Mars Images — MarsWatch 2005
Sunday, 17th of July 2005
Monday, 18th of July 2005
I made an observation of Mars on July 18, 2005 (06:50 and 07:15 U.T.) using
my 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain under average (5-6/10) seeing
conditions. The planet presented an impressive amount of detail although only
subtending 10.4 arc-seconds. Most notable was the presence of significant cloud
(haze) activity over the Electris/Eridania/Ausonia region, especially under
blue (Wratten 38) light. I do not believe that dust activity was present over
these regions, but instead typical atmospheric phenomena (clouds and haze).
Date (U.T.): July 18, 2005
Time (U.T.): 06:50 (left image) and 07:15 (right image)
CM: 211.9 (left image) and 218.0 (right image)
Ls 252.0, De -20.0, p 0.84, 10.4"
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 388x
Filters: Wratten 30 (magenta) and 38 (blue)
Seeing (1-10): 5-6, Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 3 (haze present)
Notes:
Left image: An observation of Mars made at 06:50 U.T. under integrated light
(IL) and also using a magenta (Wratten 30) filter. The South Polar Cap (SPC)
appears brilliant (10/10) surrounded by a dark (3/10) collar comprised of
Mare Australe, Thyle I and II, and Mare Chronium. A very dark (2.5/10) albedo
feature was noted at the approximate location of Ulyxis Fretum (190*W, -63*).
The regions of Electris, Eridania, and Ausonia appeared to be partially
obscured by a bright (7/10) haze (water-ice clouds/ low-lying fog?). Mare
Cimmerium appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) with it's southern border partially
obscured by the bright (7/10) haze. Mare Tyrrhenum and Syrtis Minor also
appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) following the CM. Elysium was visible over
the north-preceding (Np) limb and appeared to be obscured by a bright (7/10)
haze. Cerberus/Pambotis Lacus/Eunostos I (4-5/10) were visible along Elysium's
southern border. Zephyria, Aeolis, Aethiopis, and Aetheria appeared bright
(7/10) without any detail visible within. An extremely bright (9/10) evening
limb haze (ELH), North Polar haze (NPH), and morning limb haze (MLH) was
noted as well.
Right image: An observation of Mars made at 07:15 U.T. using a Wratten 38
(blue) filter. A wedge-shaped bright (7/10) was noted to extend between
Electris, Eridania, and Ausonia (water-ice clouds/surface fog?). A bright
cloud (7/10) was noted over Elysium. The evening limb haze (ELH), North Polar
haze (NPH), and morning limb haze (MLH) appeared extremely bright (9/10). The
South Polar Cap (SPC) region appeared extremely bright (9/10) as well.
Wednesday, 20th of July 2005
Thursday, 21st of July 2005
Friday, 22nd of July 2005
Saturday, 23rd of July 2005
Sunday, 24th of July 2005
Monday, 25th of July 2005
Tuesday, 26th of July 2005
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
Thursday, 28th of July 2005
Observer : Christian Woehler
Instrument : Orion TS 200/1200 mm Newton reflector
Camera : Philips ToUCam Pro CCD Webcam
Location : Heroldstatt, Germany
Date (UT) : July 28, 2005
Time (UT) : 03:05, 03:11
CM (degrees) : 59.9, 61.3
Focal length : 4200 mm
Scale : 0.19"/pixel (first and second row)
Filter : RG 610
Stacked images: 3600, 4800; best 10% selected, respectively
Seeing : 4/10
Remarks : -
Friday, 29th of July 2005
Seeing was in and out, but managed to complete an experiment.
I used my Canon Powershot A-85 digicam in AVI mode, and recorded six 30-second
videos of Mars this morning. The good part: it works! No exposure control on
this camera in movie mode, but its auto exposure was perfect. Even the color
looked good. no wires or laptops necessary! The bad part: in movie mode, the
camera groups (but not bins) pixels to make the 4 MP chip into a 640 X 480
"webcam".
I needed a 5X Powermate, 2X barlow AND a 20mm EP to match the effective FL as
the ToUcam with only a 5X Powermate. Still, even this long imaging train was
easier than tripping over wires and dragging a laptop out at 3:30 AM.
Sean Walker
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
An animated GIF of Mars from 2005/07/30 17:05 - 19:44 UT.
Robert Heffner
Nagoya, Japan
Sunday, 31st of July 2005
Back to MarsWatch Image index