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Lunar X

Started by mike73 , Feb 18 2013 10:00 AM

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17 replies to this topic

#1 mike73

Ranger 4

topic starter

Posts: 308
Joined: 01 May 2012

Posted 18 February 2013 - 10:00 AM

I've wanted to sketch the lunar X for a while now so last night I set my 4" Lyra up with plenty of time to spare.
The position of the X was easy to find even early in the evening before it showed, Werner crater is directly below the X with Aliacensis below that again, the large crater to the side is Playfair G.
The actual X is made by sunlight falling on the crater ridges of La Caille, Blanchinus and Purbach.

Telescope / 4" f/11 Lyra
EP / 3-6mm Nagler zoom at 5mm x220
17/2/2013
2140 UT - 2235 UT
Temp 3C
Transparency / Excellent
Antoniadi III
Colongitude 357
Phase 90
Lunation 7.53 days

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#2 frank5817

ISS

Posts: 21,195
Joined: 13 Jun 2006

Posted 18 February 2013 - 10:08 AM

Mike,

You caught it perfectly. Superb sketch.
It just hangs out there for a little while.

Frank

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#3 niteskystargazer

Voyager 1

Posts: 10,414
Joined: 05 Oct 2009

Posted 18 February 2013 - 11:01 AM

Mike,

Nice capture of the Lunar "X"

.

CS,KLU,

:thanx:

,

Tom

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#4 Jef De Wit

Skylab

Posts: 4,316
Joined: 06 Mar 2009

Posted 18 February 2013 - 02:53 PM

Impressive! Much better than my "close-up"...

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#5 PeterDob

Surveyor 1

Posts: 1,935
Joined: 29 Jul 2005

Posted 18 February 2013 - 03:03 PM

Mike, words fail me every time I see your sketches... Very, very well done!

Peter

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#6 Uwe Pilz

Skylab

Posts: 4,046
Joined: 16 May 2008

Posted 19 February 2013 - 12:21 AM

I hav never seen lunar X. Your sketch reminds me to create a time map for that. Fine sketch.

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#7 Aquarellia

Soyuz

Posts: 3,613
Joined: 27 Oct 2012

Posted 19 February 2013 - 12:58 AM

Ah whaw, it´s always a pleasure to see your sketches.
I agree with Uwe, you show us a good subject and inspiration

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#8 Tom and Beth

Skylab

Posts: 4,184
Joined: 08 Jan 2007

Posted 19 February 2013 - 02:03 AM

I hav never seen lunar X. Your sketch reminds me to create a time map for that. Fine sketch.

FWIW, there's already some posted predictions in the Lunar group just below.

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#9 mike73

Ranger 4

topic starter

Posts: 308
Joined: 01 May 2012

Posted 19 February 2013 - 05:18 AM

Thanks for the comments guys.

I dont know why but when I made the sketch I felt a little rushed as if the sun was going to rush over the X making it quickly vanish, of course it didnt though, the X shape was there for at least 3 hours.

Looking like the fourth clear night in a row in the UK which is near enough unheard of! I'm really enjoying lunar sketching so at least this weather is helping me with time to practice.

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#10 PeterDob

Surveyor 1

Posts: 1,935
Joined: 29 Jul 2005

Posted 19 February 2013 - 12:02 PM

Time to practice??? Are you joking??? You still need time to practice??? :ohgeeze:

Your works are museum pieces already! :yay:

Cheers!

Peter

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#11 kenrenard

Surveyor 1

Posts: 1,691
Joined: 13 Dec 2012

Posted 19 February 2013 - 01:12 PM

Mike,
Beautiful sketch. May I ask of your supplies? I am new to sketching and started with pencil and blending stump. Thanks

Ken

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#12 mike73

Ranger 4

topic starter

Posts: 308
Joined: 01 May 2012

Posted 19 February 2013 - 02:31 PM

Hi Ken

I use Conte' pastels/pencils with a black charcoal pencil for shadow detail, the sketch pad is nothing fancy but the paper is fairly heavy weight.
Apart from that I use a blending stump and my fingers.

I'm fairly new to lunar sketching but the best advice I can give is to practice inside on cloudy nights just to get used to using pastels.

Best of luck and make sure you post your results.

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#13 kenrenard

Surveyor 1

Posts: 1,691
Joined: 13 Dec 2012

Posted 19 February 2013 - 02:39 PM

Mike,
Thank you for the info. Last night I tried my first Lunar sketch. It is much more difficult than a deep space objects. I have about 10 sketches total under my belt although none are that great. It does help me to see more detail than ever before. I will look into getting the white pencils and black paper. It may make it easier to see some of the detail.

I have been browsing your site. You have some wonderful sketches. Keep up the good work.

Ken

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#14 drbyyz

Ranger 4

Posts: 395
Joined: 04 Nov 2012

Posted 19 February 2013 - 03:25 PM

Incredible sketch...you are a talented person.

Love the X, one of my favorite sights on the moon, missed it this time around though.

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#15 Andrev

Skylab

Posts: 4,154
Joined: 08 Feb 2011

Posted 19 February 2013 - 04:06 PM

Mike

Oh wow, so beautiful Lunar X sketch. You are so talented. Like Uwe, I never seen the lunar X and you are telling me it was yesterday... Grrrr, that was clear outside and I didn't get out to see that because I didn't know it was there.

Andre.