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NGC 497 & M29

Started by Michael Rapp , Nov 02 2012 09:29 PM

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#1 Michael Rapp

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Posted 02 November 2012 - 09:29 PM

I was able to get two sketches in before the moon rose and I got too tired.

The first is of NGC 497 in Cassiopeia, also commonly known as the ET cluster. I really concentrated on getting star positons as accurate as I could. I actually pleased with the way it turned out, given my level of experience.

I also think I may invest in an eyepatch as with both eyes open, I was able to relax and fainter stars were easier to see.

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#2 Michael Rapp

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Posted 02 November 2012 - 09:36 PM

The other cluster I sketched was M29. I did not do this sketch as well as I could have, for several reasons. One, I was getting tired (in fact, I was still sketching in my slacks and dress shirt from work!). Two, the eyepiece height for this object -- nearly at zenith -- required me to raise my observing chair so I couldn't keep my feet on the ground and this made keeping my clipboard in a comfortable position to sketch difficult.

The combination of these two factors made sketching frustrating, but I made a note of why I was considering it frustrating and how I could mitigate that. For example, tomorrow I will construct a footrest out of spare lumber.

I kinda rushed this sketch and skipped over a great deal of stars to the north-north-west in the FOV.

I did stumble upon a little trick that I am sure is obvious to a great many of yall. In my initial view -- 1.3 degree FOV -- the number of stars was a little overwhelming. Well, I threw in my barlow and halved the field of view! Less stars! (Perhaps the only benefit of light pollution.)

Well, here it is....the little box in the sky, M29:

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#3 Asbytec

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Posted 02 November 2012 - 10:32 PM

Michael, you have been busy. Well done, I think you got the bug.

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#4 AdirondackAstro

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Posted 02 November 2012 - 11:03 PM

You really captured both of these very well. NGC 457 is one of my favorites.

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#5 phily

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Posted 03 November 2012 - 12:53 PM

Good things Michael. It is always good to see the originals with their notes.

Phil

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#6 Michael Rapp

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Posted 03 November 2012 - 01:26 PM

There's some interesting history on the sketch paper I'm using. Do you see the 3" circle? That was drawn on these pieces of paper back in 1997, when I last was trying out sketching!

So the time between the outer circle being drawn and the stars within it spans fifteen years!

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#7 frank5817

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Posted 03 November 2012 - 07:09 PM

Michael,

Better late than never. Nice sketching. :waytogo:

Frank

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#8 blb

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Posted 04 November 2012 - 11:12 AM

Michael, if you had not said what cluster these were, I still would have recognized them. Good job! Which scope were you using when you made these sketches.