desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I don't know about the rest of you, but I need to be able to see what the pencil is leaving on the paper while I sketch. (And it really bugs me when I draw outside the circle...) How do you manage lighting while sketching? (Pictures - within forum size guidelines - of how you set things up are encouraged.)
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
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Jeremy Perez
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/12/04
Posts: 1677
Loc: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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This might be old news for some of you  but here (and here) are what I've been doing to get lit. ...wait...oh you know what I mean. I've been using that set up for a couple months now, and it's working great for me. I'd still like something a little smaller, but it's not as tiresome as I worried it would be.
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Orion SVP 6LT (6" f/8 Newt) || Orion XT8 (8" f/6 Newt) || 15x70 Oberwerk Binoculars
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Carol L
Reged: 07/05/04
Posts: 5880
Loc: Tomahawk, WI 45N//89W
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What works best for me is to hang a small mini-mag from the OTA using a rawhide bootlace. I loop it around the red dot finder one or more times, depending on how high or low it needs to be.
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 *Step-by-Step Lunar Sketching*
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 20486
Loc: Ohio, USA
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I have a few red lights, but this headlamp is what I prefer. It has three settings, LED soft blue glow, LED brighter blue glow, and a white spot light. The angle of the lamp is adjustable. Leaves my hands completely free, doesn't interfere with viewing at the EP, and wherever I look my light will be there (dropping pencils, looking at the atlas, writing, etc.).
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Erika
10" LX200 Classic, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, 12" Truss Dob, Orion ED80, WO Binoviewers, 10x50's and 7x50's Binoculars, Rebel XT 350
Having Fun in the Sun!
More solar fun: 2007 July - tracking NOAA10963
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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When Jeremy posted his arrangement in the DSO forum I scrounged a lamp like that (less than $10) and duplicated it. A very handly arrangement. I also have a headlamp similar to the one perched above Erica's nose that comes with a red LED as well as a white LED light source. I use the white for lunar "sketching" (  ). The red is too bright for DSOs, and I haven't yet tried to alter it to reduce the output (since I also use the red lamp when working with equipment).
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
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Jeremy Perez
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/12/04
Posts: 1677
Loc: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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Oh yeah! If I was electronically non-retarded, I think I would love to try splicing a rheostat into one of those red headlamps for full dimmer control. That would be a most excellent arrangement.
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Orion SVP 6LT (6" f/8 Newt) || Orion XT8 (8" f/6 Newt) || 15x70 Oberwerk Binoculars
The Belt Of Venus || Astro-Sketch Gallery || Astro-Sketching Resources || Astro-Photo Gallery
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Someone was suggesting (elsewhere) replacing a battery with a bit of crayon cut to the right size and wrapped in aluminum foil. Apparently, such a shunt will reduce the red light output enough to make it better suited to sketching. Haven't tried this myself, yet.
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 20486
Loc: Ohio, USA
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Geesh, I can invision the mess I'd make of that one! Maybe it's time to get out a new mulitmeter! 
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Erika
10" LX200 Classic, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, 12" Truss Dob, Orion ED80, WO Binoviewers, 10x50's and 7x50's Binoculars, Rebel XT 350
Having Fun in the Sun!
More solar fun: 2007 July - tracking NOAA10963
Support bacteria. It's the only culture some people have.
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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What, you've never broken a crayon?
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 20486
Loc: Ohio, USA
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 Ahem...yes, Tom. I do believe I've broken a crayon before.  There's something about batteries, foil and fingers in the same place at the same time that just scares me a little. Nice idea, harmless I bet, let me know how it turns out if you try.
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Erika
10" LX200 Classic, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, 12" Truss Dob, Orion ED80, WO Binoviewers, 10x50's and 7x50's Binoculars, Rebel XT 350
Having Fun in the Sun!
More solar fun: 2007 July - tracking NOAA10963
Support bacteria. It's the only culture some people have.
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Tommy5
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/28/04
Posts: 1394
Loc: Chicagoland
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Lights? lights?,from my backyard you could read a newspaper at midnight the light pollution so bad.
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DenisY
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/10/04
Posts: 2048
Loc: Canada / Montréal
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Quote:
Lights? lights?,from my backyard you could read a newspaper at midnight the light pollution so bad.
Funny! .......... errr... I mean not funny  Not funny at all observing in those condition.
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Denis
I wonder how would the world be different if
Einstein had never lived?
Visit my web site at...
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My Astronomical Gear
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
Lights? lights?,from my backyard you could read a newspaper at midnight the light pollution so bad.
No, no, I said suitable light... 
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
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ericj
super member
Reged: 02/17/05
Posts: 167
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Quote:
How do you manage lighting while sketching?
Hi Tom:
I have found the Rigel Systems SkyLite useful when making sketches as I can switch between red light when making comet or DSO sketches to white light when making lunar or planetary sketches. Plus being able to vary the intensity of the light comes in handy. I think Orion carries something like this as well.
Another option is to use one of those book lights as they can be clamped onto the side of my clipboard. It is white light only though unless you add some red cellophane to it.
Hope this helps,
Eric
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