Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 22222
Loc: Ohio, USA
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The monthly target tutorial for this month is Saturn. Please include a complete description of how you've rendered your observation as well any photos of steps you might want to include plus the finished sketch.
If anyone has any templates to share, please do so. Here are a couple that I found in the "Best of the Sketching Forum's 'How To' Threads".
Saturn Template for '07-'08 Apparition:
New Saturn Template from Sol Robbins
Saturn Templates 2006-2007 from EverlastingSky
If anyone needs some ideas on participation, please have a look at last month's target thread: Full Phase moon
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi. 
10" LX200 Classic, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, 12" Truss Dob, Orion ED80
My CN Gallery * 2007 July - tracking NOAA10963
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Jaycin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/09/06
Posts: 2146
Loc: Oregon, USA
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Here is my Monthly Target Tutorial for February: Saturn
I pretty much just winged it with this one. I don't have any planetary sketching experience, so this is a first for me. I did sketch Saturn the first time I saw it, but I drew it exactly the size it appeared to be in the EP, and I didn't have any high power EP's at the time. This time I was able to observe Saturn at 400X, which is a pretty decent magnification, but still too small to draw it's apparent size in the EP. What follows is my simple approach to sketching The Lord of the Rings.
Step 1: Before I went out to observe, I traced around a penny on my sketchpad so I would have a perfect circle to start with. Of course this could be substituted for anything round that meets your size requirements.
Step 2: I spent a good 30 minutes observing Saturn before I picked up a pencil. I had pretty good seeing conditions, and I wanted to absorb all of the detail in my minds eye that I could, before I got started with sketching.
Step 3: I drew in the rings and shaded the disk in the negative, so I could invert the sketch, and have a black background. Below is the raw sketch.
Step 4: I scanned, inverted, and added color with my photo processing software. I also added the text with the same software. Below is the finished product. I hope you all enjoy it! 
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Jason
Zhumell 8" Dobsonian
60mm Meade Telestar
Sketching the Cosmos
Messier countdown: 102 down, 8 to go! 
Salem, Oregon
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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3061
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Jason,
A nice observation and sketch!! 
What surprises my is your interesting 'inverted' approach. I use the same technique on DSO's though. I'll keep your tutorial in mind next time I look at Saturn.
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.
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SGT500
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/03/06
Posts: 2738
Loc: Ny
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Great Sketch Jason...thenks for the tutorial, its helpfull
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-Sal
AstroTech Ritchey Chretien 8"
Williams Optics Zenithstar 80
Orion Atlas Eq-G
Hap Griffin Modified Canon Eos Xs (1000D)
My Astrophotography Gallery
My Sketch Gallery
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 4183
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Jason,
An excellent and realistic sketch of Saturn--great job! You did a very good job on the rings--how did you draw them? Getting that elegant ellipse right is crucial for a topnotch sketch. I always had trouble with that until I started using Sol's template.
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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Jaycin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/09/06
Posts: 2146
Loc: Oregon, USA
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Thanks guys!
Rony, I honestly hadn't planned on drawing in the negative, but when I got to the eyepiece, it just seemed like the way to go.
Sal, I'm glad to hear that my little tutorial is helpful to you! 
Michael, I drew the rings freehand. Drawing them in the negative actually helped me to get the shape right.
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Jason
Zhumell 8" Dobsonian
60mm Meade Telestar
Sketching the Cosmos
Messier countdown: 102 down, 8 to go!
Salem, Oregon
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3884
Loc: Illinois
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Jason,
Wow! What a cool sketch of Saturn. I like the way you did this.  
Frank
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my gallery
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Jaycin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/09/06
Posts: 2146
Loc: Oregon, USA
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Thank you Frank! 
It was just a shot in the dark, but it seemed to work out OK.
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Jason
Zhumell 8" Dobsonian
60mm Meade Telestar
Sketching the Cosmos
Messier countdown: 102 down, 8 to go!
Salem, Oregon
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 22222
Loc: Ohio, USA
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Wow, great job, Jason! And thank you very much for starting things off. I've been wanting to observe Saturn and try a tutorial but time and tiredness hasn't allowed it yet. I still can't believe you sketched it in the negative. 
