diffuse – Page 13 – Astronomy Sketch of the Day

Antares´s Neighborhood

Rho-Ophiuchi, Antares and M4
Sketch and Details by Leonor Ana Hernández

The view through the binocular was splendid, Antares highlighted with an intense orange and was surrounded by a diffuse cloud, visible with averted vision.

The field was rich, plenty of stars, I distinguished perfectly the cluster M4 as a round nebula of grey cotton. Rho Ophiuchi showed flirt in the upper zone with its three components forming the shape of Mickey Mouse… with a blue intense color. The nebula around Antares appeared to reach Rho Ophiuchi indirectly.

Site : Mazarambroz, Toledo (Spain)
Date : June 20, 2009
Time : 21.53 UT
Binoculars : Vixen 12×80
FOV: 4.2°
Sky brightness : 20.70 magnitudes per square arc second near zenith (SQM reading).
Orientation: N up, E left
Sketch made with graphyte pencil, difumino, on white paper. I scanned it and change to negative view. I added the color tone of the main stars.

Leonor Ana Hernández

A Cat’s Claw in the Bubble

The Bubble Nebula, NGC 7635
Sketch and Details by Serge Vieillard, additional text by Frank McCabe

Serge wrote:
“It was a pleasure to discover the Bubble NGC 7635. A portion of the transparent sphere can be seen with the edge looking like a cat’s claw.”

This beautiful sketch of the portion of NGC 7635 that is known as the Bubble nebula of Cassiopeia was made using an 18 inch Obsession telescope while Serge was in Spain during September of 2007. You can see that the 9th magnitude, young hot O-type star that is shedding its outer surface (stellar wind) and creating this bubble arc is not centered. This is due to the resistance to expansion created by a portion of the surrounding molecular cloud that can be seen glowing in part to the left of the arc. The Bubble is known today to be a diffuse emission nebula and was discovered by Fredrich W. Herschel in 1787.

In Memory of Charles Munton

Planetary Nebula NGC 1514
Sketch and Details by Dale Holt

There is a little story behind these that I would like to share. (Frank is already aware of the situation and has been of great support). About a month ago it was brought to my attention that a fellow astronomer whom I knew, but not well had been stricken with cancer. The unfortunate gentleman was Charles Munton, it was Charles work displayed at Astro Fest in London a number of years ago that first encouraged me to begin sketching deep sky objects.

Varible Reflection Nebula NGC 1554, 1555 Hinds
Sketch and Details by Dale Holt

Charles was very ill and was spending his last days in a hospice. I came up with a plan to write to Charles each week with a summary of my observations and prints of my sketches, this I did also sending in sketches and pictures from other friends too, including Frank McCabe & Sue French. Charles was delighted to receive the packages and they appeared to do what I set out to do, keep him engaged with his passion and let him continue observation and discovery in a virtual way.

Galaxy NGC 1587 in Taurus
Sketch and Details by Dale Holt

Because I was doing this for Charles I felt compelled to get out at every clear opportunity to create sketches for him. The sketches attached were part of that program. I had just completed NGC 1514 when my phone rang in the observatory, it was Andrew Robertson a close friend and observational sparring partner to both Charles and Myself. Andrew broke the news that Charles had gone!

Galaxy NGC 1589
Sketch and Details by Dale Holt

These are pictures for Charles that sadly he will never see.

As usual they were created using my 14″ f5 Newtonian running a Watec 120n Deep Sky Video camera, sketches made in real time from a black & white monitor using HB pencils, blending stumps and erasers on cartridge paper. Finished sketches then scanned and turned into negative images electronically.

Dale Holt
Chippingdale Observatory
Hertfordshire
England

North America Nebula

NGC 7000 – The North America Nebula
Sketch and Details by Juha Ojanperä

Object name: NGC 7000, North America nebula
Object type: Bright nebula
Location: Parainen, Finland
Date: 9/10.10.2008
Instrument: Lens 80mm/400mm (3” lens)
Medium used: Graphite pencils and cottonwool sticks
Observing conditions: Dark, clear sky
Notes: Very large bright nebula. The distinct shape of the nebula is pretty easy to see, after some gazing and with aid of O III filter. In the North America, Mexico and the area around Gulf of Mexico are brightest, though the eastern coast is also considerably bright. The nebula gets fainter to the north and west. The Pelican nebula appeared as faint, nebulous patch a little bit to east from the eastern coast.

