Mars Images — MarsWatch 2005
Images taken by Jay Albert
Wednesday, 27th of July 2005
Mars, July 27, 2005 UD
CM 153.7 degrees, De -18.3 degrees, Ls 257.1 degrees
Phase defect .840, Size 10.9"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 400x with W23A red filter.
Hot, hazy, very humid, no breeze. Very small SPC with thin border. Sirenum
most prominent feature with part of Cimmerium following. Phaethontis dusky,
Memnonia bright. Large, dusky area N of SPC. Fainter, indistinct dusky area
near N limb. Limb haze on F limb. Limb haze bright in W38A blue filter with
small cloud near NF limb. Albedo markings difficult and indistinct in blue
filter, but easier in W58 green filter. Green filter showed very bright SPC
but did not show cloud near NF limb seen in blue filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Saturday, 30th of July 2005
Mars, July 30, 2005 UD
CM 122.2 degrees, De -17.7 degrees, Ls 259 degrees
Phase defect .841, Size 11.2"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 400x with W23A red filter.
Hot, hazy, very humid, no breeze, sporadic cirrus and heat lightening.
Aonius Sinus (?) in center with lighter intrusion. Part of Solis Lacus at
terminator. Sirenum and Phaethontis near F limb. Tharsis and Arcadia bright
with two small very slightly darker spots suspected in Arcadia. Small SPC
with small bright area F adjoining limb haze. This small bright area was
also bright in W58 green filter but not noticeable in W38A blue filter, so
frost patch suspected. Albedo features faint and amorphous in blue filter
but considerably easier in green.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Tuesday, 02nd of August 2005
Mars, Aug. 2, 2005 UD
CM 93.2 degrees, De -17.2 degrees, Ls 260.9 degrees
Phase defect .843, Size 11.4"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 400x with W23A red filter.
Hot, hazy, very humid, no breeze, slight thin stratus, no breeze. Solis
Lacus prominent, slightly elongated N-S with possibly Tithonius L. P on
terminator and Phoenicis L. suspected F. During moments of best seeing,
very faint, thin line suspected running SP from Solis Lacus. Aonius Sinus
with Sirenum F. Thaumasia bright. Tharsis & Arcadia bright. Bright SPC
with slight collar. Bright, thin F limb haze. In blue filter, F limb haze
thin in S, broadening in middle then expanding to cloudy area over much of
Tharsis and Arcadia near N limb.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Tuesday, 09th of August 2005
Mars, Aug.9, 2005 UD
CM 22.1 degrees, De -16.0 degrees, Ls 265.3 degrees
Phase defect .846, Size 11.9"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 400x with W23A red filter.
Hot, hazy, humid, no breeze, occasional small passing cloud, lots of heat
lightning. Meridiani on terminator, Margaritifer, Aurorae and Erythraeum
prominent. Argyre somewhat bright S of Erythraeum, Sinai brighter on F limb
and Chryse very bright. Acidalia faint on N limb with Niliacus a bit darker
to S with slight separation between Acidalia & Niliacus. SPC small, roundish
and brilliant. Thin, bright morning limb haze a bit wider in middle with
slightly darker cloud or limb haze on N limb noted in W38A blue filter.
Tiny bright spot F SPC on SF limb noted only in W58 green filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Sunday, 14th of August 2005
Mars, Aug.14, 2005 UD
CM 334.8 degrees, De -15.2 degrees, Ls 268.5 degrees
Phase defect .850, Size 12.4"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 400x with W23A red filter.
Hot, clear, humid, no breeze, lots of dew & heat lightning. Iapygia at
terminator. Sabaeus & Meridiani darkest, most prominent features. Deucalionis
dull & dusky. Serpentis dark, Hellespontus less dark. Margaritifer & Oxus
at F limb. F portion of Hellas bright at terminator. Noachis near F limb,
Edom & Moab bright. Dusky area at N limb. Only SPC bright in W58 green
filter. Morning limb haze bright in W38A blue filter, otherwise clear. Dusky
area at N limb not bright in blue filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Thursday, 18th of August 2005
Mars, Aug.18, 2005 UD
CM 300.7 degrees, De -14.5 degrees, Ls 271.0 degrees
Phase defect .853, Size 12.7"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 400x with W23A red filter.
Hot, mostly clear, very humid, no breeze, lots of dew, almost full Moon.
