kraterkid
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/07/05
Posts: 4551
Loc: Jacumba, California
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Thanks so much Michael! 
It helps to keep a playful attitude about this approach. I do agree though, doing these with realism means applying my best understanding of lunar topography and surficial albedo. It's really amazing how it seems to combine the sketching aspects of shape and contour with the sense of depth that you are determining from the shading that you see at the eyepiece. But keeping it realistic means avoiding exaggerated vertical dimensions, something that is easy to do because of the long shadows near the terminator. That's why I prefer lunar mid morning or mid afternoon light on the features I am sketch sculpting. Funny that when I first tried this medium I did not think it would be possible to do this at the scope.
I was honored to have my clay sketch of Archimedes and environs posted by Charles Wood for the August 2nd, 2009 LPOD. Oops, Frank beat me to it!  Thanks Frank! 
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Rich
My CN Gallery
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 4093
Loc: Illinois
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Rich,
Sorry I should have waited to let you answer Michael.
This has been a great month of excitment for you thinking about all the potential here with a very unique way of representing the eyepiece view of the lunar surface. Your idea of warping the base of your next attempt to simulate lunar curvature will add additional realism.
I hope you have clear skies for your next adventure.
Frank 
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my gallery
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kraterkid
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/07/05
Posts: 4551
Loc: Jacumba, California
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That's cool Frank, I appreciate the thought.
I'm going out tonight, perhaps I'll try Copernicus, including the Montes Carpatus, Eratosthenes, and Reinhold. Lots going on in the area, it'll definitely be a real challenge. Like I said though, it may take more than one session to complete. We've had some flow of moisture from Mexico today, I just hope it stays clear at night.
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Rich
My CN Gallery
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 Special Ed
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Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 4306
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Rich and Frank,
Thanks for the link and congratulations on the LPOD, Rich. I never seem to be able to keep up with all the fine work posted here, much less comment on them, but I would have hated to miss this one. Looking forward to more lunar sculptures.
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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kraterkid
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/07/05
Posts: 4551
Loc: Jacumba, California
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Thanks Michael,
Unfortunately, I didn't get out early enough to start my clay sketch of Copernicus and environs, so I did some imaging of the area instead and called it a night. Perhaps tonight.
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Rich
My CN Gallery
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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Rich,
This IS fun! 
The sketch is fenomenal. 
The lighting is great and the details and colors are stunning. 
Can you do a take-off sequence also? That would be great too.
I imagine you're running around the house in a space suit? 
Is anyone planning to do the Andromeda galaxy as well? Would be fun too, from a deep-sky observer's perspective.
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.
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kraterkid
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/07/05
Posts: 4551
Loc: Jacumba, California
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Thanks Rony!
So happy you enjoyed the clay sketch and vids. I'll try to set one up for a take off, that'll be fun. I'd like to be wearing a space suit, sometimes it gets pretty hot and muggy in Jacumba. Why don't you do a 3D andromeda sketch? I don't think anyone has done that yet.
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Rich
My CN Gallery
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Jef De Wit
super member
Reged: 03/06/09
Posts: 125
Loc: Hove, Belgium
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Rich
After I sended the link of your clay sketch, I had some enthousiast reactions from the members of my astroclub. We are going to organise probably a project-night to make a sculpture of a mooncrater. But we are looking for a solution to those who haven't a telescope with a motordrive. I think it is better not to touch the telescope with your hands full of clay... Thanks a lot for this great idea!
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Clear skies, Jef De Wit
7x50 bino, Meade ETX-70 & Orion Optics UK 12" Dobson
"Bright skies aren't empty skies" (James Mallaney)
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kraterkid
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/07/05
Posts: 4551
Loc: Jacumba, California
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That's wonderful news Jef, and thank you for forwarding the link. You can tape some paper around the tube so as not to get any clay residue on the scopes. Also, buy the oil based modeling clay that does not get dry, that way you can reuse the clay for other sketching projects. The kind of clay that hardens or is used for firing is generally much more messy to use.
I'm delighted your club has decided to try this medium and very eagerly await your results, so please post them when complete.
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Rich
My CN Gallery
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Jef De Wit
super member
Reged: 03/06/09
Posts: 125
Loc: Hove, Belgium
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Rich, thanks for the idea to use synthetic clay. This may convince those who doesn't like that their telescope will be a little bit dirty.
I'm not a regular moonobserver. Do you have any suggestion which crater to take (and when) for the project?
And off course I will post the results on this forum...
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Clear skies, Jef De Wit
7x50 bino, Meade ETX-70 & Orion Optics UK 12" Dobson
"Bright skies aren't empty skies" (James Mallaney)
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kraterkid
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/07/05
Posts: 4551
Loc: Jacumba, California
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Hi Jef,
I think a good crater to start with would be Copernicus, Though any large crater near the center of Luna should work just fine. Eratosthenes, and Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus, or Arzachel. Just try picking craters that are within 15-20 degrees of the Moon's center so that they are not too elliptical or difficult to interpret. As far as times are concerned, since the Moon is already just past full, you might want to wait until around last quarter which will mean a late night or early morning sketch. Otherwise you'll have to wait until around first quarter which is a couple of weeks away. I'm very much looking forward to seeing your club's results!
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Rich
My CN Gallery
Edited by kraterkid (09/04/09 09:26 PM)
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Jef De Wit
super member
Reged: 03/06/09
Posts: 125
Loc: Hove, Belgium
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Hi Rich
The date hasn't been schedulded yet. It should be something for beginning 2010...
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Clear skies, Jef De Wit
7x50 bino, Meade ETX-70 & Orion Optics UK 12" Dobson
"Bright skies aren't empty skies" (James Mallaney)
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Dee
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/12/06
Posts: 738
Loc: Ireland
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Outstanding , superb , never seen anything like it before.
Dee
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kraterkid
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/07/05
Posts: 4551
Loc: Jacumba, California
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Thanks so much Dee! It certainly was a totally fun project and one that I was surprised would work out so well. The next one I do will incorporate some new ideas that I've had about laying the clay out on a spherical section. I discovered quite by accident that the Elmer foam core board I use will become convex if water is applied to one side of the board and it is left in the sun to dry. This will work great to simulate the radius of curvature of the Moon. I encourage your experimentation with this media.
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Rich
My CN Gallery
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