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Asbytec
sage
Reged: 08/08/07
Posts: 216
Loc: La Union, PI
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I echo the replies in awe of the great views. Simply professional. To think not so many years ago, when I was a kid, these would be taken by professionals with big optics.
The pic of the Dumbbell Nebula is nearly Hubble quality...LOL
The sketch of M32, well...I have never been under skies that allow that detailed a view using an 8 inch or even larger. However, I have seen the star cloud on many occasions. But, to be capable of seeing that detail under Florida skies is amazing in itself.
Bringing out all the nebulosity in Orion is simply a feat and well done.
But, I think, if I had to choose...and I did have to choose, the most innovative photo is the phases of Venus. It does a fantastic job of bringing out the motion of Venus as an inferior planet. It illustrates not only beauty, but it captures the solar system in motion as well.
That being said, I am a deep sky sort of guy myself. So, if I had another vote, the shot of M27 would be my choice for (very close) second place. I have never seen it in that amount of glory in any photo, including Hubble images.
All shots are fantastic, and sorry that in the way contests are held there can be only one first place. All are certainly worthy.
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11" Celestron SCT
La Union, Philippines
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Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 10960
Loc: Los Angeles
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All are excellent, though the labeling of the sketch is a disaster, with NGC206 identified as the Double Cluster.
Still a great sketch, though.
I went with my visceral reaction to the shot and chose the M22 shot. What focus!
But the Venus shot was unbelievably good. And I've only ever seen one M27 shot that went deeper. And the shot of the 6960 side of the Veil was a REALLY good beginner's shot.
Argh! They were all good, dagnab it.
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Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie
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iblis
admirer of the sky
Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 2243
Loc: Germany
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I'm very impressed by swalkers Venus pictures in uv,
an hard work over a long time, I assume.
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Grüße von Iblis
The Universe is not only queerer than we imagine; it is queerer than we CAN imagine.
(Haldane)
and here I observe that universe
The sky is my heaven !**********  ********
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guydickinson
journeyman
Reged: 02/17/06
Posts: 5
Loc: Dorset. UK.
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What an impossible choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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star toucher
member
Reged: 12/16/06
Posts: 20
Loc: Eolia, Missouri
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This never gets easy...
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Dark, Steady, Transparent Skies...
StarToucher
Celestron C-8
Celestron 80mm ST
Orion XT-10
Burgess 20x100 Binocs
Burgess Parallelogram Mount
Starmaster 14.5 DOB
ScopeBuggy
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Luna
journeyman
Reged: 04/04/07
Posts: 7
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They're all so wonderful. What a magnificent universe we are part of!  
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aav4bz
journeyman
Reged: 08/06/06
Posts: 9
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These are the hardest yet!!! Jared won my vote, but the sketches always win my heart. Great work from all involved!
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sky treker123
newbie
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 2
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M 22 globular cluster is very good. so are all the others
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PhilG
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 1098
Loc: Denver, CO - USA
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Excellent work everyone. A very tough decision...
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Jaycin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/09/06
Posts: 2140
Loc: SW FLorida, USA
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Quote:
All are excellent, though the labeling of the sketch is a disaster, with NGC206 identified as the Double Cluster.
Still a great sketch, though.
Don,
I don't mind constructive criticism, but the labeling of my sketch is correct. You might want to take a closer look. The main body of the sketch is a naked eye view of the constellations Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and Perseus. The insets are of M31, and the Double Cluster at 37X. Both of which were naked eye objects that night.
Thanks for the nice comment. 
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Jason
Zhumell 8" Dobsonian
60mm Meade Telestar
Sketching the Cosmos
Messier countdown: 102 down, 8 to go! 
Yalta Observatory- North Port, FL
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Jaycin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/09/06
Posts: 2140
Loc: SW FLorida, USA
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Quote:
The sketch of M32, well...I have never been under skies that allow that detailed a view using an 8 inch or even larger. However, I have seen the star cloud on many occasions. But, to be capable of seeing that detail under Florida skies is amazing in itself.
It would seem that some of you are under the impression that my entire sketch is of M31/32/110. I guess I didn't include enough information. As I mentioned to Don, the main body of the sketch is a naked eye view of the constellations Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and Perseus with the Milky Way in the background. The insets are of M31 (and companions), and the Double Cluster, which both appear as small fuzzy patches in the naked eye view. I hope this clears things up a bit. My apologies for the confusion.
