Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 4397
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Hi Everyone,
The clouds parted over West Virginia the other night allowing me to view Mars shortly after it passed in front of Messier 44, the Beehive.
I made this widefield sketch in order to capture the star cluster and its two attendants, Asellus Borealis--the Northern A$$ and Asellus Australis, the Southern A$$. In Galileo's time (about 180 years before Charles Messier catalogued it), M44 was known as Praesepe, the manger, where the Aselli ate their hay.
Praesepe was one of the objects that Galileo scrutinized with his new telescopes, discovering that it was a star cluster and not a nebula or cloud as previously thought. One of his scopes had about 15x, although he didn't enjoy nearly the field of view that I had with my modern binoculars.
I made this sketch in the field with color pencils on black paper. I couldn't give Mars the luminous appearance that I observed using color pencils on black paper, so I tweaked it a little digitally.
I am dedicating this drawing to a friend who passed away not long ago. Eric realized his dreams of astronomy by becoming an operator of the 100 meter radio telescope at Green Bank, West Virginia.
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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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JayKSC
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/01/05
Posts: 1483
Loc: Florida
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Your digital "tweaking" seems to have worked! Mars does look to be visiting M44 with its ruddy glow. Great sketch and thank you for sharing; it's a beautiful dedication to a friend now passed.
- Jay
South Florida
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Refractor manic. 
My Sketches
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 4511
Loc: Illinois
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Michael,
Beautiful sketch of the pair and a wonderful sketch to dedicate to the memory of your friend.  
Frank 
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my gallery
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4196
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Well done Sir. A beautiful tribute.
Congratulations and condolences.
Jim
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Jef De Wit
sage
Reged: 03/06/09
Posts: 346
Loc: Hove, Belgium
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Hi Michael
Here in Belgium we missed completely the passage due to bad weather  Thanks to your beautifull sketch I saw the passage anyway!
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Clear skies, Jef De Wit
7x50 bino, WO Zenithstar 80 Doublet Fluo & Orion Optics UK 12" Dobson
"Bright skies aren't empty skies" (James Mallaney)
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rookie
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/14/06
Posts: 1149
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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Very nice, thanks for posting.
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SV
Scope: Celestron CPC8+DenkII
Binoculars: 40-80mm
Both eyes
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markseibold
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/19/08
Posts: 1262
Loc: Portland Oregon
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Michael
Very nice sketch Sorry that I missed the Mars conjunction with the Beehive cluster.
Thanks for the early history of Galileo. You have also made a great respectful memory for your friends passing.
Mark
www.markseibold.com
My CN Gallery
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Mateyhv
sage
Reged: 10/10/09
Posts: 266
Loc: 43°N
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Beautiful sketch! Even I saw Mars a month ago I didnt realize it should pass in front of M44. You are lucky to have seen it.
After retrograde motion Mars should pass again next to M44 on 3 april 2010 this time 47 minutes north of it but one more time between Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis.
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Shannon s
super member
Reged: 06/21/09
Posts: 165
Loc: Bartow FL.
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Great Sketch Michael.
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4.5" & 12" Reflectors
5" Maksutov
Astroview mount
Orion SSDSI
7x50 Binos
A box of Eps
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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy
Reged: 09/19/08
Posts: 1304
Loc: Utah
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Michael,
Great sketch and I like the combination of techniques uses. A wonderful memorial to your friend. Thanks for sharing the history of Galileo related to the Beehive as Mark mentioned.
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Jay in Utah
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Historian Donald Osterbrock called him (Edward Barnard) an "observe-aholic," because Barnard, happiest when he could spend all night observing, was moody and difficult when the sky was cloudy.
My Blog
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 4397
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Thanks to everyone for the very kind words. I am glad you feel this is a fitting tribute for Eric.
In this International Year of Astronomy 2009 recognizing Galileo's contributions, an opportunity to observe The Beehive with Mars is heaven-sent. Praesepe, as it was known in Galileo's time, has been a naked eye object since at least the Greeks (if your skies are dark enough), but looks like a fuzzy patch. Imagine Galileo's surprise when he turned his primitive telescope on it and saw a field of stars.
Regards to all.
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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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Tommy5
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/28/04
Posts: 1987
Loc: Chicagoland
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great sketch of this cool cluster and mars moving past it thanks for sharing.
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nunciusaustralis
super member
Reged: 09/25/09
Posts: 113
Loc: Rio de janeiro, Brazil
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Tnks. I lost the alignment. Great sketch.
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Nuncius Australis
70mm celestron EQ
9x50 finderscope
15X80mm binocular
20mm e 10mm k eye pieces
2xomni barlow
www.nunciusaustralis.blogspot.com
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Jef De Wit
sage
Reged: 03/06/09
Posts: 346
Loc: Hove, Belgium
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Michael
Congratulations with your ASOD!
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Clear skies, Jef De Wit
7x50 bino, WO Zenithstar 80 Doublet Fluo & Orion Optics UK 12" Dobson
"Bright skies aren't empty skies" (James Mallaney)
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 4397
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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T5 and Nuncius, thanks. It was a beautiful, warm, and lately rare clear night, so the pleasure was mine.
Quote:
Michael
Congratulations with your ASOD!
Thanks, Jef. It's an honor to be accepted by ASOD.
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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: 4658
Loc: Jacumba, California
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Michael,
Superb sketch and a very fitting tribute to your friend Eric. I was very happy to post it to ASOD and look forward to your future submissions. Also, I like your choice of text colors, very seasonal! 
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Rich
My CN Gallery
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 4397
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Thanks for the appreciation, Rich.
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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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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4622
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Michael,
An excellent observation of Mars among the Beehive Cluster (M44 or Praesepe). Mars appears as a red jewel among a treasure chest of white jewels. Your observation is a fitting tribute to your friend that passed away. He is now able to view all of the wonders of the universe.
I was able to view Mars and the Beehive Cluster on October 30, 2009 (09:45 U.T.) using my Oberwerk 11 x 56 mm binoculars. Mars appeared as a reddish-orange beacon among the swarm of stars of the Beehive Cluster. A digital image produced using Pixelmator.
The best of luck in your future observations.
Carlos
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 4511
Loc: Illinois
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Carlos,
Beautiful sketch. I am glad you captured this view as well.
I missed it due to poor weather. One of the things I like so much about this forum is that someone always seems to capture those great sketching opportunities I miss. So I actually don't miss them but I see them here.
Thanks for this one Carlos 
Frank
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my gallery
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Tommy5
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/28/04
Posts: 1987
Loc: Chicagoland
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Very sharp Mars and the beehive thanks for posting.
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