Syrtis Major, Iapygia, Sabaeus are dominant dark regions. Syrtis Minor,
Serpentis & Meridiani (on F limb) also dark. Hellespontus & Mare Australe
less dark. Deucalionis dull & dusky. Protonilus (?) very faint at terminator
at N limb. Hellas, Libya, Moab & Arabia bright. Bright morning limb haze
wider at middle & NF plus bright area over Hellas noted in W38A blue filter.
Tiny bright spot immediately P SPC noted in W58 green filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Sunday, 21st of August 2005
Mars, Aug.21, 2005 UD
CM 273.4 degrees, De -14.1 degrees, Ls 272.9 degrees
Phase defect .856, Size 13"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 400x with W23A red filter.
Hot, mostly clear, very humid, no breeze, lots of dew, Moon 2 days past
full. Syrtis Major dominant, central dark region. Syrtis Minor & Tyrrhenum
P Syrtis Major w/ Hesperia & W edge of Cimmerium on terminator. Sabaeus &
Serpentis very dark F Syrtis Major. Mare Australe slightly separated from
tiny SPC. Libya, Elysium, Hellas, Moab & Arabia very bright. Ausonia &
Deucalionis dusky. S tip of Utopia or Protonilus at terminator in N, also
very faint dusky spot suspected NF S tip of Syrtis Major. Bright morning
limb haze duller at N limb seen in W38A blue filter. Tiny bright spot
immediately P SPC noted in W58 green filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Wednesday, 31st of August 2005
Mars, Aug.31, 2005 UD
CM175.2 degrees, De -12.6 degrees, Ls 279.1 degrees
Phase defect .869, Size 14"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 462x with W23A red filter.
Hot, very humid, clear, no breeze, no Moon. Miniscule SPC less brilliant
than recent observations. Sirenum & Cimmerium darkest, most prominent albedo
features. Hesperia & P edge of Tyrrhenum at F limb. Phaethontis dusky,
Eridania brighter. Memnonia & Elysium brightest regions. Propontis barely
seen near N limb. NP Hood more easily seen in W80A blue than in W38A dark
blue filter. W38A filter showed very thin, evening limb haze and wider,
brighter morning limb haze. SPC brighter in W58 green filter than W38A filter.
Albedo features very difficult in W38A filter, but easy in W80A and W58.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Monday, 12th of September 2005
Mars, Sept. 12, 2005 UD
CM67.3 degrees, De -11.3 degrees, Ls 286.6 degrees
Phase defect .889, Size 15.4"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 311x & 400x with W23A red filter.
Temperature in mid 70's, very humid, clear, light breezes, no Moon. Solis
Lacus most prominent feature with Tithonius Lacus also dark. Aurorae &
Erythraeum prominent at P limb & Sirenum also dark at F limb. Aonius Sinus
prominent, but not as dark. Nilokeras at terminator in N. Two thin lines
radiating P & F from Solis Lacus seen only in steadiest moments. Argyre
bright, Thaumasia a bit dull, Tharsis brightest region. SPC tiny, but sharp
& still bright. N Polar Hood evident and thin, bright morning limb haze
seen, especially in W38A & W80A blue filters. A tiny bright spot, possibly
at Ascraeus Mons, suspected in W38A filter. Only SPC bright in W58 green
filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Thursday, 15th of September 2005
Mars, Sept. 15, 2005 UD
CM31.3 degrees, De -11.0 degrees, Ls 288.4 degrees
Phase defect .895, Size 15.8"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 311x with W23A red filter.
Temperature in low 70's, a bit humid, clear, light to moderate breezes,
no Moon. Meridiani near terminator, Solis Lacus at F limb. Margaritifer,
Aurorae & Erythraeum dark. SPC small & bright. Chryse brightest region.
Argyre not as bright as Chryse. Acidalia/Niliacus Lacus protruding from
beneath prominent NP Hood. NP Hood noticeable in W23A red filter and bright
as morning limb haze in W38A blue filter. NP Hood had a light blue tint in
integrated light. Only SPC bright in W58 green filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Monday, 19th of September 2005
Mars, Sept. 19, 2005 UD
CM350.4 degrees, De -10.8 degrees, Ls 290.8 degrees
Phase defect .903, Size 16.3"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 311x with W23A red filter.