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Jason
Zhumell 8" Dobsonian
60mm Meade Telestar
Sketching the Cosmos
Messier countdown: 102 down, 8 to go!
Yalta Observatory- North Port, FL
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Olivier Biot
Amused
Reged: 04/25/05
Posts: 14334
Loc: 51°N (Belgium)
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Congrats to the finalists - it was again a very difficult choice to make.
Cheers
Olivier
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Tal-200K (#199) with JMI NGF-Mini2M focuser on GEM3 • Astro-Tech AT80ED on Orion Sirius EQ-G with EQDIR & home made wireless EQDIRECT • Celestron Regal LX 8x42 & 10x42 • Helios 15x70
ATM 14" f/5 (designing mirror cell and filter wheel/focuser) • ATM 10" f/6 Portable Truss (polishing) • ATM 10" f/25 Dall-Kirkham (primary: polishing, secondary: #120 grit)
AstroForecast
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Asbytec
sage
Reged: 08/08/07
Posts: 216
Loc: La Union, PI
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My apologies, Jay. I thought you sketched a star cloud in M32's outer arm. I never would have imagined someone would have the patients or inclination to sketch the Milky Way itself. (I chuckle silently in delight) I have seen sketches of Orion nebula...I simply don't have the talent required. Have you tried it?
Looking back at your sketch, Jay, it's so obvious that is what you did and I was so wrong. Now, your views are completely consistent with an 8 inch scope. For a moment there, I thought you had CCD chips for eyes. LOL (To see some molting detail in M32.) Best I can do is catch a glimpse of one, maybe two dust lanes, and of course the core and the brighter star cloud(s).) I was laughing to myself, I thought you might have labeled a few Cepheid Variables, as well. 
Again, great sketch...I salute your desire and talent to draw such a celestial site. Look forward to more from you. Hey, try the Sombrero, if you haven't already. It lends itself to good sketching, I believe. But, I wouldn't recommend Omega Centauri...you'll go through too many pencils.
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11" Celestron SCT
La Union, Philippines
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nNemethon
super member
Reged: 10/09/06
Posts: 149
Loc: Ballarat, Vic. Australia
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You peoples make it so hard to choose. I'm thinking of sueing everyone that enters as each time I burn out a few million brain cells.
I gave it to Swalker's Venus although it was close. Dean's deep neb was awesome, Jarod's and AstroBobo's were clear and clean, Mike B's was incredibe to say the least, and I can't draw so Jaycin is also in the list.
But for tenacity, that Venus series is mind-blowing which is why I voted for it. To see someone put in that much attention over such a long period is worthy of the vote.
Keep it up all, I look forward to losing many more brain cells in the future!
Erik
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"...Enveloped in your riven wings
Of fineness, beauty, unbelief
A myriad eyes to watch as I'm
Fixed yearning for that which I'm denied
Your light, your dark, your wonder..."
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Jaycin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/09/06
Posts: 2140
Loc: SW FLorida, USA
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Quote:
My apologies, Jay. I thought you sketched a star cloud in M32's outer arm. I never would have imagined someone would have the patients or inclination to sketch the Milky Way itself. (I chuckle silently in delight) I have seen sketches of Orion nebula...I simply don't have the talent required. Have you tried it?
Looking back at your sketch, Jay, it's so obvious that is what you did and I was so wrong. Now, your views are completely consistent with an 8 inch scope. For a moment there, I thought you had CCD chips for eyes. LOL (To see some molting detail in M32.) Best I can do is catch a glimpse of one, maybe two dust lanes, and of course the core and the brighter star cloud(s).) I was laughing to myself, I thought you might have labeled a few Cepheid Variables, as well.
Again, great sketch...I salute your desire and talent to draw such a celestial site. Look forward to more from you. Hey, try the Sombrero, if you haven't already. It lends itself to good sketching, I believe. But, I wouldn't recommend Omega Centauri...you'll go through too many pencils.
