Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Training the observer's eye

Back in November 2004, I made my first astronomical drawing. I was impressed by the realism of the picture - it reflected the object exactly as I had seen it in the eyepiece.

If I would draw the same object now, the sketch would show much more details because I gained more observing skills in the mean time. That is what makes sketching so exciting.

Documentation and comparison

The sketches on this site not only document experience growth over time, they also offer an impression of what small amateur equipment is capable of and how objects visually appear in different instruments. Let me show you an example:

The very first sketch - M42 (Binoculars)

The same object - a few years later... (binoculars)

M42 once again (Rich Field Telescope)

M42 one more time (8 inch dobsonian Telescope)

remembering beautiful moments

Besides all that, the drawings always remind of many beautiful starry nights. Especially when the German weather is playing tricks on us, a glass of red wine and a sketch book put things right again...