The following is a compendium of sketches from astro.geekjoy.com. For details as to date (and time) of a particular drawing simply right click on the image and view the image properties. (The information is part of the image filenaming protocol.) Text facing the image is the first paragraph of discussion from the associated observation report. A link shows the related report from astro.geekjoy or calls to a threaded discussion on AstroTalk. (AstroTalk is a members only forum requiring a password - registration is all that is needed to become a member.)

Making drawings of the Moon is not something that comes easily to me. Generally, I have to "take a deep breath" and assess whether I really have enough patience to finish what I start. There is also the issue of setting limits. How far do you go when including neighboring detail? Finally, my work is very uneven - quality varies from sketch to sketch. But I have and will continue to persist in attempting to capture something of Selene's raw beauty and extrordinary depth of detail.

Now I had often visited with this region of the Selene. And had never noticed the perfection of these two craters nor the fact that they included a central caldera. With internal Lambert emersed in its own rampart's shadow, I concentrated on Timocharis... Show Thread
	Even as I worked the previous sketch, Selene cleared the Santa Cruz Mountains. Having entered the third quarter, the terminator lay along the Moon's leading edge - something that easily confuses me. My only lunar map does not provide particularly good images of this part of the Moon. (Just as well it doesn't provide many labels either...) Suspicions are that this is the "Behaim" region (due east of Mare Nectarus and southeast of Crater Langrenus.) Whatever its true identity, this was certainly the most engaging part of the terminator! What immediately struck my eye were the two promontories at left. It was only afterwords that I came to really appreciate the gentle play of light and dark along the small maria's rim, and the frozen wave caught right of the base of the twin peaks. Amazingly enough, despite less than ideal sky conditions, I actually enjoyed seeing the Moon tonight. (That right brain loves everything!) Show Report
Hi All, Just got in from an early evening sky. Swept Selene's day 5 crescent. Caught Piccolomini in the process of emergence to southwest. Crater looked rather like a huge radio-telescope oriented west-northwest. Dark shadow of central peak caught my eye prominently. Been awhile since I made a Selene sketch. Took pencil in hand and rendered what follows: Show Thread
	While out sweeping the three-quarters full moon caught sight of a very lively region near Craters Aristarchus and Herodotus. In particular noted a very contrasty and deep pair of nearby valleys. Referencing "A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets" determined this to be the Schröters Valley region. Show Topic
Hi Cor, Not sure whether the method used in this (unfinished) sketch of Endymion matches yours, BUT at least I made an effort at being "methodical". Show Topic NOTE: Cor Berrevoet's is an excellent lunar sketch artist and offered a wonderful example of his methods using Crater Clavius. See some of Cor's "workouts" on the web at Lunar Drawing Using an Intes Micro M603.
	Received an email from Otto this afternoon alerting me to a nice presentation to Crater Ptolemaeus (and environs): "... Ptolemaeus is right on the terminator, and even though the sky is terribly unsteady (wavers between 3 and 6), I am seeing a dozen or so dimpled depressions on its floor...the appearance of caved in craters...like what we call sink holes in the southeast." Show Topic NOTE: Drawing done through the 80mm Pup - only one such depression visible - despite very good seeing.
Meanwhile, last night the "67mm Pup" and I sat down for a little sketch session. As usual, my practice is much as Cor's and theAstronomers in this regard. Scan Selene's bounteous surface and pick out something that attracts the eye - and boy, did the near full moon Gassendi catch my eye! The low sun really brought out the linear series of mounds that give the crater a look of an old-fashioned phonograph record at other times during the lunar cycle. Show Topic
	It was very clear to me that this was the best view of Posidonius seen since first noticing it. Dropped down to 210x (25mm plus 3x barlow) and suddenly everything came into perfect focus. As stated, had no plans for further sketching but just couldn't walk away without somekind of visual record. (Truly a view beyond words.) To give you an idea of how much detail was possible, notice the two sets of small craters separated by rilles at the head and foot Posidonius. The physical size of these craters is probably well below 5 kilometers (3 arc-seconds) and each looked like something more than a simple "brightening" against the crater's floor... Show Report
There are times when I truly wish I were an artist. Maginus deserved a far better hand than mine last evening. The crater's central peak received the full brunt of Sol's light and contrasted hugely with the depths of darkness surrounding it. Imagine standing there within that great walled depression watching the lighting of that mighty torch. Magnificent. Show Report
