Following are the e-mail messages I have received on all the various dust storms being seen by the MarsWatch community. Where possible, I will provide links to the images referenced as most of them were submitted to the MarsWatch site. Note that the page is set up from bottom-to-top so the most recent information will be at the top and the first message is at the bottom. Also, all e-mail addresses have been clipped so the spambots will not be able to use our site for harvesting. Note that when timing is not an issue, multiple e-mails from a single day have been edited into one announcement. All links below will open in a new window so you can easily see both images and text at the same time.
I've gone back and compared the early confirmed dust images of the Chryse/Candor region from 11-23-05 UT to 3 images, 24 hours earlier, of the same exact region. They are presented here, with high contrast detail images of Chryse/Candor. All information is noted on the image. There is possible activity noted on the 22nd at 05:15 UT, but in my amateur and humble opinion, it is just typical PM evening clouds. What is a bit interesting is that between 03:25 UT and 05:15 UT on the 23rd, the line of dust appears to become better defined and more intense. Seems like that would be a rather rapid intensification, so I'm guessing it is just due to the angle/optical.
The images from this evening are making it look like the dust streak from 11-23-05 UT was a short lived event. This is my second image showing the same area from 24 hours ago. I'm not going to post anymore single images unless the dust appears in the next few hours. I'll have a compliation of tonight's images put together in the next day or so.
It appears I did image it approx 2 hours earlier, virtually the same time as Ed, perhaps a few minutes before. I had put it off as typical Chryse brightening.
Here are images from November 24th 2005 at 03:27 UT. There is a new dust event in Chryse Planitia. This area spawned a major dust event on October 17/18th. We will see over the next day or so if this is another major event for 2005 that will spread over a wide area or if this dust event will subside rapidly. There are no concentrated cores at the moment that would indicate intense activity but these could develop.
I'd like to report a large dust streak in Chryse. I'm guessing its about 1000 miles long and 200 miles wide. Isn't real bright yet, so I'm thinking its early in formation. This area was clear at this time 24 hours ago. Very distinct in all color channels and appears at this time to be headed towards Solis Lacus. I'll have images available in a few hours or less.
Here is the image of the long dust streak in Chryse. Must be very early in formation. I'm going to look at my other images over the past 24 hours and see if I can pick it up.
I was just processing some of my images from 21 Oct and I thought that the attached comparisons (PowerPoint) might be of interest to people. I haven't done a careful alignment of the images, nor been consistent in the processing, but I thought that people might enjoy blinking back and forth between them. One can see an impressive number of changes in features.
Blinking between images illustrates various things from how active Mars is when you look carefully, to issues in comparing images from different observers. Notice the consistency between my images 34 and 35, but the apparent differences between my images and Clay Sherrod's image taken at almost exactly the same time as I was observing. To me these sorts of comparisons casts light on comparing drawings by old observers.
I think I captured the remnant of the first large duststorm (arrowed). It appears as a triangle shaped patch near the SPC.
2005/11/13 time:23:03 UTC CM=75.25
(for the European observers, as we saw nothing of the storm when it was active.
10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS @ f/65 R(G)B.
Attached is an image compilation that you will find interesting; it is our (ASO) image from Oct. 28 posed with that of Hubble ST taken at the same time....remarkable. Thanks again to Ron for putting this together.
Here is a link to a full-disk comparison....very revealing! ASO image via the 0.41m RC Meade telescope while the other one.....well, a multi-million one with a bit better view!
Just so you don't feel like you're "losing it", I imaged the same thing last night. I'm still processing my videos, and will send the images along when I'm done, but that "brick red" spot got my attention as well.
I'm wondering if what we're seeing, in addition to a local blue clearing perhaps, is a local removal of bright dust over darker red soil ahead of the dust storm front? I worked on the Mars Pathfinder and MER rover missions, and found that just underneath the bright reddish surface, the soil had that brick reddish color when disturbed.
This is just a mental exercise, of course, as the scales are vastly different!
I noticed the differences tonight while comparing my images from the 25th Oct. with the 27th. It appears like a long curving dust storm running southward (to the west of Solis Lacus) to the low south east. It's quite obviously on the 25th and then seems absent on the 27th. Would you consider that this is related to the storm reported on the 24th around the Margaritifier region - perhaps shifted somewhat to the east?.
There is another outburst on Mars. It has encroached onto Sinus Meridiani. Here is a Red image hot off the press along with a comparison image from the 29th of October.
As soon as I focused the camera this morning, I literally dropped my jaw when I saw the red image on my screen. Seeing was steady though the resulting images are not as good as I hoped.
It would appear we have a major outbreak of dust on ole Mars. The images are hard for me to interpret as it is hard to tell what is dust, cloud, albedos, etc.
