Dawn over Gassendi

Hello again,

This night, while conditions didn’t allow for too high magnification, one striking feature demanded attention.  Very little of it was in illumination, but what was sunlit, made for a gorgeous subject.

Gassendi is a large crater on the northern shore of Mare Humorum.    Being dawn, its eastern face is brilliantly lit.  The crater floor is still in shadow and inky black.  Then, appearing as fragments of a shattered Moon, the highest peaks of its western rim and its central peak reaching out from the depths with fingertips to touch the first rays of the sun.

It was a challenge to depict the strong shadows.  And over the course of the two hours at the eyepiece, it was wonderful to witness the shadows and highlights change as the sun rose higher and higher.   For all the challenges, there is always something beautiful to behold.

Object:  “Dawn over Gassendi”

Telescope:  C8, 8” SCT

Gear:  8mm LVW, 250X

Date:  6^th August, 2014

Location:  Sydney, Australia

Media:  Soft pastel, charcoal and white ink on A5 size black paper.