Yellow Moon Arising

Rising Moon on September 8th, 2009
Sketch and Details by Frank McCabe

A Lunar Oil Pastel

With the moon 4 days past full phase I knew it would be late before it was up high enough in the sky to pick a surface target for sketching. But the sight of the moon rising out of the haze, fog and clouds in the east north eastern sky caused me to change plans immediately. I returned indoors to get my oil pastel Cray-Pas crayons. I don’t especially like to use them at scope side because I get them on the telescope and eyepieces and everything else I touch but they are the only color tools I have confidence using and this occasion called for color. I have not seen the moon this color in quite some time. I never have a clear view to the horizon from my home but the moon remained this color through the first half hour of the sketch and I was able to establish the colors early on in the sketch. I first spotted the moon when it was already 10 degrees above the horizon. The orange and yellow colors were striking to see at the eyepiece. Direct view of the moon without the scope was red-orange.

Sketching:

For this sketch I used: Black Canson paper 12”x 10”, assorted colors of oil pastel crayons (Cray-Pas).

Telescope: 4.25 inch f/ 5.0 Dobsonian and 26mm eyepiece – 21x
Date: 9-8-2009 3:28-4:35 UT
Temperature: 20°C (68°F)
Partly cloudy, hazy, foggy, 84% humidity
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 1/5 – 2/5
Co longitude: 148°
Lunation: 19.7 days
Illumination: 80%

Frank McCabe