The Whispy Veil

NGC 6960
NGC 6960

This is a sketch of NGC 6960, part of the Veil Nebula. Originally sketched on white paper, reversed and processed in Gimp 2. This is my second time doing this method, and I am pleased with the results.

Scope: Criterion RV-6
Ocular: GSO 32mm Plossl + Celestron.
UHC
Location: Prescott, AZ

Thanks for looking!

First Quarter Moon

First Quarter Moon
First Quarter Moon

Object Name: First Quarter Moon
Object Type: abstract interpretive sketch of prominent lunar features
Location: Oberlin, Ohio
Date: August-September 2013
Media: Sharpie, ball-point pen, and colored pencil on white paper

As this is the latest addition to my series of abstract astronomy-themed drawings (see more here: http://preshuss1.deviantart.com/gallery/45423007), I used a bit of artistic license in interpreting the lunar features that are shown. Still, I did my best to reference the moon’s actual geography.

The Sea of Rains is the central focus. Framing the craters Archimedes, Aristillus, Autolycus, and Cassini, this ancient volcanic plain is edged from south to north by the Appenine and Caucasus mountains, and capped by the “Alpine Valley.” The northern Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold) bleeds around the crater Aristotle and into the lakes of Death and Dreams, finally bringing the eye to rest on a Sea of Serenity at lower right. Yes…it’s easy to get carried away by such tantalizing names! Exploring the lunar surface can feel like wandering through a poem…

Little Gem Nebula – NGC 6818

NGC 6818
NGC 6818

NGC 6818, also known as the Little Gem Nebula, is a small but bright planetary in Sagittarius. It is one of my favorite summer objects because of its annular structure, which is not difficult to see even with my small telescope. The best view comes at 222x with an UHC filter, that makes its ring shape easier to spot. Curiously, it seems that the central dark region is not exactly in the center but slightly off to the north, and the ring is brighter in its southern half. At low powers the nebula shows a lovely greenish-blue color, which is typical of many bright planetaries.

Sketch: 2HB graphite pencil on white paper, scanned and processed with Photoshop CS3

Object Name: NGC 6818, the Little Gem Nebula

Object Type: Planetary nebula

Location: Asturias, Spain

Date: August 31st, 2013 22:20 UT

Instrument: 120mm f/8.3 refractor + Nagler T6 9mm + barlow 2x (222x)

NELM: 5.6

Best regards,

Diego González

https://sites.google.com/site/astrodgonzalez/

H-Alpha Sun – September 15, 2013

H-Alpha Sun - September 15, 2013
H-Alpha Sun – September 15, 2013

Object: Sun
Type: Star
Media: Graphite pencil and white paper
Date: 15-Sept-2013
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Instrument: Meade PST.
Seeing: good…

Due to Peak of solar cycle, sun has gone very active…. I could make out the burst over 2 hours….

Crater Vieta

Crater Vieta
Crater Vieta

Lunar Crater Vieta–Gerry Smerchanski

Lunar crater in lower eastern quadrant

Sketched from: Teulon, Manitoba Canada

Date: 21:00 to 22:30 CDT Sept 27th 2012.

Medium Graphite pencil ink and whiteout on white paper. Image flipped and contrast adjusted to compensate for scanning shortcomings.

This was the stunning end of a string of impressive looking craters starting back at Gassendi that night.

Late August Sun – 2013

H-Alpha Sun - August 22-31, 2013
H-Alpha Sun – August 22-31, 2013

Location : Castres, south-west France (near Toulouse)
Date : from 22 to 31 august 2013
Media : graphite pencil, white paper

Comments :
Dayly sketch of sun made through a small Coronado PST (H Alpha) + 15mm Televue eyepiece
Method :
1) dayly observing sun coronado around 12h TU
2) quick sketch with ballpen on paper notepad (2 minutes)
3) later copy out on drawing paper with graphite pencil (10 to 12 minutes)
4) picture take of each drawing with camera + Photoshop processing
– flipping horizontally and vertically in order to see the correct sun orientation
– grouping the 9 pictures + date on the same sheet
One may see the sun rotation from August 26 to 29 watching at spots.
I saw some material projections ejected into space (see August 30)
We currently have a great solar activity
To see the solar prominences evolution one should have to observe every hour !