Sinus Meridiani and Sinus Sabaeus are partially obscured by dust and it appears to have headed on Southward and Westward of the original area on the 28th. South of this area, is a strong blue clearing, so to speak, of a small dark streak also dark in green. It is normal in Red. The result in the RGB image is a dull reddish mark or blotch. I don't know how to interpret this mark. Could be the actual dust disturbance in shadow or could be a shadow of its own from a dust cloud or a combination of both. Could be, I just don't know!
At any rate I'll let you interpret these images for your selves. I apologize for the colors, but it seems the dust is throwing off what otherwise would be normal colors.
It is possible that despite my feelings that this was not going global, it may at least encircle the Southern Hemisphere soon. Mars we hardly knew ya!
Composite of three dates centered at near Martian Longitude 350 deg., demonstrating the pre-, maximum-, and current distribution and outbreak of the remarkable dust event of October 28. Dates are Oct. 27, 28, and 29; from the latter image note that the intensity and concentration of this feature has subsided and distribution of the dust appears to be commencing, leading it seems to less density and concentration than during the Oct. 28 sudden intensification of this area.
Attached are some images from ASO for Oct 27, 28, and 29 put into a GIF animation by Ron. I think from this you can clearly see that the "peak intensity" was indeed on Oct. 28 and that the dust is spreading rapidly toward the south, very likely through lower altitude topographical areas on the planet. There is a slight camera rotation that we did not know about, but the motion and velocity of the spreading cloud can be clearly seen and measured. Each image is centered near 350 deg longitude with a 70-hour time span.
I did a 400x enlargement and high contrast of the cloud and I realized that the shape of the cloud follows the outline of Sinus Meridiani, and then checked it against Clay's and Paul's now posted image (great one btw). Is Aram, where this cloud originates, a valley/depression? If so that would suggest its low to the surface I assume.
Just checked my reference material. There is indeed a gourge and gullies in Aram, with numerous fractures. Pretty interesting. Looking at the MGS mage of this gorge, its very "dramatic" with dunes on the floor of it.
Based upon looking at several maps, I believe the point of origin of this cloud is Iau Chaos. It then spead north, following the floors and cliffs of the Ares Vallis and Simud Vallis, fitting their outline, making its way into Chryse and Cydonia Mensae.
Here is a map that shows the area where the dust storm formed quite well, and the shape it took matches the topography quite well.
There is an incredibly brilliant outbreak, perhaps yellow dust, between Margaritifer Sinus and Sinus Meridiani this morning, this developing from a minor yellow cloud just 24 hours ago. This feature is so bright that it is difficult to accurately image it without greatly underexposing the rest of the Martian features surrounding it. Note the (at least) seven (7) "fingers" or extensions that seem to radiate or spread outward from a large central area of unprecedented intensity. This odd area was first noted early this morning by Frank Melilo and Joel Warren and as it has rotated into view I believe that it has actually rapidly intensified in brightness. Hopefully west coast (USA) observers will get this as well. I would appreciate the opinions and input of others, but honestly with the symmetry of the radiations emanating from this bright spot, I am not sure that we cannot rule out a catastrophic outflow, similar to that of eruption or even impact in nature. This does appear, because of the concentration in brilliance and the rapidity of development, to be extraordinary in nature.
Here is a pretty good comparison of the dust storm over a 48 hour period. It appears, to me anyway, to be growing in intensity and size. In the 10-24-05 image, if you notice, the bow shaped arcing band of dust over Solis Lacus is a different color than the dense cloud over Mare Erythraeum and Argyre I. I know here on Earth with a severe storm, when you get a bow shape like that over Solis Lacus, it is a sign of strengthening and very high, power winds. This is all pure speculation on my part. And lastly, as I pointed out last night, notice the NPH in the 10-24 image. I haven't ever seen a NPH quite like that. Looks like a ring within a ring.
The dust storm appears to be intenisifing, with a large, arcing, bow shaped band of dust surrounding Solis Lacus, heading towards Phaethontis. All info is on the image.
Still lots of dust. Looks denser to the south of Mare Erythraeum than it had been. Not sure about that though. And, I think there might be 2 seperate clouds making up the big cloud of dust. It is slowly working its way towards Hellas. Note in the blue and green color channels how the dust cloud and the thin veil of dust over Mare Erythraeum form an upside down triangle. I'll try and get a few more images tonight. I'd really like to see what is going on in Solis Lacus. Seems to be where all the fun is at. :)
Hearty congratulations to Alan Friedman for the publication of his two comparison Mars images on Spaceweather.com this morning; they are probably two of the finest illustrations as to the rapid change of our new dust storm.
The yellow dust storm is spreading westward (celestial) and southward on Mars as indicated in tonight's images and reports by others; clouds prevented observations of the Solis Lacus region directly, but clearly there is intense yellow activity on the eastern limb.
The dust storm is really amazing and complicated. Transparent areas, multiple clouds and speading into Solis Lacus. On images from the 20th, it appeared to be weakening some, but based on last nights images, I'd say its becoming much more complex. I just compared this image to Ed Graftons latest, shot about the same time, and they match up quite nicely, so what you see are real features it would seem, not artifacts. I'll try and ge a composite today to show the rotation and spreading of the storm. Best wishes, any comments or corretions I need to make would be appreciated.
