Mars Images - 2003
July
01
MARS IMAGES 1 July, 2003
D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian
ST9XE CCD Camera Eyepiece Projection @ f/55.4
Integration Times:
RED (RG610 Red Filter, 610-1100nm: NO IR Rejection) 0.16s 2-3 images
GREEN (CFW8C, 531nm central; BWHM 86nm) 0.40s 7 images
BLUE (CFW8C, 450nm central, BWHM 116nm) 1.30s 6 images
Images bias,flat and dark corrected.
Seeing variable (5-6, Pickering). Transparency 4m, slight haze.
HIGH WINDS, E-SE 4-16 kts. No dew, post rain storm.
Altitude = 51 degrees.
Significant changes have occurred over the past 24 hours:
1. Mare Tyrrhenum, Syrtis Minor, and Crocea-Oenotria have lightened
considerably, appearing to be covered by a thin whitish cloud.
This is similar to the aspect of Mars in 2001 about a week before the
great dust storm. These features were dark and "normal" on 30 June (Beish)
and throughout June (Grafton, Parker, Lazorotti, Pellier).
2. Bright ochre spots rimming Hellas and obscuring Deltoton-Iapygia -- the
latter spots are conspicuous in green light. Hellas spots imaged by Grafton
on 6/28. Little detail noted on the floor of Hellas.
3. Possible small dust cloud over SPC. This has been imaged over the past
week by Bates, Lazorotti, Ng, Pellier, Williamson, and others.
Rima Australis-Ulyxis Fr. prominent. NP Hood thinner as is AM limb arc.
Violet Clearing partial (2+) in areas not covered by clouds that are faint
in blue light.
MARS DRAWING: 01 Jul 2003, 0840 - 0900 UT, CM 263.9 -268.8
J.D.Beish, LakePlacid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 520x.
Wratten Filters: W23A,W25,W33,W57, W64, W38A,W47.
Seeing = 8 - 9. Transparency 5, Altitude 48 deg. T=24 C
SPC clear, rifts. NPR Hood present, but thin. Thin MH from
30S to NPR (Limb Arc). Light streak from Pandorae Fretum into Iapygia Mare,
much lighter than on 30 June 2003. Northwest Hellas brighter, light spot that
was not there yesterday. Tyrrhenum Mare, Cimmerium Mare lighter than yesterday
and Hesperia not as well-defined. Region just southwest of Syrtis Major and
Serpentis Mare and west Sabaeus Sinus not seen.
Syrtis Major beginning the appear narrow. Too many surface details to draw.
BC =0.
Sky clear and steady, Milky Way visible brilliant.
100 best frames of 6000 were processed with Registax and IRIS.
Exposures were done with a C11 plus 2 x Barlow and a Philips
Toucam Pro (JSSA). The picture with JSSB was made with a 3 x barlow.
Seeing was average. Mars was about 20º above the horizon.
2003-07-01. 7:54UT. Combination of two images taken in the Cousins I
band with the 60cm F/8 reflector of Michigan State University (diaphragmed
to prevent image saturation), Unsharp masking applied. seeing 3-4/10
(10 best). Horace A. Smith.
02
MARS DRAWING: 02 Jul 2003, 0820 - 0845 UT, CM 248.6 - 255.7
J.D.Beish, LakePlacid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 520x.
Wratten Filters: W23A,W25,W33,W57, W64, W38A,W47.
Seeing = 7 - 8. Transparency 5, Altitude 48 deg. T=24.3 C
DUST CLOUDS IN HELLAS! Dust extends from Yaonis Fretum across NW Hellas
over Iapygia Mare-Pandorae Fretum-Hadricum Mare and Ionium. Dust haze into
NW Ausonia.
SPC clear, rifts. NPR Hood not presentn. No MH. Tyrrhenum Mare, Cimmerium
Mare lighter than "usual." Hesperia not as well-defined, darker than "normal."
Tyrrhenum dark and dust appearsto be into this region.
Syrtis Major beginning the appear narrow. Too many surface details to draw.
BC=0.
Sky clear and steady, Milky Way visible brilliant.
MARS DRAWING: 02 Jul 2003, 0930 - 0950 UT, CM 266.7 - 271.6
J.D.Beish, LakePlacid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 520-1045x.
