15 replies to this topic

[frank5817]

Not the best of nights for Mars sketching. The south polar cap was not seen consistently as the seeing was poor. At times I could see several overlapping Mars images. In moments of better seeing Mare Sirenum could be seen clearly while Solis Lacus could only be hinted at near the preceding limb. The north polar hood was clearly visible and most of the remainder of the planet was a yellow orange color.
 

Sketch and Equipment:

 

Sketch using 2B and 4B graphite and assorted color pencils, blending stumps, white Pearl eraser on white copy paper, dark background created using Gimp 2.8
Temperature: 12ᵒ C (54ᵒ F) skies clear, windy, seeing 2/5
Equipment Used: 16” f/4.41 Dobsonian, 6mm eyepiece  (299 x) filters used during observing polarizing and Neodymium stacked, sketch was made with filters in place.

 

Frank 

 

[mdowns]

I always enjoy your realistic renderings Frank.

[Asbytec]

Not the best night, but not a bad observation, Frank.

[rodelaet]

Hey Frank,

 

You managed to make the best out of it!

 

Do you have a preferred filter set for Mars observations?

[Special Ed]

*Very* good, Frank!  That is about the same CM as I saw on my Nov. 29th observation and you rendered the view accurately as I saw it (I posted my report on S-J's thread).  Good work with poor conditions and a shrinking disk--I confess that I bailed on a sketch  .

[niteskystargazer]

Frank,

 

Very nice sketch of Mars (Is Certainly Shrinking)  .

 

CS,KLU,

 

 ,

 

Tom

[frank5817]

Michel D, Norm, Rony, Michael R, Tom,

 

I am sad as we are racing away from Mars. Thank you all.

--

Rony - to answer your question, I use the polarizing filter to reduce brightness and the Neodymium other color filters at times but nothing is set.

--

Michael- I tried higher and lower magnifications, I am happy for the good nights I had in October.

 

Frank

 

PS  Thanks for all the likes: erick86, cookjaiii, stanislas-jean, Trent, Michel, Raul, happylimpet, Markus, Jef

[frank5817]

Mars: Sketch December 1, 2020         

        
I think I may be getting close to my last Mars sketch for this go around. Details are getting more difficult to pick out. The south polar cap was visible but small. The dark central feature bulging toward the meridian was Solis Lacus but not clearly delineated and the area to the south includes, Phrixi Regio and Bosporos Gemmatus and the light area to the north were Tharsis, Amazonis and with no sign of Olympus Mons. The dark region east to the following limb was Mare Sirenum.  Mare Erythraeum was visible in part toward the preceding limb where much of it was hidden by clouds.

Sketch and Equipment

 

Sketch using 2B and 6B graphite and assorted color pencils, blending stumps, white Pearl eraser on white copy paper, dark background created using Gimp 2.8
Temperature: 18ᵒ C (65ᵒ F) skies clear, some wind off and on, seeing 3/5
Equipment Used: 16” f/4.41 Dobsonian, 9mm eyepiece with 2x barlow (400 x) filters used during observing polarizing and Neodymium stacked, sketch was made with filters in place.

 

Frank

 

[astronz59]

Great job on the last kick at the can, Frank!

 

My last sketch with my smaller GSO 200 mm Cassegrain was similarly lacking in detail....

 

[frank5817]

Thanks Ian,

 

Sad to see it slipping away.

 

Frank

[dweller25]

A couple of great drawings Frank, Your 16” scope is still showing some detail

[Special Ed]

Still looking good, Frank.  Nice colors, too.  

[frank5817]

David and Michael,

 

Thank you.

 

It is well placed in the early night sky. Unfortunately the temperature falls rapidly here at that time but I may be able to get one or two more sketches before Mars gets too small.

 

Frank

 

PS Thanks for the likes Tom, Rony, Magnus, Magellanico, Michael D and Voyager3

[flt158]

Thank you to you both for providing us these spectacular sketches, Frank and Astronz59. 

 

I plan to keep an watchful eye on Mars when my sky goes clear. 

 

I find it may pass by some other very nice astronomical objects over the next 6 months or so -i.e, double stars and what not. 

 

Who knows? It might become more red. 

Currently it looks yellow to me with my unaided eyes. 

 

Clear skies from Aubrey.  

[frank5817]

Aubrey,

 

Thanks,

 

You are correct it has been pretty yellow and less orange with the dust raised. Yes catching Mars with fine double stars and other targets would be fine sketches.

 

Frank

[DDEV]

Hi Frank,

 

Lovely sketches of Mars...I really hope you manage to get in one more sketch of Mars as your drawings are always brilliant.

 

Clear skies,

Darren.