Today is 9th of Feb and according to spaceweather.com Saturn will be closest for 2007 this weekend. So if anyone's got clear skies, this weekend would be good for your tutorial. http://www.spaceweather.com/
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi.
10" LX200 Classic, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, 12" Truss Dob, Orion ED80
My CN Gallery * 2007 July - tracking NOAA10963
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Jaycin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/09/06
Posts: 2146
Loc: Oregon, USA
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Thank you Erika!
I hope that everyone gets a chance to observe Saturn this weekend. I look forward to some more sketches and tutorials!
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Jason
Zhumell 8" Dobsonian
60mm Meade Telestar
Sketching the Cosmos
Messier countdown: 102 down, 8 to go!
Salem, Oregon
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andyenglish
sage
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 390
Loc: Albu(r)querque, NM
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Outstanding sketch, Jason. I still haven't had the weather to participate in this month's target. I hope too soon...
-Andy
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When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? -Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)
http://nm-spaceman.tripod.com/floating_pencils
100mm EQ f/6 achromat refractor, 7×20 7.1° binoculars.
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Jaycin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/09/06
Posts: 2146
Loc: Oregon, USA
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Thank you Andy!
I hope your skies clear for you soon. I look forward to your sketch and tutorial!
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Jason
Zhumell 8" Dobsonian
60mm Meade Telestar
Sketching the Cosmos
Messier countdown: 102 down, 8 to go!
Salem, Oregon
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 3953
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Jason,
An excellent and very realistic observation of Saturn and some it's brighter satellites. Your observations keep getting better and better. Keep up the good work.
Carlos
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Jaycin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/09/06
Posts: 2146
Loc: Oregon, USA
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Thank you very much, Carlos!
I am honored that you think so!
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Jason
Zhumell 8" Dobsonian
60mm Meade Telestar
Sketching the Cosmos
Messier countdown: 102 down, 8 to go!
Salem, Oregon
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 3953
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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I made an observation of Saturn on February 15, 2007 at 03:00 U.T. using my 9-inch F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain. The amount of detail noted over the globe and rings was impressive, as noted. The South Equatorial Belt (SEB) displayed complex detail (dark condensations and bright streaks). I welcome any comments that you may have on my observation.
Date (U.T.): February 15, 2007
Time (U.T.): 03:00
L1 060.4, L2 179.3, L3 216.8
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
De: 14.1, Ds: -13.8
Magnification: 141x and 273x
Filters: None (IL)
Seeing (1-10: 5-6 (brief moments of 7/10), Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 4
Notes:
South Polar Region (SPR): Appeared dusky (4/10) with a dark (3/10) central pole (cap).
South Temperate Zone (STZ): Appeared shaded (6/10) with it's northern half appearing a dark tan color and southern half a pale pastel green.
South Temperate Belt (STB): Appeared dusky (4/10) and a pale caramel (brown) color.
South Tropical Zone (STrZ): Appeared shaded (6/10) and a light tan color.
South Equatorial Belt (SEB): Appeared dark to dull (3-5/10) with dark (3/10) condensations over it's northern and southern halves. Bright (7/10) streaks appeared between the two SEB components. The belt appeared a tan to dark brown color.
Equatorial Zone (EZ): Appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) and a pastel yellow (mustard) color.
North Tropical Zone (NTrZ): Appeared shaded (6/10) and a light pastel blue color.
North Temperate Belt (NTB): Appeared dusky (4/10), thin and light brown in color.
North Temperate Zone (NTZ): Appeared shaded (6/10) and light brown in color.
North Polar Region (NPR): Appeared dark (3/10) along the northern limb.
Ring A: Appeared dull (5/10) but no detail visible within.
Ring B: Appeared dusky (4/10) over it's inner half and bright (7/10) over it's outer half.
Ring C (Crepe): Appeared shaded (6/10) and translucent.
Satellites: Preceding to following
Iapetus (10.89m), Enceladus (11.48, sorry no geysers visible), Dione (10.18m), Rhea (9.48), and Tethys (9.98)
Best Regards,
Carlos
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andyenglish
sage
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 390
Loc: Albu(r)querque, NM
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Saturn February 16 - 17, 2007
from Albuquerque, NM (36 x -106, UT-7)
100mm f/6 achromat refractor (Orion AstroView)
Plossl eyepieces: 6.4mm, 10mm, 25mm (with and without 2x APO barlow; with and without minus-V filter).
