Lunar Pastel Impression of 16.5 ~ 17 Day Old Moon

I began observing the moon through binoculars on Tuesday night July 7th through broken clouds as it rose over a low southern horizon. I was more impressed with the clouds and thought I would include them in the sketch. Then the clouds thickened and my sketching intentions were over. So I returned Wednesday night to much in binocular observation, then through the 10 inch Dobsonian and began to rough in the essential lines. As usual I work too large, so this is the largest attempt at nearly a 16 inch diameter lunar disc sketched onto black 19" X 24" Strathmore Artagain paper. I started with the terminator originally so the sketch should be dated as a 16.5 day old moon although I finished on the 17th day (evening) to add details to the central surface area. I feel that I could complete more details but time becomes an issue. As many ask me, I'll estimate that I spent a total of about 4 1/2 hours on this particular work.

The conditions on both evenings were of quite steady air at approximately 52 degrees F.
The moon looked spectacular even through binoculars. After doing so many near full moon sketches I have indelibly imprinted so many familiar surface features now into my memory. This is surely an exercise that makes one aware of what has been observed. Yet I still do not know all the surface feature names. I just recognize every little crater, mare, mountain ridge and detail now.

Mark
www.markseibold.com