This is me doing some solar sketching in my garden.
That week an active region on the suns disc caught
attention. I sketched one region in particular over
three days. The drawings are below in my solar section.

The Occultation of Saturn May 22nd 2007
200mm Reflector/10mm eyepiece / 120X 19:01UT. 200mm Reflector/ Binoviewer 20mm eyepieces/2X Barlow / 120X 20:09 UT. 300gm paper/Soft Pastels/Quiling Needle




More planet sketches click on image

I was not expecting to catch a glimpse of Saturn in a daylight sky, no way was I ready for that amazing vision. In my first look there was the white ringed planet right in front of me. Saturn was  in a blue blue sky heading into the invisible limb of the moon.

I just had to try to capture it, in some way, so I drew it quickly on black paper and then watched and waited until she began to vanish into nothing!!

I set up my easel and I began to sketch the moon through wispy cloud while I waited for Saturn to emerge from behind the lunar sphere. As she reappeared one hour or so later there was a wonderful change in her color against the darker sky. She was so tangerine, she was so beautiful. Saturn and her invisible icy orbs appeared to be flying along as our moon moved and glided out of her majestic way.

Jupiter September 7th 2007
20:05 UT - 20:45 UT
Cloon Wood Enniskerry
Seeing Poor
Nexstar 11/2800mm/20mm

My Solar Sketches

Our Sun is like a mother holding her planets to her heart. Our Sun shines on all the objects in our solar system.
Our sun is massive,all the planets, moons and asteroids just make up 1% of its mass.

She shines on Neptune and Uranus but we cannot exist on them as she holds them too far away and they are a bit chilly.

She shines on Saturn and Jupiter but we cannot live there, as they are giant balls of gas. She shines on Mercury, and Venus, we cannot live there as she holds them too close to her heart and they are far too hot for humans.

We may be able to live on Mars but not for many many decades.

The suns powerful light brings wonders to our eyes here on Earth.
I always think of the sun as I sketch, because what I see is only there
due to its light, and gravity.

Animation of nine of my solar sketches by Erika Rix

PST 40
Williams Optics Binoviewers 20mm eyepieces
Schmincke Soft Pastels/300gm Paper/Pencil
09/06/2007
12:37UT - !3:37 UT

This particular  afternoon I just focused my eyes on Active Region 0960 and took a closer look at the active region filament. I looked closely at the swirling motionless movement that this interesting area offered me.

10/06/2007
12:00UT - 13:50UT
Active Region 0960

PST 40
Williams Optics Binoviewers 20mm eyepieces
Schmincke Soft Pastels/300gm Paper/Pencil

I decided to follow  the active region 0960 for a second day. I was interested to see how it had changed since Saturday . The paler areas around the spots was much more evident and the active region filament appeared less prominent. The plage seemed to be breaking up. So far this pale grey pastel is doing the granulation or the swirling dots until I think of a better solution.

AR 0960 and proms
07:00UT - 07:50 UT Proms - 07:50 UT
11/06/2007
Ireland

PST 40
Williams Optics Binoviewers 20mm eyepieces
Schmincke Soft Pastels/300gm Paper/Pencil

I got a look at this region early on the 11th, it was different again to the other views.

You may think pale grey is an odd choice for depicting this area around the active region. In observing the swirling movement and powerful shapes,it is a least a defining colour . I am thinking about other ways of showing this busy sub drama, which is acted out around areas of major league drama on the visible surface of our life giving star.



More solar sketches