No problem Asbytec. At least you didn't refer to my labeling as a "disaster".  I'm glad you took the time to give my sketch a closer look and I appreciate the compliments. Sketches don't tend to do very well in these contests. I guess it's because a sketch is simply a record of a visual observation, and can't compete with a camera lens (unless I had CCD chips for eyes). I never hold much hope of winning the overall contest, but if even one person is inspired by my sketch and decides to give it a try, then it is well worth the effort.
As for the Orion Nebula, here is my only attempt so far:
I've also done a sketch of the Sombrero at low power, but I'd like to get another shot at it at higher magnification. I recently drew a naked eye sketch of Auriga, Taurus, and Mars, with insets of the Pleiades and Mars, in a similar format as my sketch in the contest. You can see it HERE if you are interested.
Thanks again for giving my entry a second look. I appreciate your kind words!
Clear skies!
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Jason
Zhumell 8" Dobsonian
60mm Meade Telestar
Sketching the Cosmos
Messier countdown: 102 down, 8 to go!
Yalta Observatory- North Port, FL
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GerardG
member
Reged: 08/13/07
Posts: 31
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Choosing only one was very hard. They are all very good.
Congratulation. Great job.
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Meade 10" SCT LX50
Denk Big Easy and D21
Nagler 17T4
Nagler 9T1
Celestron Barlow Ultima
Celestron Skymaster 15x70
WO 33mm SWAN
WO 2" Carbon Fiber Dielectric Diagonal
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Asbytec
sage
Reged: 08/08/07
Posts: 216
Loc: La Union, PI
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Yea, photographs are hard to beat, for sure. But, really, nothing, not even Hubble deep images, beats the naked eye...actually seeing the object for yourself. I remember, as I am sure we all do, the first time we saw Saturn in a telescope. Even in my 2" cheap-o first scope, it was stunning.
I did look at your sketch of Mars...that's a nice drawing. Mars is so small, but you did capture some surface details. It looks much like I remember it, except for the (usually) prominent polar caps.
Your sketch of Orion takes me back to my childhood...when my love for all things celestial was budding. That is exactly how I remember it. I dare you to get to a dark(er) sky site and try sketching it using an 8" scope. LOL It's simply a feat to bring in all the detail.
Though, if you did...it would win almost any contest hands down, my friend. Photos will over expose much of the detail your sketch would capture. It might even capture it as we all know and love it...in it's subtle wisps of glory.
It might even be a first. I can't say I have ever seen a 'complete' sketch of M42. As I have seen it from my dark sky site in Central America, it might even be impossible to draw it.
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11" Celestron SCT
La Union, Philippines
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swalker
Imaging Editor - Sky & Telescope
Reged: 01/22/07
Posts: 366
Loc: 42.9225°N, 71.2242°W
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Quote:
MI like Venus in the small image but was surprised the large version was a bit soft and fuzzy.
Rev.
Thats because it represents every image I captured in UV over the 5.5 months the shot encompasses. Some days were sharper than others- seeing isn't usually very good here in New England  The best seeing occurred the evenings of 4/08, 5/27, 6/10, 6/15, 6/16, and 6/28. It was a great project, and I've already started on the morning apparition.
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12.5" f/5.1 Newt
10" f/4.5 Newt
4.25" f/4 Astrograph
80mm f/10 refractor
70mm Mak Cass
40mm PST
Millennium Mount EQ
TI ProDome #002
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Tanny
newbie
Reged: 04/07/06
Posts: 3
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Such excellent selections, all!
If I cannot vote more than one as the winner, then I'd at least like to vote 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
However, after seeing the hi-res photos, I chose the M22 shot. It looks like a hundred-thousand stars in one frame! It's not easy capturing star clusters--they look more 3D in a telescope than in a photo. This one does well.
But, darn, I like 'em all, gang. For a decent price, I'd buy most of them and hang them on my wall.
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Asbytec
sage
Reged: 08/08/07
Posts: 216
Loc: La Union, PI
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Jay, you're probably not old enough to remember, but who was that sketch artist in S&T back in the 70's? He used a 4" Unitron refractor. The issue came up in another thread and I immediately thought of him, then realized you might be interested in seeing his work. Every month, he did a few sketches. I used to follow his work as a kid.
Anyway, I will post a URL if I can find some articles about him featuring his art work. I mentioned it because he is a classic, IMHO...and maybe someone you'd be interested in.
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11" Celestron SCT
La Union, Philippines
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