frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3007
Loc: Illinois
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Crater Eratosthenes rests on the boundary between the Sea of Showers and the northwestern extension of the Sea of Islands known as the Seething Bay. This crater is a magnificent stand alone crater. It is 58 kilometers across and nearly 3.7 kilometers deep. Eratosthenes began as a small mountain size rock impacting the moon at the end of the Apennine mountain range onto the mare basalt. This event occurred 3.15 billion years ago and defines the beginning of the Eratosthenian period. Other well known craters forming at about the same time include Langrenus and Bullialdus.
Eratosthenes is a regal feature when illuminated with the terminator nearby. Its terraced inner walls, irregular rubble strewn floor and central peaks make it a most attractive sight in telescopes of all sizes. See for yourself at the next opportunity.
Sketching:
For this sketch I used: black Strathmore 400 Artagain paper 9”x12”, white and black Conte’ pastel pencils and a blending stump. After scanning, Brightness was decreased (-4) and contrast increased (+4) using Microsoft Office Picture Manager.
Telescope: 10 inch f/ 5.7 Dobsonian and 6 mm eyepiece 241x
Date: 8-11-2008, 1:15-2:30 UT
Temperature: 20° C (68° F)
Clear, calm
Seeing: Antoniadi III
Colongitude 26.0 °
Lunation 9.8 days
Illumination 72.3 %
Frank McCabe 
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rolandlinda3
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/24/06
Posts: 1596
Loc: Crozet VA 22932
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Great detail on the floor and the surrounding ridges. Roland
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rodelaet
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 2632
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Frank,
Oh boy, what a view, my friend!!
Gorgious sketch of yours! 
Please never stop sketching like you do. 
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Rony
My Astronomy Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
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perfessor
sage
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 317
Loc: Northern Illinois
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Frank, really great depth and dimension.
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Tom
"Don't always know what I'm talkin about"
8" f/7
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3007
Loc: Illinois
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Roland, Rony and Tom,
Thank you all for your kind words. I did sketch Eratosthenes last summer when it was on the terminator. This was a little less pressure with the shadows not changing ever 20 minutes. I actually wanted to use a little higher magnification but the seeing would not support that.
Thanks again my fellow sketchers. 
Frank
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 3082
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Frank,
A fantastic and highly accurate observation of a very interesting crater. You have rendered the floor and walls perfectly. Thank you for sharing it with us all.
Carlos
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3007
Loc: Illinois
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Carlos,
Thank you. I was happy to see you also have been able to get some quality observing and sketching time in recently.
Frank
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 3082
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Frank,
I too am glad that I have been able to make observations. I was going bonkers not being able to observe the heavens lately. Your observations (and others on the forum) have helped me get through these hard times. I look forward to your future observations.
Carlos
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Tommy5
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/28/04
Posts: 1382
Loc: Chicagoland
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great sketch Frank,i like the almost 3-d effect of the crator walls, it looks like i'm just hovering above the moon in a helicopter not looking through a scope a quarter million miles away ,great job.
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3007
Loc: Illinois
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Tommy5,
Thank you for your kind comments. This is a very interesting crater to watch changes in between first and last quarter.
Frank
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WadeVC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 2781
Loc: Lodi, California,
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Frank,
MAGNIFICENT!!
This is an exceptional sketch of Eratosthenes. You managed to capture both the beauty and absolute solitude of this crater perfectly.
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Orion XTi10 f/4.7
Orion XTi8 f/5.9
Meade NGC 70mm f/10
Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars
My Sketch Gallery
My Astronomy Blog
A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top.
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3007
Loc: Illinois
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Wade,
Thank you very much.
I always enjoy examining this one close up.
Frank
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dlapoint
sage
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 452
Loc: Moncton NB Canada
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That is a great sketch. It looks like a scientific drawing from the moon when Astronomers used pencil and paper to make discoveries.
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Antares 127 F6.5
Skywatcher Pro ED100
Orion 72mm Eon
Orion XT8
C4.5
Naglers 16mm T5, 9mm T6
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3007
Loc: Illinois
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Diapoint,
Thank you for your comments about my sketch. Observing and sketching the moon are fun ways to spend an evening.
Frank
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mickmrn1
member
Reged: 05/18/08
Posts: 25
Loc: Mesa, Arizona
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Frank,
Impressive sketch as usual!! Great job! 
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Michelle D.
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markseibold
sage
Reged: 01/19/08
Posts: 444
Loc: Portland Oregon
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Frank
Beautiful three dimentional rendering!
You have reminded me that I need to concentrate on smaller areas. You are going to get me to do it yet; My next book, The Whole Moon- One Crater At A Time in Artistic Sketching. But can I live long enough to complete it? 
Mark
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3007
Loc: Illinois
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Michelle and Mark,
Thank you both for the kind words.
Mark, That is going to be a thick book, but I want a copy when you get it written and sketched. I am 62 yrs old now so please hurry.
Frank
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