Thank you for taking into consideration this small contribution
Best regards.

Jean-Marc SALIOU
A.P.A.M. astronomy
http://www.astrosurf.com/apam

Facets of the Dolphin

Objects in Delphinus
Objects in Delphinus

Dolphin Constellation

several objects

Location: The Bullaque – Ciudad Real – Spain

Date: 2013 – September – 01

Media: Graphite Pencil HB, torchon drawing sheet 1 and 130g

Inverted colors with GIMP 2.8

The Dolphin is a summer constellation modest, but can be very interesting for the amateur observer. Spend an evening full observation of its four most significant objects two planetary nebulae and two globular clusters, has been very rewarding.

When observed at the same time, are more striking differences between the two planets:
NGC 6905 is sees as a small disk, very bright and is easily distinguished in the field, and
NGC 6891 is quite the opposite, very small, very bright and compact, ie stellar appearance, difficult to distinguish from the other stars in the field.

The two globular clusters are very different concentration among them, but the different distances from us makes visual texture is very similar:
NGC 6934 (Class VII and 50,000.) Is bright, large, round, with denser center, feathered edges and mottled texture, and
NGC 7006 (Class I and 150,000 al.) Is less bright, somewhat smaller, round, with denser center, feathered edges and mottled texture.
A sample of observation is the sketch I made (picture above).

Finding NGC 6891 has been a challenge, stellar appearance has remained up to 200x and only from the 220x has started to show a very small round and compact disc.
The UHC filter and averted vision were needed in the localization and subsequent observation of nebulae.
For all objects have the best view obtained with the 220x. Good quality of the sky with a 21.41 SQM (roughly Male zone 6 was 6.2).

Greetings to all visitors of this page

Pedro Villamiel 09/04/2013

From Zucchius to Schiller

Zucchius, Schiller and environs

Zucchius, Schiller and environs

On the evening of September 16, 2013, I got the best view of the basin ring segment between young crater Zucchius (65 km.) and just the tip of large older crater Schiller (179 km.) The ring arc was more than a day beyond the terminator but perfectly illuminated to show its depth and smoothness.
Craters Weigel (36 km.) and Weigel B (37 km.) initially caught my eye as light was brightly glinting off the rims.
For an excellent image of this region see the LPOD for May 26, 2013
http://lpod.wikispaces.com/May+26%2C+2013
There were many fine crater showing nicely in this region at the time of the observation and sketch.
Sketching:
For this sketch I used: black Canson paper 9″x 10″, white and black Conte’
pastel pencils , and Conte’crayons, a blending stump, Pink and White Pearl erasers. Brightness was not altered but contrast was increased +3 using the scanner for this sketch
Telescope: 10 inch f/ 5.7 Dobsonian with 6mm (241x) eyepiece
Date: 09-17-2013, 02:00 – 03:45 UT
Temperature: 16°C (60°F)
Clear, calm
Seeing: Antoniadi II
Co longitude 53.8°
Lunation 11.42 days
Illumination 91.5%

Frank McCabe

Two Beautiful Phenomena in One

Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter - April 14, 2013
Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter – April 14, 2013

Moon in corona and Jupiter in Conjunction (14-04-2013)

The lunar light diffracted by water drops, gave a beautifull spectacle of colored ring around the Moon just – like an aureole ! Near shone the the largest planet in the Solar System with his four Galilean moons!

Jupiter and Moons were also in small halos 😉

It was remarkable and unforgettable conjunction!

Yours Robert!

Sketch details:
Object Name: Two beautiful phenomenons in one
Object Type: The Conjunction
Location: Poland, Oborniki
Date: 14-04-2013
Equipment: APO 80/480
Power 12x, field of Swan 40mm, details of the Moon -ES 16mm and 8mm HD BST
Object Artist: Robert Twarogal (Ignisdei)

Messier 67

Messier 67
Messier 67

Object Name : M67
Object Type : Open Cluster in Cancer
Location : Suppi-ryung Kunnam-myeon Chulwon-gun Gang won-do South.KOREA)
Date : 2013.2.8 Friday
Media : A4 paper, HB pencil
Equipment : 10′ dobsonian, XW 20mm
Observing conditions : clear sky(Excpet south sky)
This my first DSO sketch in my life.
Spent 1hour to sketch, 3:00 ~ 3:30