Warm, humid, mostly clear, light breezes, Moon 1 day after full. Meridiani
darkest feature in center. Sabaeus & Serpentis dark & prominent in E,
Margaritifer & Erythraeum in W. Oxus easy when seeing steadiest, but
Hellespontus faint. Niliacus noted at NF limb. Hellas bright at P limb,
Chryse & Moab bright, Deucalionis dusky. NP Hood had a light blue tint in
integrated light. N Polar Hood bright in W38A blue filter along with morning
limb haze; evening limb haze fainter and very narrow. Only SPC bright in W58
green filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Sunday, 25th of September 2005
Mars, Sept. 25, 2005 UD
CM 304.6 degrees, De -10.6 degrees, Ls 294.5 degrees
Phase defect .917, Size 17.1"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 311x with W23A red filter.
Mostly clear with some interruptions from fast moving cumulus. Hot, humid, a
little hazy, no breeze, 3Q Moon. Syrtis Minor at terminator. Syrtis Major,
Sabaeus, Serpentis & Meridiani darkest, most prominent features. Iapygia dark,
Hellespontus weak. Libya bright, N part of Hellas very bright but S part dusky.
Moab & Aeria brightest regions. Thin, faint line on S border of NP Hood. In
W38A blue filter, NP Hood as bright as morning limb haze. Did not see evening
limb haze. Hazy &/or cloudy area noted over S Hellas and area F. In W58 green
filter, SPC brilliant and a tiny, very bright spot seen through NP Hood on edge
of N limb.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Tuesday, 08th of November 2005
Mars, November 8, 2005 UD
CM 192.7 degrees, De -15.5 degrees, Ls 320.3 degrees
Phase defect 1.0, Size 19.9"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 224x & 311x with W23A red filter.
Mostly clear, moderate humidity, warm, sporadic clouds & wind. Darkest
features Sirenum with Cimmerium & Tyrrhenum following. Chronium prominent in
S. SPC remnant barely suspected. Ausonia brighter than Eridania & Phaethontis.
Elysium, Amazonis & Memnonia very bright. Thin morning & evening limb hazes.
Bright but thin NP Hood. Hyblaeus & Propontis very faint.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Friday, 11th of November 2005
Mars, November 11, 2005 UD
CM 166.0 degrees, De -16.0 degrees, Ls 322.0 degrees
Phase defect .999, Size 19.7"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 224x & 311x with W23A red filter.
Partly cloudy with increasing cirrus, occasional light breeze from N,
falling temperatures gradually deteriorated seeing, Moon 1 day past 3rd Q.
SPC tiny & difficult; seen only in steadiest moments. Olympus Mons sometimes
seen as bright spot near NP limb also in steadiest moments. Sirenum &
Cimmerium darkest regions. Chronium prominent. Phaethontis dusky, Eridania
bright, Memnonia & Aeolis very bright. Solis Lacus on P limb obscured by
clouds &/or limb haze. Limb haze bright and all around disk in W38A blue
filter, but brightest over Solis Lacus.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Thursday, 17th of November 2005
Mars, November 17, 2005 UD
CM 102.9 degrees, De -17.0 degrees, Ls 325.4 degrees
Phase defect .994, Size 19.0"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 400x & 311x with W23A red filter.
Mostly clear, occasional passing cumulus, mid 70's, no wind, full Moon.
Sirenum darkest, Solis Lacus & Aurorae almost as dark. Chronium, Aonius,
Tithonius Lacus & Phoenicis Lacus prominent. Sokis Lacus had dusky smudge
extending N to Noctis Lacus. SPC remnant easier than on November 11th and
also seen in W58 green filter. Olympus Mons not seen, but small smudge seen
in that approximate location barely darker than background. Bright spot inside
NPH sometimes suspected in green filter, but highly uncertain. W38A blue
filter showed limb haze all around disk, but wider & brighter on evening limb.
NPH brighter than limb haze in blue filter and very slightly brighter area
seen N of Solis Lacus.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Thursday, 24th of November 2005
Mars, November 24, 2005 UT
CM 68.7 degrees, De -18.0 degrees, Ls 329.3 degrees
Phase defect .985, Size 18.1"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 224x with W23A red filter.