Wratten Filters: W23A,W25,W33,W57, W64, W38A,W47.
Seeing = 9 - 10. Transparency 5, Altitude 49 deg. T=24.7 C
DUST CLOUDS IN HELLAS! Two dust clouds in NW Hellas, dust extends from
Yaonis Fretum across NW Hellas over Iapygia Mare-Pandorae Fretum-Hadricum
Mare and Ionium. Dust haze into NW Ausonia. Small fain dust cloud in
Deltoton and faint dust strreak in Hammonis (just north of Sabeaeua Sinus).
SPC clear, rifts. NPR Hood not presentn. No MH. Tyrrhenum Mare, Cimmerium
Mare lighter than "usual." Hesperia not as well-defined, darker than "normal."
Tyrrhenum dark and dust appear sto be into this region.
Syrtis Major beginning the appear narrow. Too many surface details to draw.
BC=0.
Sky clear and steady, Milky Way visiblebut Sunrise in progress.
MARS IMAGES 2 July, 2003
D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian
ST9XE CCD Camera Eyepiece Projection @ f/55.4
Integration Times:
RED (RG610 Red Filter, 610-1100nm: NO IR Rejection) 0.13-0.19s 2-9 images
GREEN (CFW8C, 531nm central; BWHM 86nm) 0.48s 7 images
BLUE (CFW8C, 450nm central, BWHM 116nm) 1.60s 6 images
Images bias,flat and dark corrected.
Seeing variable (3-5, Pickering). Transparency poor and variable (2-3.5 m)
with haze, frequent cloud bands.
Wind gusty, E-SE 5-10 kts. No dew, post rain storm.
Altitude = 51 degrees.
Dust cloud over Iapygia-Ionium has now coalesced and brightened since 1 July.
Est. centered at 294 degs W, 25 degs S. Remians very bright in green light.
Now brighter in red light with no IR rejection filter.
Syrtis Minor, Tyrrhenum M. and Crocea still covered with haze. Possibel
dust clouds in SE Hellas. Little detail on the floor of Hellas.
Possible dust streaks in extreme eastern Hesperia. Anomalous dark features
over this region in blue light.
SPC rifts distinct. Tiny ochre spot noted again on SPC, centered approx.
105 deg W, 82 deg S. NP hood remains thin, AM limb arc thin and not a
bright as on 1 July.
2003/07/02, 08:30 UT, Bowie MD, 12.25-inch f/5.4 reflector 250x
Seeing 8 out of 10. Very warm, very still. Remains of Tropical storm Bill
due in later today. Seeing was very steady, but scope wasn't entirely
cooled down. Syrtis Major near following limb, but could still see a
good amount of detail. Very smooth curve of edge of SM into the Mare
Tyrrhenum area. Mare Cimmerium near termintor with dark patches. Faint
connecting detail to the south, leading to a very dark area that was
connected to the dark rim around the SPC. Bald spot in the SCP pretty
regularly visible. Hellas not plainly apparent from the rest of the
reddish disk. Faint bright area just P of SM, and very narrow North
Polar Hood. Wasn't able to use w47 filter.
Gerald Stelmack
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
July 2, 2003; 10:12 UT
C9.25 SCT
Digital 8 Camcorder
2 stacked (2X) barlows (no eyepiece)
535 frames
Transparency: Good-Very Good. Haze present.
Seeing: Very Good
Dust cloud, as noted by Parker and others, is evident between Hellas
and Iapygia regions.
Mars on Jul.02, 2003
Ls = 214.2, De = -21.2, Dia = 17.0"
R image
R64 filter 640nm - 1000nm
18:54:06 (UT), CM = 44.2
Exposure 0.02sec
1682 frames composite
B image
B390 filter (350nm - 460nm)
18:26:10 (UT), CM = 37.4
Exposure 0.03sec
1640 frames composite
IR image
IR84 filter (840nm - 1000nm)
18:36:12 (UT), CM = 39.8
Exposure 0.2sec
904 frames composite
Telescope:C11(D=280mmm fl=2800mm)
Camera:Hand-made PC camera (CCD:ICX424AL)
Effective Fno. = 26 (XP24mm Eyepiece projection)
Seeing = 8/10, Transparency = 3/6
Observer:Masahito Niikawa Sakai Osaka JAPAN
Processed with CRoPP, Registax and Photoshop
Fairly good condition,
Bright spot around SPC may be Mons Argenteus and ArgyeII
03
MARS IMAGES 3 July, 2003
D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian
ST9XE CCD Camera Eyepiece Projection @ f/55.4
Integration Times:
RED (RG610 Red Filter, 610-1100nm: NO IR Rejection) 0.16-0.17s 1-2 images
GREEN (CFW8C, 531nm central; BWHM 86nm) 0.39s 6 images
BLUE (CFW8C, 450nm central, BWHM 116nm) 1.250s 7-8 images
Images bias,flat and dark corrected.