I have attached some Mars images from 17 and 18 October showing the rapid appearance of a dust cloud in southern Chryse, first detected by Ed Grafton and Clay Sherrod on 17 October.
Editor's Note: see all the images from these dates.
I confirm this very bright and distinct, segmented new feature, centered near CM 57 degrees; we are imaging it at this time and getting good results. The dust has the character of a "V", with pointing toward the north.
Attached is a sequence over two hours in unsteady seeing; the newly developed "V-shaped" dust storm in CHRYSE is well seen in this series of four images, CM 41 through 70. The feature has greatly developed overnight into a large and bright cloud and likely will be spreading quickly in the next few days. It appears that the cloud is sheared or separated by regional topography to the south.
We have swiftly received another new image from Silvia KOWOLLIK, Ludwigsburg, GERMANY, made at 2:56 GMT on 18 October.
It appears a large dust storm is currently in progress in Chryse. I believe, based on this image, it is 2 clouds, headed south, leaving trails. Much like the 2003 storm. This was imaged LOW on the horizon. Hopefully I can get some better images in the next few hours.
Here is about an hour and twenty minutes of rotation after my first image. Conditions a bit better, but not what I was hoping for. I'll image again at 06:00 UTand 07:00 UT.
Here is the rotation of the dust cloud over the period of 4 hours or so. I believe in the 3rd image you can tell it has grown in that time span, but not sure. Been a long night! I hope someone was able to image who had better seeing.
BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION
MARS SECTION DUST STORM ALERT, 15.10.05
From the Director, Dr R.J.McKim
The apparent activity notified in the former email alert did not develop further. Indeed, there is considerable doubt whether the E. Chryse event was real or just due to misinterpretation of a somewhat overenhanced image.
In any event, on the evening of October 13, a really definite local storm was apparent in red and green images taken by Christophe Pellier (France). The event was located NW of Mare Erythraeum, overlapping the desert area of telescopic Chryse. (Without measuring the images it seems to be centred - very roughly - near long. 40 deg., and latitude 0 deg.) It looked to be a bright yellow cloud on Pellier's RGB composite image, elongated in a north-south direction with brighter cores at the N. and S. ends. Areographically, the event corresponds in location to the E. end of the Valles Marineris.
Occuring at Ls = 306 deg., this dust storm - in terms of both martian date and location - is similar to the large regional storm that took place at Ls = 315 deg. (2003 December 13) near the end of the last opposition.
It also resembles local or regional events from the 1990 and 1992 oppositions in a very similar location that occurred at Ls = 308 deg. and 316 deg. respectively. (For full details of the 2003 event, see the '6th Interim Report' on Mars at its 2003 opposition, available at the BAA Mars Section home page, ( http://www.britastro.com/mars); for the historical storms see the writer's monograph on 'Telescopic martian dust storms', BAA Memoirs, volume 44 (1999). Other historical examples could be quoted, at similar Ls and in a similar location, right back to 1879.
Historical records show that the present event is unlikely to develop into a planet-encircling event, but it could still lead to a sizeable regional storm. The seasonally latest encircling storm began in 1924 December at Ls = 311 deg., but only storms beginning in Hellas, Noachis or near Solis Lacus achieved encircling status.
The nights of October 13/14 and 14/15 were cloudy at the Director's observatory in Northamptonshire, England and at most other UK sites. Other reports are awaited with interest!
BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION
MARS SECTION DUST STORM ALERT, 16.9.05
From the Director, Dr R.J.McKim
Don Parker and Christophe Pellier have both commented upon the presence of small dust disturbances in their most recent CCD images (September 13 and 14). On September 13 Pellier found a small bright patch located N. of Mare Erythraeum in E. Pyrrhae Regio. This was conspicuous on the morning side, but a later image on the same date by Parker does not show it. Although the region is often lightish, the images showed a distinct yellow tint, and the feature may be related to contemporaneous activity further north. Significantly, with Mare Acidalium central, Parker found the NPH disrupted, perhaps by a moving 'front'.
Images by Parker on September 14 revealed a small dust disturbance in E. Chryse, between SE Mare Acidalium and Oxia Palus. These features are just small bright patches in red light, but an anomalous darkening of the surface around E. Chryse (as a revival of the N. part of the classic Indus 'canal' attached to SE Mare Acidalium) tends to confirm their dusty nature. In red light, obscuration of Mare Acidalium itself is also apparent. Further observations are desirable. The region will be observable in the dawn twilight from the UK and W. Europe, but will be much better placed for our colleagues in the USA. Historically, storms in this region of Mars have never grown to large proportions.
N. Hellas remains light, according to the Director's visual impressions on September 14, but there is no specific dust disturbance at the time of writing.
Albedo maps of Mars can be found at the BAA website http://www.britastro.com/mars
