[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Hi all,

For this month's "challenge", how about suggesting fewer targets, but asking participants to do a sketch or two.

What I love about this hobby is the variety of scopes in use, and the different images they provide. So, there is no right or wrong image, take, or observation.

And, the best part about attempting a sketch is not the 'quality' of the drawing, as it is only an interpretation, but I feel it enhances our powers of observation.

To that end, I will make at least two sketches of the same object using two different scopes, a 6" reflector and a 17.5" reflector.

My object suggestions range for small to large scopes to provide a 'push to the limit':

Bright target: M8, the Lagoon Nebula, in Scorpio. A lovely bright open cluster & bright nebula target. It is also known as the Hourglass nebula due to the striking dark lane the separates the two lobes of the nebula.

Medium target: M57, the Ring Nebula, in Lyra. One of the most spectacular things I've seen in the whole sky. One of the largest planetary nebulae in the sky, with its striking doughnut shape.

Dim target: NGC 1365, in Fornax. The big barred spiral galaxy in the Fornax Cluster. One of the few barred galaxies to visually have its bar observable, though the bar is better seen in larger instruments.

There is nothing to stop anyone targeting any of these objects, only yourself. Have a shot, you might be surprised.

Sketching tips:

Illumination- use a red light to do your drawing with. Red cellophane, 3 or 4 layers, over a torch is good.

Paper- better quality A4 paper is best as it has a much finer texture for really fine detail. Any of the Aussie made "Reflex" range is superb. Do the sketch on white paper as it easier to see the markings when using a graphite pencil.

Pencil- for simplicity I recommend a sharp B2 pencil, and a rubber. This grade of pencil is soft enough for easier to see markings, but hard enough to cope with variation in applied pressure.

Final transfer- As with the white paper, try to get a fine grade black paper. For the stars, you can use a needle to control the size of stars with a white paint, like the one in your kid's paint collection. Oh, and raid their coloured pencils for a white pencil- perfect for faint, soft nebula/galaxy detail.

I've uploaded a couple of mine. The first is of M8 through my 5" done a few years ago, the second is of the Antennae galaxy with my 17.5" done last month. The last is a 'test' sketch while I figured out how to handle the materials- experiment.