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Re: (IAAC) Obj: NGC 7000 (North America nebula, HV-37, LBN47...
Well written logs are the inspiration for
the others to get their scopes out and have a look for themselves!! Take for a
classic example Burnham's guide, who does not want to grab their scope and get
outside after reading some of his descriptions? I really enjoy reading well
written observations, they are indeed the literary equivalent of drawn sketches,
and can even go beyond as surroundings, companions and events can be described
but hardly drawn!!
Kim Gowney.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 8:27 PM
Subject: Re: (IAAC) Obj: NGC 7000 (North America nebula, HV-37,
LBN47...
One IAAC reader comments:
>I must say that anyone who
can so accurately represent the night sky with
>pencil and paper as Sue
has done is as good an Artist as any I've seen!
Hear, hear.
:)
Discussing the "nature of art" on a visual deep-sky forum may be just
a wee
bit outside of our community's primary interest. But as a matter of
fact, I
would say that waxing poetic about Sue's beautiful deep sky sketches
is NOT
off-topic, at least not so long as we can RELATE IT BACK to our visual
deep
sky observing passion, somehow! So in that spirit...
Sue, I
noticed that in your sketch of the California Nebula (NGC 1499), you
have
somehow managed (with a 4.1" scope, Hydrogen beta filter and your
well
trained eye, brain and hand), to capture details in this object which
most
astronomers would expect would require LONG-EXPOSURE photography to
detect!
To illustrate what I mean, I have to direct readers to the
following "deep"
astrophotograph of NGC 1499, for comparison with Sue's
sketch:
http://voltair.csun.edu/california.html
And
here again is the URL of Sue's sketches:
http://home.talkcity.com/Terminus/susanfrench/astronomy.html
In
particular, note the bright arc of nebulosity in the edge opposite
the
brightest field star (Menkib, xi Per). This is not merely visible in
Sue's
sketch (even as reproduced on the Web), but in fact her sketch brings
out
nuances that are hard to find on the deep image!
If that isn't
enough, note the small dark "blob" close near the brightest
field star
opposite xi - mag 6 star HD25152. This looks almost like a Bok
globule, it is
so dark, small and distinct. This feature is nicely brought
out on Sue's
"small telescope sketch"! So to is the dark "arc" stretching
across the W
half of the nebula, from near the center to near the W edge.
Or look at
the rounded "envelope" of nebulosity which extends indefinitely
into the ESE
from the main nebula: On the long-exposure photo, this nebula
simply peters
out into indistinct haze, not long after it engulfs a mag 8
field star,
HD25508. Yet in Sue's sketch, this envelope of haze is clearly
seen extending
beyond HD25508, into an intricate rounded "lobe" extention.
This is an
extraordinary effort at astrosketching, clearly. However, it is
also a clear
indication of what a little patience, coupled with a *lot* of
eye
self-training (of the type one might glean here on IAAC), can do...
Sue,
you really do inspire us with these drawings. :)
As my final
contribution on this topic, I wanted to suggest that all of our
readers keep
in mind, that what we're all here on this list for is to share
descriptions -
primarily, but not exclusively, by written means - of detail
in visually
observed deep-sky objects! And any well-written deep sky log is
inevitably an
artistic - not *JUST* an archival or a "scientific" - product.
And so,
naturally, is any well-done deep sky sketch. :)
In fact, I believe that
the very best of *written* deep-sky logs require as
much artistry, care and
passion as any good astrosketch. I might almost say
that these logs are the
"literary form" of the art of deep-sky sketching...
Well, this is
just my opinion, of course. I welcome other (on-topic) views!
Clear
skies,
Lew Gramer
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