Sketching at the telescope: Charles F. Capen’s Eclipse Comet

on Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Comet 1948 XI (annotated by the observer as 1948L) sketched by Charles F. Capen with 7x35 binoculars and a 3.5-inch f/10 reflector, November 10, 1948, at 5:30 a.m. CST. David J. Eicher library

Today I’ve dug up a sketch by noted lunar and planetary astronomer Charles F. “Chick” Capen (1926–1986) showing his observation of Comet 1948 XI, known as the “Eclipse Comet.” The comet was first observed during the November 1, 1948, solar eclipse by a viewer in Kenya. On a protective wrapper around the drawing, Capen penned, “My first comet as an amateur astronomer.”

To learn more about astronomical sketching, Astronomy magazine subscribers can access my Astronomy.com video "Sketching from the telescope" and read Glenn Chaple's Observing Basics column "Sketching 101."

See the rest of the Sketching at the telescope series.

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Sketching at the telescope: Charles F. Capen’s Eclipse Comet