Telescope Reviews: Aug09 CN Sketching/Imaging Contest Poll!

We are very pleased and proud to present the August 2009 Sketching Semi-Finalists in the Imaging/Sketching Contest.

starquake:

NGC 869 + NGC 884 (Double cluster)
Right ascension: 2h 21m Declination: 57° 12'
Constellation: Perseus
Date/time: 2009.07.26 1:30 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 1° Magnification: 45x (21mm Hyperion without the barlow element)
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 3/5
SQM reading: 20.91 m/arcsec^2, 9°C.
Location: Jászszentlászló, Hungary
Media: plain photocopier paper & HB pencil scanned and inverted.

This observation and sketch was made on an early dawn hour in the Kiskun Astro Camp near the village of Jászszentlászló, Hungary. As the Sun was already approaching the Southern horizon, the NELM was getting worse at a high rate. Therefore I've decided to sketch something easy that's made of many bright stars. I've picked the famous Double Cluster, which turned out to be a pain to sketch with their plenty of bright stars. So, I was racing with the Sun, as the Venus was already high above the horizon. Under country skies, this pair of open clusters can be seen with the naked eye as a small fuzzy spot near the easily recognizable W-shape of the constellation Cassiopeia. It's one of the most remarkable objects of the Northern Hemisphere, so I can't really imagine why it was not included in the famous catalogue of Messier. For me it is a circumpolar object, so it can be seen through the entire year. It's so easy, that it can be resolved with the smallest telescopes or binoculars, therefore they are a great catch for everyone.

Aldebaran:

Hello!

Here is my contribution to the contest:

Messier 16
Observation information:
Date: 20/21.8.2009
Time: 00.45
Location: Parainen, Finland
Instrument: N 250/1200 mm
Magnification: 37,5x
Field of view: 84,0'
Filter: O III

Observation conditions:
Limiting magnitude: 6.6
Seeing: 2
Background sky: 2
Altitude: 8°
Visuality: 3
Weather: Clear sky, light breeze, +14°C
Description:
A pretty open cluster with nebula. The nebula became visible with O III -filter. The cluster is pretty well
concentrated and well detached from it's background. The cluster is fairly rich and has a moderate brightness range.

mikesemmler:

Here are my best sketch from Saturn.
Observation information:
Date: 15.4.2009
Location: Sörg,Austria
Instrument: AP Starfire 160
Magnification: 240x

Observation conditions:
Limiting magnitude: 6.0
Seeing: 2
Background sky: 2

Weather: Clear sky, +10°C

Michael

Aaron:

Naked Eye Milky Way
Oregon Star Party - Indian Trail Springs, OR
Took about 4 hours over 3 nights

Jeff Young:

Here's a view of the Lagoon Nebula (M8) that I sketched over the summer from high altitude in Colorado. Conditions were quite favorable, with an SQM reading of 21.7 and a NELM beyond my reckoning (certainly 7, perhaps better).

I used a 10" Dall-Kirkham at 100X with a UHC filter. Sketch is HB pencil on white cardstock, scanned and inverted in Photoshop.

Please note that voting will conclude on September 8th at Midnight EST.

Many thanks to all who took part in the contest!

*

Which Sketch goes to the finals?
Users may choose only one (15 total votes)

starquake:

1 06%

Aldebaran:

1 06%

mikesemmler:

1 06%

Aaron:

9 60%

Jeff Young:

3 20%