Biography
Will Gater is an astronomy populariser, author and science presenter with over twenty years’ experience of observing and photographing the night skies. He has written extensively about the latest advances in astronomy and space for outlets including New Scientist, Astronomy Now, Focus, BBC Sky at Night Magazine and Physics World. His astrophotography has appeared in print and on television all over the world and his first book for a younger audience, The Mysteries of the Universe, was released by DK in 2020 and reached the no. 1 spot on Amazon UK’s list of best-selling children’s astronomy titles. Though today he is immersed in the world of digital astrophotography, Will is also a passionate advocate of visual observing and drawing at the telescope eyepiece. He has a particular interest in sketching the Moon with pastels.
Amateur Astronomy: Drawing inspiration from the Moon
In today’s world of high-frame-rate imaging and digital astrophotography it might seem there’s little that sketching at the eyepiece can offer the modern-day lunar observer. But drawing what you see through a telescope is about more than simply trying to record the view. Sketching is a superb way to familiarise yourself with the myriad features and ever-changing illumination of the lunar surface. Not only that but it trains your eye to seek out fine details, and can bring a fresh appreciation for the wonderful subtleties of our nearest neighbour. In this talk, Will will present a detailed introduction to the techniques of lunar sketching, with a focus on using pastel pencils. He’ll explore what equipment you need, how to plan a sketch and how to tackle the process of turning your eyepiece view into a finished drawing.