Bones of the Veil

NGC 6995
Sketch by Serge Vieillard

Serge Vieillard used a 60 cm telescope to observe the Veil Nebula on September 2 from Restefond. He notes that his drawing is really a pale reflection the extraordinary sight through the telescope, where the nebula was large, obvious and extremely detailed. Every detail was complex in structure, and evoked the sense of bones in three-dimensional relief. So that he could focus on observing and drawing the nebula, Serge used an astrophoto to generate the star field.

A Smoky Cascade

IC 1318(c)
Sketch and Details by Eric Graff

Object Name: IC 1318(c) (West Extension)
Also Known As: LBN 236, LBN 240, LBN 241, DWB 52, GAL 077.7+03.4
Object Type: Emission Nebula
Constellation: Cygnus
Right Ascension (2000.0): 20h 17.1m
Declination (2000.0): +40° 50′
Magnitude: —
Size: 40′ x 25′

Date/Time: 27 July 2008 • 05:45 to 07:00 UT
Location: Oakzanita Springs, San Diego Co., California, USA
Telescope: Parks Astrolight EQ6 • 6″ f/6 Newtonian Reflector
Eyepiece/Magnification: Parks 20mm Gold Series Plössl • 45x • 70′ FoV
Filters: Lumicon OIII
Conditions: Clear, Calm, 64°F
Seeing: Pickering 6-7
Transparency: NELM 6.4; TLM 14.2

This cascade of stars shrouded in smoky wisps of nebulosity caught my attention as I made the star hop from Gamma Cygni to IC 1318(b). The cascade ends at the sparse open cluster Collinder 419, whose brightest star is a close pair known as Struve 2666 (6.0, 8.2; 2.6″; 245°). Just northeast of this cluster the narrow stream of nebulosity blossoms into a hazy morass of delicate nebulosity – this is IC 1318(c). Fifth magnitude HD 193092 blazes with a reddish-orange light to the south.

Sketch Info: Nebulosity sketched with graphite applied with artist chamois and blending stump on 24# paper in 7½” circle. Stars with pencil and ink, cleaned up digitally (and colorized) in Microsoft Picture It!

Luminous Lagoon

M8 – The Lagoon Nebula
Sketch and Details by Kiminori Ikebe

M8 (NGC 6523) Sgr diffuse nebula
Difficulty level 1
The Lagoon Nebula
Date of observation: 1998/05/27 03:20
Transparency/seeing/sky darkness: 3/3/4
Instruments: 32cm Dobsonian with XL21 at 70x and OIII Filter
Width of field: 0.9 degree

Complex structures are visible. There is the open cluster NGC 6530 near the center, which can be seen clearly even with the OIII filter. The brighter part of the nebula is divided into three regions. A triangular-shaped nebulosity in the southwest is the brightest with 9 Sgr (mag 6.1) shining at the center. There is a small, somewhat fainter region south of 9 Sgr. The second brightest region extend from the center to the south, which contains the open cluster NGC 6530. Between the brightest and next brightest regions lies a clear winding dark lane like a large river. The “banks of the river” is bright and a magnificent sight. At the southern end a sharp protrusion like a horn is visible. Although it is faint, the outline is sharp. North of the brightest region lies the third brightest region. It extends from the east to the west and the eastern half is bright providing a fine sight. With a close examination you can detect a faint nebulosity east of NGC 6530. It is large and looks like a very faint mist. In 10×42 binoculars, there are two bright spots side by side in the east-west direction within a narrow triangle. There is a double involving 7 Sgr at the western end of the triangle. There is a star near the center of the western part of the bright region. This star is 9 Sgr and the bright nebulosity surrounding it is clearly seen. The eastern part is rather elongated with the same orientation with NGC 6520. The globular cluster NGC 6544 is clearly seen in the southeast.

