A Two-Night Two-Target Lunar Sketch Time

The low but nearly full moon last night provided an excellent opportunity to see Schroter’s Valley, Aristarchus, and environs. The sketch: The Valley, Aristarchus, and Environs

With the terminator (the boundary between lunar day and night) just beyond the area, the line of the valley stood out in a way I had not seen it before. With an Alt-Az mount it took some constant adjustment to keep the proper field of view, but the work was worth it. I captured only a fraction of the detail but I will not forget some of the features.

Tonight the area was in full light, but if one runs a line through Aristarchus and Herodotus and extends it toward the terminator, it runs through Seleucus, which was tonight’s target. The terminator, in this case, sliced the crater so that only a couple ridges had a tiny sliver of light beyond the farthest crater wall. Seleucus at Lunar Dawn

If sketch memories were not enough, I invited some strangers in the campground to take a look at the moon tonight. It delayed my start on Seleucus by an hour, but the smiles and outcries of the three children (two small girls and an older brother) and the grandparents made the two-night sketch period all the more special. Just like clockwork, as soon as they saw Saturn, they said “wow”, and similar comments followed a review of moon craters and Arcturus. It was fitting to comment about the wonder of the created heavens several times. As the grandmother left, she echoed my sentiments with a simple quote from a song: “How great thou art!”

John 3:3 …through Him all things were made…
John 3:10 …the world was made through Him…

Roland

Captivating sketches Roland! Tremendous work on the Aristarchus Plateau and Vallis Schroteri. The entire area has wonderful lighting which is rendered beautifully!

Roland,

Two most impressive sketches. The first one is very detailed and looks like it was most challenging.

Frank

Thanks Carlos and Frank. Yep...the first one was much more challenging and I did not really do the detail justice, but it was fun. Roland

Really lovely work

Dee

thanks Dee. still remember some of your moon sketches, which I really liked. perhaps we will get to do more solar stuff as we go along. it's been hard to find the time during the day.

Roland

Amazing sketches!

Roland,

Two excellent observations of Vallis Schroter/Aristarchus region and Seleucus. You have captured the Schroter Valley region very nicely. The lighting was perfect to show detail over this region. Seleucus looks very nice as well on the terminator. Thank you for sharing them with us all.

Carlos

Roland,

Very nice work on your sketches. I especially like your drawing of the Aristarchus Plateau and Schroter's Valley. I have not yet attempted to sketch that area--it is certainly eye catching.

Michael, it was eye catching to me, too. I guess I had never seen or noticed it when the lighting was just right, but the valley really leaps out under the right conditions. There is a mound area toward the bottom of the sketch area that is also interesting, but I did it poorly. Rich has some techniques to get raised areas that I want to learn from, but I have not had the chance yet. Hope you are getting more clear weather than here...we have not seen a clear night in five. Roland

Rolandlinda3,

Nice sketch , I'll look for more.

,

Tom

Roland,

Great work!
Those sketches are both very well done.

Thank you Tom and Rony......but no more observing here. we have had solid clouds, thunderstorms, and moist nights for over 10 days. Hope you are faring a little better.

rolandlinda3,

That's a pretty nice sketch.

,

Tom

Thanks, Tom. Do you sketch? Pardon me if I just slid by the name looking at your stuff. Noticed you are from Illinois....same location in general as Frank, whose sketches I watch and like.

Roland