Seeing good (7-8, Pickering). Transparency 4-4.5m with slight haze.
Wind SSE 0-2 kts. No dew.
Altitude = 51-50 degrees.
Dust cloud in Yaonis has expanded and brightened. Finger of dust now
obscuring northern Yoanis and extends inti Hellespontus.
Possible spread northeastward into south central Tyrrhenum. Eastern
Tyrrhenum, however, is less obscured than on 2 July.
Dust clouds remain bright in green light. In green note bright "swirl"
around eastern tip of Tyrrhenum into Hesperia.
Little recognizable detail on the floor of Hellas. Violet clearing
stronger than on 2 July (2+).
The Dust Cloud has expanded South and now obscures the southern part of
Hellas. Other changes since July 2nd are also present. The western end of of
Sinus Sabaeus and Mare Serpentis have bright cores present. Another bright
core has appeared near the eastern rim of the SPC.
The sky was mostly clear with only a few clouds in the clouds. The
transparency was very good 8/10 and the seeing was good to excellent 8-9/10.
C14 @ f/27, ST5 CCD
Image at: http://www.ghg.net/egrafton/m7-03-03.jpg
RED + IR rejection, .15 seconds, SBIG filter
GREEN + IR rejection, .3 seconds, SBIG filter
BLUE + IR rejection, .5 seconds, SBIG filter
Luminance, IR only, 700-1000nm .12 seconds, Edmunds filter
Ed Grafton
MARS DRAWING: 03 Jul 2003, 0720 - 0740 UT, CM 225.6 - 230.5
J.D.Beish, LakePlacid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 520-1045x.
Wratten Filters: W23A,W25,W33,W57, W64, W38A,W47.
Seeing = 6 - 7. Transparency 5, Altitude 43 deg. T=25 C
SPC clear, rifts. Thins NPR Hood present. No MH. Dusty haze on morning
limb over Hellas.Hellas completely washed out with not albedo features seen. .
Tyrrhenum Mare, Cimmerium Mare lighter than "usual." Hesperia not
well-defined and appears washed out, darker than "normal." Tyrrhenum dark.
Syrtis Major on morning limb and appears "normal." BC =0.
Sky clear and steady, Milky Way visible and brilliant, M31 1/2-degree
visible'with naked eye.
MARS DRAWING: 03 Jul 2003, 0900 - 0930 UT, CM 250.0 - 257.3
J.D.Beish, LakePlacid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 520-1045x.
Wratten Filters: W23A,W25,W33,W57, W64, W38A,W47.
Seeing = 6 - 7. Transparency 5, Altitude 49 deg. T=25 C
Dust clouds in NW Hellas, Noachis, Hammonis, Syrtis Minor, with faint dusty
haze spreading westward over Ausonia and Eridania. Faint dusty haze into
Libya and Moeris Lacus. Dusty haze over Noachis to morning limb. These hazes
are faint, obscuring features, but not bright; however, dust clouds obvious
and bright..
SPC clear, rifts. Thin NPR Hood present. No MH. Dusty haze on morning
limb over Hellas. Hellas washed out with little or no albedo features seen..
Tyrrhenum Mare, Cimmerium Mare lighter than "usual." Hesperia not
well-defined and appears washed out, darker than "normal." Tyrrhenum dark.
Syrtis Major on morning limb and appears "normal." BC =0.
Sky clear and steady, Milky Way visible and brilliant, M31 1/2-degree
Visible with naked eye.
