Sky & Telescope - June 2022 - 61

breaking it into two parts. I decided to make one template for
M42 and M43, and a separate one for the Trapezium region.
(See page 32 in the December 2017 issue for details.)
I also found that thinking of a big object as a bunch of
small objects that overlap makes sketching easier to conceptualize
and to manage. Like any complex task, breaking
down the process into smaller bits is a good way to succeed.
For me, that cracked the nut on how to tackle large and
complex objects.
Templates
Until 2011 I sketched everything freehand, which worked
well because at the time I mostly sketched the simplest deepsky
objects, plus a planet or two whenever the seeing was
sharp. Planets are easy, because accepted practice is to either
print a template for Jupiter and Saturn (https://is.gd/planet_
templates) or use a 2-inch-diameter eyepiece cap to draw the
outline of the planets large enough to show a disk.
How about a deep-sky object template? I make my own by
printing a photo of the object I'm interested in, place a sheet
of tracing paper over it, and lightly trace the outlines of the
object and the brighter stars. Bingo - instant template. Then
I place a solid sheet of white paper behind the tracing paper so
the traced outlines are visible, and then tape them both to a
clipboard. Now I can confidently depict details in their correct
places, orientations, and proportions while at the eyepiece.
Technique Tips
Overall, keep things as simple as possible. That's why I use a
mechanical pencil with a built-in eraser. The lead never needs
sharpening, and the eraser is always handy. A must-have is
a red flashlight with adjustable brightness. Using the least
amount of light to illuminate your sketching medium will
help preserve your night vision. I also recommend closing
your observing eye (wearing an eyepatch might help), while
sketching to keep your observing eye at maximum sensitivity.
Remember, you're not trying to make a finished drawing
while at the eyepiece. Save the smudgers and the pencils
of differing hardness for when you're indoors. It's difficult
uSKETCH AN ELLIPTICAL
Your eraser is as important as the
pencil lead. Don't be shy when
sketching; the eraser will get rid
of any excess lines and smudges.
If you erase too much, add more
pencil - repeat as needed. After
a bit more finger-smudging, you
should have a mostly round
smudge with a darker center. Add
a black dot with the end of the
pencil, and you've just sketched
your first elliptical galaxy! To see a
short video of this process, go to
https://is.gd/sketching_primer.
LEARNING FROM MISTAKES This is how not to draw the Great
Orion Nebula. The pages of my notebook are 11 × 5.5 inches opened up
like this, a nice size for sketching - but goodness, not over the seam!
This was my first attempt at drawing such a large object, and within a
couple of weeks I had come up with my tracing paper and clipboard
template process. This is a far cry from the digital rendering shown on
page 58, but this effort led directly to it. North is to the left.
enough to produce a sketch at the eyepiece without a bunch
of out-of-place lines and blobs that you can't see under the
dim red light of your flashlight. If you try to make fine adjustments
in the dark, you'll likely find you have to run your
flashlight too bright, which will make it harder to see all the
detail present in your scope's eyepiece. Even if you find you're
super-good at this, keeping things simple at the eyepiece
makes the process more enjoyable.
But smudging is crucial for rendering delicate details
while at the eyepiece, so what to do? Use that finger - with
a little practice it may become one of your favorite drawing
instruments. A bonus is that tracing paper and vellum are
both great for smudging.
It bears repeating: Draw at a scale that allows the smallest
detail to be clearly shown. That's why my sketching clipboards
sk yand tele scope .o r g * JUNE 2022 61
https://www.is.gd/planet_templates https://www.is.gd/planet_templates https://www.is.gd/sketching_primer http://www.skyandtelescope.com
Sky & Telescope - June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky & Telescope - June 2022