	Managed to finish last nights observing report about an hour before skydark this evening. Setup Argo facing south and instantly went to work attempting a semblence of Crater Posidonius and environs. Before completing the drawing, the sky had darkened to the point where I found viewing the Moon (sans filtration) somewhat painful. The sacrifice was worth it however. Seeing stability was fine enough to reveal the small mounds seen within the crater last night. It was also possible to make out the shallow depression that wends its way from the central craterlet to the longitudinal mound near the foot of Crater Chacornac (at Posidonius southwestern perimeter). Interestingly, little more than the main interior craterlet was possible early on. While executing the drawing, the sky went through a noticeable change in stability. By sketch-finish all the features depicted at left could be held directly at 240X. Show Report
So after looking over Ahkana's sketchbook, I decided to make another effort at lunasketching. I was immediately attracted to a region previously drawn using Argo. This time while scanning the moon with the Pup (at 120X). If you bother to track down the earlier sketch and compare the two, you'll probably notice my skills haven't improved much. But that's OK by me. The way I figure it, you just keep trying until one day you "accidentally" create a "masterpiece". After this there's a long dry spell. But, if your on top of things, you stay with it. First there's "beginner's luck". (The hook is set.) Then there's a long period of constant improvement - if you stick with it. Then much later, "the Masterpiece". (A true visit from "The Inner Genius".) After a long dry spell - while you deal with "ego-appropriation of the Soul's Creative Genius", you get humble, and do a Wayne's World: "I'm not worthy." After this, who knows - maybe even "Humble Greatness". Then watch out! Once you recieve the "adulation of the crowd", constant mindfulness is essential - lest "the usurper" again rise up and say "Look what I did, ain't I great!". Show Report
	Art, unfortunately, does not always imitate life. The sketch at left makes an attempt to capture the crater Gassendi on the northern border of Mare Humorum. The craters southern wall has been breached by the sea to the south. This breach is one reason why Gassendi is considered quite old. Another fact suggestive of its antiquity, is the great quantity of rille-like buckles and other irregularities formed over the eons within the crater. During rare moments of steady seeing, exceedingly fine features were caught on the old crater's floor. These arranged in a semi-circular fashion around the large central peak. The old crater does display quite a bit of character. Show Report
Luna: Plato dominates the northern hemisphere of the Moon like Michael Jordan dominated the sport of professional basketball. Although its perfectly elliptical presentation is not well suggested in the neighboring drawing, there is a sense that "all roads lead to Plato". This is indicated by the orientation of the spine of the Lunar Alps (alluded to by the sharp gash of the Alpine Valley) southwest of the crater. A shallow depression is hinted at near the center of the Plato's dark floor. But this proved to be a very difficult feature under the relatively unstable skies of the evening. In the near view is seen the northwestern "coast" of Mare Imbrium - that great circular expanse that almost includes bright Copernicus near the Lunar equator. Show Report
	Mon, 30 Apr 2001 22:09:45 EDT, Email message from Otto Piechewski: "I am getting awesomely steady views of Ptolemaeus. If you have the time and the skies, check it out. The bottom of this huge crater has three large 2 on a line closest to the terminator (within Ptolemaeus) and one on the other side of Ptolemaeus floor) what look like caved in circular depressions, plus many smaller caved in circular depressions. Awesome." Show Report
Tonight's theme was little scope/big(ger) scope. First I'd do a drawing using the Pup, then I'd switch over to Argo for a few final flourishes. Not unexpectedly, more in the way of detail was possible through the 150 than the 80mm. Nowhere was the difference more striking than on the Moon. Just about every detail the Pup barely hinted at was layed bare when Argo came up to bat. In at least one instance the Pup even failed to detect a rather large crater (within a crater) that Argo showed plainly. As I say this, keep in mind that both scopes were operating at 120X. So we are not talking magnification. We're talking resolution. Were talking raw ability to reveal fine details that appear indistinguishable to the eye - just because the interferometric diameter of the objective is larger. Show Report
	Received an email from fellow observer Otto Piechewski. Otto reported that "Between Mares Tranquilitatis and Serenitatis; just north of the crater Plinius and flowing out from the Promontorium Acherusia is a darkish area. It's small, 5 or 6 times the area of Plinius." Well, despite having absolutely no interest in taking out either of the scopes (yah, right) I dutifully dragged Argo out and had a look. To make a long story short, the image you see at left was the result. Show Report
It's now 8:49PDST Friday evening April 27. I'm waiting for Denebola to come into view and the sky to darken. During dusk I went out and made a drawing of Mare Nectaris. Having the scanner allows me to include it in this report which will in some ways be a blend of last night and early this evening. Show Report

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