04
MARS IMAGES 4 July, 2003
D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian
ST9XE CCD Camera Eyepiece Projection @ f/55.4
Integration Times:
RED (RG610 Red Filter, 610-1100nm: NO IR Rejection) 0.14-0.16s 1-4 images
GREEN (CFW8C, 531nm central; BWHM 86nm) 0.40s 6-8 images
BLUE (CFW8C, 450nm central, BWHM 116nm) 1.15s 6-8 images
Images bias,flat and dark corrected.
Seeing fair (6-7, Pickering). Transparency variable (0-4.5 m) with
frequent fast cumulus clouds.
Wind gusty, NE 2-15 kts. No dew. Altitude = 51-50 degrees.
Dust cloud still expanding, becoming regional. Main cloud brilliant and
expanding into Ausonia Borealis. Fingers of dust extending north into
Tyrrhenum and Crocea.
Two new foci at eastern tip of Tyrrhenum. Dust streaks running N-S in Ausonia.
Dust in Hesperia. Duat clouds in Hellespontus on AM limb. Aeria very bright,
giving the AM limb a yellowish cast. Clouds very bright in green and even in
blue, suggesting significant height and energy.
Violet clearing onlt 1+ with some anomalous dark features. Haze causing
reduced contrast in the albedo features.
Date (in UT): 5 July 2003 Time (UT) 11:20
CM : 270° dia. = 17.3"
Telescope: Schmidt-Cassegrain 310 mm (f / 50 )
Camera: Philips Vest Pro
Processing: 1175 frame AVI processed in IRIS
Seeing: (0-10 scale) 6-7 Trans.: (0 - 6m) 5 Wind: none,
Filters: none
Comments: Seeing was good, Dust is spreading!
Observer station: Observer:
Dallas, Texas / USA Hall, George (george2003@sbcglobal.net)
96° 44' (W) / 32° 49' (N) http://george.overcode.net/
Date (in UT): 4 July 2003 Time (UT) 10:20
CM : 270° dia. = 17.3"
Telescope: Schmidt-Cassegrain 310 mm (f / 50 )
Camera: Philips Vest Pro
Processing: 1200 frame AVI processed in IRIS
Seeing: (0-10 scale) 6-7 Trans.: (0 - 6m) 5 Wind: none,
Filters: #21
Comments: Seeing was good, Dust is spreading!
Observer station: Observer:
Dallas, Texas / USA Hall, George (george2003@sbcglobal.net)
96° 44' (W) / 32° 49' (N) http://george.overcode.net/
MARS DRAWING: 04 Jul 2003, 0800 - 0830 UT, CM 225.9 - 233.2
J.D.Beish, LakePlacid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 520x.
Wratten Filters: W23A,W25,W33,W57, W64, W38A,W47.
Seeing = 7 - 8. Transparency 5, Altitude 48 deg. T=24 C
Dust clouds on morning limb in Hellas, Hidriacum, Ausonia and Eridania with
faint dusty haze spreading westward over Ausonia and Eridania. Bright dust
cloud over Hesperia and Titanum Sinus. Faint dusty haze into Libya and Moeris
Lacus. Dust clouds obvious, bright, obscuring features and numerous. Too early
to predict plent-encirculing storm; however, this group of dust clouds appear to
be spreading.
SPC clear, rifts. Very thin NPR Hood present. No MH. Tyrrhenum Mare,
Cimmerium Mare lighter than "usual." Hesperia not well-defined. Syrtis Major
on morning limb. BC =0.
Sky clear and steady, Milky Way visible and brilliant, M31 1/2-degree
Visible with naked eye.
MARS DRAWING: 04 Jul 2003, 0930 - 0950 UT, CM 247.8 - 252.7
J.D.Beish, Lake Placid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 520x.
Wratten Filters: W23A,W25,W33,W57, W64, W38A,W47.
Seeing = 7 - 8. Transparency 5, Altitude 49 deg. T=23 C
Dust clouds on morning limb in Hellas, Hidriacum, Ausonia and Eridania with
faint dusty haze spreading westward over Ausonia and Eridania. Dust on morning
limb in Hellas and Aria. Some dusty haze over Syrtis Major. Bright dust cloud
over Hesperia and Titanum Sinus. Faint dusty haze into Libya and Moeris
Lacus. Dust clouds obvious, bright, obscuring features and numerous. Predict
planet-encircling storm possible..
SPC clear, rifts. Very thin morning limb arc from equator to NPR and
evening limb.
