece, but… 🙂 But this sketch looks GreAT!

    Marek

  3. Dale,
    Don’t be sad. Spring is coming! 😀
    I repeat: “sketch looks GreaT” !

    Marek

  5. Dale,

    This is a beautiful and remarkable sketch. By taking 3 individual Leo galaxy sketches and combining them into one final dramatic composite, you have broken new ground. Accolades to you for original thinking and creating a stunningly beautiful result.

    Frank 🙂

  6. Dear Frank,
    thank you for perceiving this sketch in that way. It is exciting to combine old & new techniques to create something a little different.
    I treat my monitor as a huge eyepiece the detail revealed by the video camera in real time from my Mag 5 site is likely to equal the view from a 25″ under perhaps Mag 6 skies. I don’t take CCD images but I love to draw, so I combine what Galileo started in 1609 with modern technology to create a personal record of our beautiful universe.
    Dale

  7. Dale, Frank,
    I am still thinking about new techniques of sketching. We,sketching guys from Poland, have hard discussion about it. My point of view is: use only eye, pencil and computer for digitalization.
    Maybe, I am wrong…
    Anyway,I am waiting for more view like this one.
    Let’s see more! 😀

    Marek

Leave a Reply