Astronomical Sketching: A Step-by-Step Introduction

If you have ever gazed through the eyepiece of a telescope at the magnificent rings and banded globe of Saturn, or found yourself breathless at the sight of long shadows jutting across crater floors on the terminator of the Moon, then you will understand the power of those direct visual experiences. You are present at a unique event, a connection between a part of the cosmos, your eye and brain. Sketching preserves this tie with direct observation because it allows the observer to spend time at the eyepiece surveying the object intimately while drawing. This personal experiential relationship to celestial objects differentiates astronomical sketching from photographic or CCD imaging. Sketching is an excellent way to record personal encounters with the celestial wonders, because as you are drawing, you are training your eye to perceive ever greater detail, taking the fullest advantage of your telescope's light grasp and resolution. Moreover, astronomical sketches can be artwork in themselves, for display and decoration in the home or observatory.