Tyrrhenum Mare, Cimmerium Mare washed out, obscured by dust haze. Hesperia
not well-defined. BC = 0+.
Sky clear and steady, Milky Way visible and brilliant, M31 1/2-degree
Visible with naked eye.
Bob Bunge
2003/07/04, 09:20 UT, Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 270x
Seeing 9 out of 10. Well into twilight. Very wet, very heavy dew. Very warm,
very still air. Seeing very good. Plenty of detail to draw this morning. Bright spot south of Syrtis Major is likely dust storm. Spot is elongated, with the
preceding side being brighter. This bright area is slightly oval east-west, but almost round. Following it appears to be a faint "tail" that is more of a
streak, or stretched out oval. These spots appeared brighter with a W25 filter
when viewed through a 12.25-inch reflector. The red filter was too dim in the
twilight with the 4-inch. South of the spots, appeared the rim of Hellas,
leading up to the dark collar around the South Polar Cap. A weath of detail
in the collar was visible. The bald spot/rift in the SPC was seen without too
much trouble. Xanthus was quite dark, with husky details leading south to
Tritonis Sinus and Mare Cimmerum. North of SM, Nodus Alcyonius was made out
in moments of very fine seeing. Addition far northern markings were just
south of the North Polar Hood.
2003-07-04. 7:45UT. Combination of two images in the Cousins I passband.
Taken with the 60cm F/8 reflector at Michigan State University, with an
off-axis diaphragm to prevent the images from being saturated. Unsharp
masking applied. Seeing 4/10 (10 best). Horace A. Smith
05
This attached image was taken on 150 mm guide scope refractor of the
400 mm Zeiss Astrograph from Capricornio Observatory of Campinas.I am on
visit on this Observatory and attache my Philips Vesta Pro to take this
image.
The Seeing is not so good 5/10 and transparence around 7/10.
Looks to me that we have a dust cloud under Mare Cimmerium.The image was
processing with Registax.
Guilherme Grassmann
Americana , Brasil
MARS DRAWING: 05 Jul 2003, 0840 - 0855 UT, CM 226.3 - 229.9
J.D.Beish, Lake Placid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 520x.
Wratten Filters: W23A,W25,W33,W57, W64, W38A,W47.
Seeing = 5 - 6. Transparency 3 - 4, Altitude 49 deg. T=24 C
Dust clouds/haze from morning limb in Hellas, Hidriacum, Ausonia and Eridania
with faint dusty haze spreading westward over Ausonia and Eridania to evening
limb.. Some dusty haze over Syrtis Major. Bright dust in Corcea-Libya-Moeris
Lacus. Bright dust cloud over Hesperia and Titanum Sinus. Dust clouds obvious,
bright, obscuring features and numerous. Extensive dust storm in progress.
SPC dusky with rifts, bright edge to west into Sun Very thin morning limb arc
from 60S to NPR. NPR hood seen. Tyrrhenum Mare, Cimmerium Mare washed out,
obscured by dust haze. Hesperia gone. BC = 0.
Sky partly cloudy with stratuocumulus.
Bob Bunge
2003/07/05, 09:45 UT, Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260 & 480x: 41k jpg
Seeing 5 out of 10 (best). Extremely humid, no wind. Very light dew. Everying
is very wet. Generally very poor seeing with only brief moments of steadyness,
especially at end of session a few minutes before sunrise. Clearly not seeing
the best of details. Interesting notch in the South Polar Cap. Appears that
the rim around the SCP is slowly dimming and becoming more defuse. Dust cloud
south of Syrtis Major becoming larger, brighter and easier to see. Preceding
edge was almost 3D... perhaps the shadow of the cloud? Even more apparent with
a W25 red filter. Another, smaller, bright area in Mare Tyrrhenum. Faint
marking coming north from the MT region. Very slight North Polar Hood.
Date: 05 July 2003 Time: 00:22 UT - 00:38 UT
Telescope: SC 200 mm ( f/10 ) Magnification: 220x
Seeing (Ant): IV (Ant.)
Observer : Stefano Basso Locality: Cernusco Lombardone (LC) Italy
note: Mars altitude: +20°. Image on right: composition of two
drawings: (1) -> 0:22 UT W25A filter; (2) -> 0:38 UT LPR Celestron filter