Jason, again: great sketch! Carlos, I love that image! You guys have got the eye!
Here's my attempt (after weeks and weeks of frustration and SNOW!) I did sit out near the 1st of the month to see what I could do, but the results were catasrophic! (I tried to color Titan with a colored pencil and it smeared the pencil graphite completely over the Titan 'orblet'. More experimentation is needed with the colored pencils (or better colored pencils! ANYONE know of a great colored pencil that applies lightly (like charcoal) without smearing other graphite around it?).
Those of you who are fortunate enough to be able to sketch in the dark, I applaud you! I need to have my eyes inches from the paper to see what the pencil is doing so this is a slower process... And for those of you (Jason, et al...) who have really got a handle on the chromatic reversing process, many many more kudos! Right now, I have to draw in a more direct manner (I am looking to trying Pleiades in reverse soon, and have recently seen the graphic work of artist Sissy Haas in the book "Double Stars..." (James Mullaney, ISBN 1852337516) that has inspired me to pursue-computer assisted imaging as a sketch medium. Thank you all for your inspiration!
Here's how I got started...
Step 1: (Yesterday) Primarily observation. Draw circle for e/p placement. Note axis of alignment which pinpoints "Titan" each day and aligns the rings/poles. Observe proportional relationships, vertically and horizontally. Memorize these proportions. Start "drawing" the sketch in my head.
Step 2: (This afternoon, after telescope is set up and cooling.) Begin preliminary sketh with observed proportions from day 1. Use daylight and bright light for precision. I use an "F" pencil 'rubbed' to a fine tip for the real tight lines. (by 'rubbing', I mean honing the graphite-tip of the pencil to a super sharp pinpoint. I use the last few pages of my sketch book as a rubbing pad.) I also use a clean white eraser that I've cut with an Xacto knife with various corners, tips, and edges. This is really helpful in achieving really tight edges. After the outline is set dark & clean, I begin a series of straight strokes at the edges to really tighten them up, turning the pad as I go so the hand has a nice, mechanical series of strokes to draw (with a slight tremor in my hand, swift strokes become more necessary!). After I'm really, REALLY satisfied with the initial results, I brush the sketch vigorously with a camel/horse hair brush and fix it *lightly* with acrylic fixitive. (I prefer 'matte' but all WalMart had was 'gloss'. Matte is easier to draw on top of...)
Step 3: (Tonight) To be continued...
Clear skies, pleasant company!
-Andy
(Detail crops to follow...)
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When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? -Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)
http://nm-spaceman.tripod.com/floating_pencils
100mm EQ f/6 achromat refractor, 7×20 7.1° binoculars.
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andyenglish
sage
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 390
Loc: Albu(r)querque, NM
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Here's a detail of Saturn alone. I notice now that I have a little bit of 'rounding' to do on Saturn's south pole region...
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When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? -Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)
http://nm-spaceman.tripod.com/floating_pencils
100mm EQ f/6 achromat refractor, 7×20 7.1° binoculars.
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andyenglish
sage
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 390
Loc: Albu(r)querque, NM
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Here's the proportions thingie that I use in observations...
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When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? -Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)
http://nm-spaceman.tripod.com/floating_pencils
100mm EQ f/6 achromat refractor, 7×20 7.1° binoculars.
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andyenglish
sage
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 390
Loc: Albu(r)querque, NM
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BTW, the proportions thingie also inclues an 'eyeball' measurement of where Titan is and how many Saturn-lengths it is away from its Mother planet.
æ
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When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? -Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)
http://nm-spaceman.tripod.com/floating_pencils
100mm EQ f/6 achromat refractor, 7×20 7.1° binoculars.
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andyenglish
sage
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 390
Loc: Albu(r)querque, NM
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Post deleted by andyenglish
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When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? -Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)
http://nm-spaceman.tripod.com/floating_pencils
100mm EQ f/6 achromat refractor, 7×20 7.1° binoculars.
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