M8 sketch

[michaellxv (Michael)]

After what seems like months I got back out under the stars on the weekend. Did not take a lot of notes but i did try a sketch of M8.

Comparing to photos I can see plenty wrong with it, but here it is anyway.

[orestis]

Awesome sketch Michael,well done

When i compare my sketches to photos , there always seems to be a difference but that doesn't worry me to much i just draw what i can see.

keep up the good work
Orestis

[Kevnool (Kev)]

That is a very good sketch of M8 Michael.
Great structure in the sketch.
Cheers Kev.

[leon]

Michael, I would be happy to sketch like that nice work indeed.

Leon

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Thanks for your kind comments. I still have a long way to go with this, but at least it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

[Suzy]

I wish I could sketch like that!
Great work Michael .

[Paddy (Patrick)]

Michael that's a great sketch. But don't compare it to photos for accuracy. In my experience, things look different in the eyepiece to in images due to the differing sensitivities of the process. I often look at images of things I've observed and the patterns that are obvious to the eye are not in the photo. An image will pick up colours and more subtle areas of haze, but miss out on other things.

Well done.

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Paddy

Michael that's a great sketch. But don't compare it to photos for accuracy. In my experience, things look different in the eyepiece to in images.....

But I know that what I saw it the eyepiece is different to whats on the paper

Originally Posted by Suzy

I wish I could sketch like that! .

Give it a go. I start by positioning the stars. You can do dots can't you? After that i'm guessing and experimenting.

It's all good fun and makes the observing more interesting.

[Suzy]

Michael I am clueless when it comes to sketching. So far I have made attempts with just a blue biro and a notepad, I never realised a simply dot can look so messy and miss-shapen in the dark though!

As messy as my sketches are so far, I love them to pieces because it's what I saw with my own eyes. I've only done star dots so far. I would love to learn how you & Orestis do the nebulosity as well. What stationery do you use? Is it chalk? Any tips you'll can pass my way would be very much appreciated. Perhaps, if I had a natural talent in art I wouldn't need to ask these questions , but heck, I'm having a go all the same!

[michaellxv (Michael)]

I use pencil on white paper. I scan this and produce a negative to post.

It was some articles in 'Sky at Night' mag that got me going. Sketching the sky with Carol Lakomiak.

Start with a normal HB pencil and try and open cluster. Try placing the brightest stars and go from there.

[Suzy]

Michael, thank you so much for that info. I will also do a search for Carol Lakomiak and see what I can come up with.

[dcalleja]

Nice sketch. What scope is this?

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Originally Posted by dcalleja

Nice sketch. What scope is this?

I'm using a Nexstar 80GTL. Sketch done from a dark site, can't see half as much from home.