Clear, rapidly falling temperatures, moderate humidity, no wind. Earlier
attempts to observe blocked by poor seeing until about 04:30UT. Chryse very
bright in red filter. Aurorae, Solis Lacus & Erythraeum darkest. Tithonius
also dark. Nilokeras & S edge of Niliacus at edge of NPH. SPC not seen at
this magnification & seeing (~5/10). Sometimes a very thin bright streak seen
cutting into Eos at edge of Aurorae. Limb haze brighter & wider at evening
limb except for two bulges in morning limb haze seen in W38A blue filter.
Sometimes a tiny bright spot suspected at limb edge within NPH in W58 green
filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Saturday, 03rd of December 2005
Mars, December 3, 2005 UD
CM 334.1 degrees, De -18.8 degrees, Ls 334.2 degrees
Phase defect .968, Size 16.6"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 224x & 311x with W23A red filter.
Clear, rapidly falling temperatures, moderate humidity, no wind. Syrtis
Major, Sabaeus & Meridiani darkest features. Serpentis also dark &
Hellespontus visible. Deucalionis dusky. N part of Hellas very bright,
S part dusky. Aeria & N Hellas brightest regions. Did not see SPC in
integrated light or in any filter. Bright but thinner NPH. Bright limb
haze P Syrtis Major.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Sunday, 04th of December 2005
Mars, December 4, 2005 UD
CM 268.5 degrees, De -18.9 degrees, Ls 334.7 degrees
Phase defect .966, Size 16.4"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 224x & 311x with W23A red filter.
Clear, falling temperatures, increasing humidity, no wind, no Moon. Syrtis
Major, Tyrrhenum & Cimmerium darkest, most prominent features. Elysium,
Libya & N Hellas very bright. Hesperia not as bright. SPC sometimes seen
as tiny, light dot. Atmosphere clear in W38A blue filter. Thin morning
limb haze with bulge in N Hellas. Evening limb haze wider and brighter.
Bright, relatively thin NPH.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Saturday, 24th of December 2005
Mars, December 24, 2005 UD
CM 137.3 degrees, De -19.1 degrees, Ls 345.4 degrees
Phase defect .929, Size 13.2"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 165x, 224x & 311x with W23A red filter.
Partly cloudy with cirrus and some passing cumulus from SE. Light wind,
falling temperatures, no Moon. Solis Lacus & Aonius Sinus near P limb.
Sirenum most prominent albedo feature. Chronium barely visible. SPC not
seen. Only coarse detail readily seen, fine detail impossible. Very bright
P limb haze in red, blue & green filters. Thin, fairly bright haze on S
limb and similarly bright patch on SF limb seen in W38A blue filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Thursday, 05th of January 2006
Mars, January 5, 2006 UD
CM 41.4 degrees, De -18.3 degrees, Ls 351.6 degrees
Phase defect .912, Size 11.6"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 311x with W23A red filter.
Clear, cool, humid, no wind, Moon set. First decent seeing in almost 2
months. Mars ~55 degrees high in W. Chryse very bright, SPC not seen,
NPH thin but bright. Very bright haze in center of P limb. Niliacus
Lacus & Acidalia prominent in N. Meridiani at P limb & Solis Lacus at
F limb. Margaritifer, Aurorae & Erythraeum darkest, most prominent features.
Atmosphere clear in W38A blue filter with evening limb haze diminishing
in brightness toward S limb. NPH brighter in W58 green filter than
in blue filter.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
Tuesday, 17th of January 2006
Mars, January 17, 2006 UD
CM 269.1 degrees, De -17.0 degrees, Ls 357.7 degrees
Phase defect .901, Size 10.2"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 400x with W23A red filter.
Mostly clear with some cirrus, cool, humid, no wind, Moon low in E. Best
seeing since August. Mars ~60 degrees high in W. Syrtis Major, Syrtis
Minor, Tyrrhenum & Cimmerium all dark & prominent. Hesperia a relatively
bright cut between Tyrrhenum & Cimmerium. N part of Hellas brighter than
S part. SPC or SPH not seen. NPH bright & thin along N limb. Very bright
cloud or bulging limb haze center of P limb. Atmosphere clear in W38A blue
filter with bright evening limb haze. NPH brighter in W58 green filter.
Visual observation of coarse detail still easy in good seeing, but Mars'
diminutive size makes visual observation of fine detail almost impossible
in my 11" SCT.
Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL
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