Lunar Features at First Quarter
Lunar Craters and Montes
Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland
28/12/2014
Graphite pencils plain paper
This is a sketch I did as part of an assignment for an Astronomy course I am taking for fun. The exercise was to calculate 4 lunar features heights by making accurate sketch observations, measuring the shadows and calculating the height using the distances along with the Earth-Sun-Moon angles. It just happened to be clear at exactly first quarter. I am having trouble sketching a very dark black and new to many of the sketching techniques and making it up as I go along. Is there an extra dark lead past an 8b or should I be looking sketch on black paper? I am also having problems scanning and am taking photos of my sketches? Any help appreciated. Clear Skies! Kevin
Kevin,
I am seeing no problems with your sketching technique. Outstanding work here, keep making it up. You are doing a fine job! If you want to make a region darker you can try black marking pen or black wax pencil, but really your dark regions looks excellent. Your photo of the sketch also shows a lot of detail. I normally scan at -8 brightness and +8 contrast. I dont know if this will help you or not.
I would very much like to learn the details of how you calculate the lunar feature heights using the shadows.
Cindy Krach
Well done Kevin, I did this exercise a lot of years ago,… It’s quite easy with very few trigonometry.
For the paper scaning, it´s more easy while your paper has the same dimension that your scanner.
The contrast ideas of Cindy are good, I use black china ink as well.
Michel
Kevin,
Your sketches are excellent.
Back in the 1980’s my son wanted to do the same project you have done here.
He used a camera and one of my telescopes to get film pictures.
Once you have the sun’s altitude it is simple trigonometry.
Frank 🙂
I absolutely love this, and all its complexities. Well done!
Hi Cindy, If you send me your email address I will post you the lunar height calculation details.
Kevin
Hi Cindy, If you send me your email address I will post you the lunar height calculation details.
Kevin
@warmvet