Study the eyepiece view before you begin sketching. Then, create a 2-inch circle on your paper and draw in the phase. Record the universal time and date next. A soft white observing light works well for planetary sketching, especially if you’re using colored pencils. Strive to complete the sketch within about 20 minutes before features rotate out of view.
Outline the polar caps and prominent surface details first. Fill in the darkest and then the lightest areas next before blending your sketch with a clean, soft blending stump. Working in small sections, refine your sketch with a pencil by homing in on the finer details. Finally, use a kneaded or shaped eraser to draw (by lifting the graphite) clouds and haze and to make final adjustments in tonal variances. Record the time once more, and then mark the orientation (north and east or preceding [disappearing features] and following [appearing features]) to complete the sketch.
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