Milky Way Sights

Lagoon Nebula and Vicinity
Sketch and Details by Carlos Hernandez

My South Florida weather cleared temporarily on July 30, 2008 (04:00 U.T.) and allowed me to tour the Milky Way with my Oberwerk 11 x 56 binoculars. Many targets were visible but the Lagoon Nebula (M8) and Trifid Nebula (M20), as well as M21 and M28 caught my eye. The Lagoon Nebula (M8, NGC 6523) was visible as an elongated nebulosity which included clumps of stars (NGC 6530). The Trifid Nebula (M20, NGC 6514). The open cluster M21 was visible north of the Trifid Nebula and M28 towards the east (left).

A digital rendering made using Photoshop CS3.

Carlos

Riches of the Star Queen

M16 – The Eagle Nebula
Sketch and Details by Eric Graff

Object Name: Messier 16
Also Known As: NGC 6611, Cr 375, Mel 198, C1816-120, IC 4703, Sh2-49, Eagle Nebula, Star Queen Nebula
Object Type: Open Cluster + Emission Nebula + Dark Nebula
Constellation: Serpens (Cauda)
Right Ascension (2000.0): 18h 18m 45.0s
Declination (2000.0): –13° 47′ 54"
Magnitude: 6.0
Size: Cluster 21′; Nebula 35′ x 28′
NGC Description: Cl, at least 100 st L & S
Discovery: Philippe Loys de Chéseaux, 1746

Date/Time: 4 July 2008 • 04:20 to 06:45 UT
Location: Oakzanita Springs (4,010 ft. elevation), San Diego Co., California, USA
Telescope: Parks Astrolight EQ6 • 6" f/6 Newtonian Reflector
Eyepiece/Magnification: Parks 15mm Gold Series Plössl • 60x • 52′ FoV
Filters: Lumicon OIII
Conditions: Clear, calm, 62°F
Seeing: Pickering 4-5
Transparency: NELM 6.3; TLM 14.0

The Eagle Nebula (or the Star Queen Nebula, if you prefer) is one of the most spectacular "Great Nebulae" in the sky – in photographs, anyway. Unlike other emission nebulae on Messier’s list (M8, M17, M20, and M42-43), the Star Queen does not willingly yield her secrets to the visual observer. In fact, she puts up a rather tenacious fight.

The sky was not quite wholly dark when I centered my scope on M16 soaring above the brink of Oakzanita Peak. The nebulosity itself was not visible yet, but I immediately set to work sketching the visible members of the bright and easy open cluster invested in the nebula. By the time this task was completed the sky had darkened completely as the billowing clouds and star-studded reaches of the Milky Way cast their net above the entire eastern horizon. In the eyepiece gossamer veils of tenuous nebulosity draped lazily over the sparkling star cluster like a lumpy, disheveled cloak.

The best view in my scope occurs at 60x magnification with an OIII filter. The nebulosity is complex and the hazy morass dances with subtle possibilities, but getting that detail onto paper was challenging; the region around the famous "Pillars of Creation" was particularly difficult in this regard. Once I was satisfied that I had done all I could with the central portion of the nebula I was able to pick up faint, nearly featureless extensions on nearly every side by placing the cluster just outside the field of view and sweeping slowly from side to side (N-S or E-W; kind of like looking for the tail of a comet).

Dark Nebula Nexus

M20 – The Trifid Nebula
Sketch by Kiminori Ikebe

Mr. Ikebe observed and sketched this view of M20 using a 50 cm Dobsonian at 220X.

M20, The Trifid Nebula, is a famous and beautiful target for astrophotographers and visual observers alike. The red emission nebula contains a young star cluster at its center, and is surrounded by a blue reflection nebula that is most noticeable at the northern end. It’s distance is not well agreed upon, and is listed anywhere from 2,200 light years (Mallas/Kreimer) to 9000 light years (Jeff Hester). Its magnitude estimate is also wide, and is listed from 9.0 (Kenneth Glyn Jones) to 6.8 (Machholz). Part of the magnitude difficulty comes from the very bright triple-star system at the heart of the nebula.

The dark nebula that crosses the Trifid was cataloged by Barnard and listed as B 85. The object was originally cataloged by Charles Messier in 1764, when he described it as a cluster of stars.