Mars Images — MarsWatch 2005
Tuesday, 01st of November 2005
MARS DRAWING: 1 November 01, 2005, 0700 - 0800 UT, CM 316 - 321
J.D.Beish, Lake Placid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 500-1005x
Seeing = 8 - 9. Transparency 6, Altitude 69 deg. T=22.5 C
BC = 2+
NOTES: Dust storm raging. Dusty haze over Hellas, Hellespontus, Noachis, Deuteronilus, Sabaeus Sinus, bright dust clouds over much of he morning limb from Meridiani Sinus to Margaritifer Sinus, south and north into Chryse. Nice dust storm, reminds me of the 1990 October or November dust storm that never made it to the big time. Knee hurst, to the hot tub and bed!
Sketch of Mars, November 01 2005 / 22.00 UT
Meade ETX 105 Mak with Vixen Zoom 24-8 @ x180
With orange filter
Seeing 2.5 / 5 — Trans. 3.5 / 5
Rony De Laet, Bekkevoort, Belgium (Sea Level)
http://www.geocities.com/rodelaet
Note the magenta color of the northern edge of Mare Sirenum/Mare Cimmerium.
Elysium looks as yellow as Olympus Mons, which is just at the terminator.
There might be a sign of the dust still around Solis Lacus, just visible at
the terminator.
(10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS IRGB f/35)
Ralf Vandebergh
Wednesday, 02nd of November 2005
I made a pair of Mars observations on November 3, 2005 (04:45 and 05:45 U.T).
The following (morning) limb appears to contain dust (a dull beige color
noted) as well as portions of the southern hemisphere (especially over
Eridania-Ausonia). Hesperia may have contained some dust as well. I welcome
any comments on my observations.
Date (U.T.): November 3, 2005
Time (U.T.): 04:45 (left image) and 05:45 (right image)
CM: 255.4 (left image) and 270.0 (right image)
Ls: 317.6 (Mid-Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -14.6, Ds -16.4, p 0.99, 20.11"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 388x
Filters (Wratten): 30 (magenta) and 38A (blue)
Seeing (1-10): 5-6 (moments of 7), Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
04:45 U.T. (Left image, CM 255.4, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) appeared
small and brilliant (10/10). Mare Australe appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and
mottled. Mare Chronium appeared dusky (4/10) preceding the CM. Mare Hadriacum
and Tiphys Fretum appeared as a dark to dusky (3-4/10), curvilinear albedo
feature following the CM. Electris, Eridania, and Ausonia appeared bright
(7/10) with a pale yellow-mustard color noted over these regions (dust?).
Hellas appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with a very bright (8/10) northwest
sector (water vapor versus dust?). Mare Cimmerium and Tritonis Sinus (sharp
projection over the following end of Mare Cimmerium) appeared dark to dusky
(3-4/10) preceding the CM. Hesperia appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with
dull (5/10) streaks across it (including Cerberus III). Hesperia appeared a
pale yellow-mustard color as well (dust?). Mare Tyrrhenum and Syrtis Minor
appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled following the CM. Iapygia Viridis
appeared dusky to dark (3-4/10) and mottled. Syrtis Major appeared dark to
dusky (3-4/10) over it's preceding half (Moeris Lacus appeared dusky to dull
(4-5/10) along it's preceding border). Aeolis, Aethiopis, and Aetheria appeared
bright (7/10) without any other detail visible. Nodus Alcyonius appeared a
dusky (4/10), elliptical albedo feature towards the north-following limb.
Utopia appeared as a dark to dusky (3-4/10) wedge adjacent to an extremely
bright (9/10) cloud over the Nf limb. The Hyblaeus Extension appeared as a
dusky to dull (4-5/10) area preceding the CM. Extremely bright (9/10) evening
limb haze (ELH) and morning limb haze (MLH) were visible.
05:45 U.T. (Right image, CM 270.0, W38A): Mare Cimmerium, Mare Tyrrhenum, Mare
Hadriacum, Iapygia Viridis, and Syrtis Major appeared dull (5/10). Eridania
and Ausonia appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10). Hellas appeared bright to
very bright (7-8/10, brightest over the northwest sector). Libya appeared to
contain a very bright (8/10) cloud over it. Extremely bright (9/10) evening
limb haze (ELH) and morning limb haze (MLH) were visible as well.
Carlos E. Hernandez
Date (UT): 2 November 2005 Time (UT): 02:09h
CM: 226° H: 46° Dec: 16deg;07'01"
De: -15° Ls: 317° φ: 20.1"
Telescope Schmidt-Cassegrain 280 (f/25)
Seeing: (0-10 scale) 6-7 Trans.: (0-6) 5
(10 = excellent)
Magnification: 330x / 350x
Filters: Schott: OG 550 orange
Wratten: W 64 blue/green
W 80a blue
W 85 salmon
Observer Station: Observer:
7° 18' (E) / 48° 01' (N) Teichert Gérard
Hattstatt (France)
Observing notes:
-No details can be seen on the SPC
-HELLAS appears very bright !!
-The NPH is clear
Mars in two images on November 2; poor conditions with even focusing
difficult. There does not appear to be substantial dust in Hellas at
this time...however Hellas does appear to be inordinately dark/dusky
from normal.
Dr. P. Clay Sherrod
Arkansas Sky Observatories
Ramiro Hernández Banda , Saltillo, México.
8" SC Celestron telescope, QuickCam + eyepiece projection UV/IR cut off filter.
Diameter: 20.2" , -2.3mag, Phase:0.998, UT=4:40, CM Central Meridian=263 deg.
I use a 12.5-inch x f/6 Newtonian with eyepiece projection to F/60 (750
inches EFL) and a ToUCam Pro 840, processing with Registax3 (1198 frames)
0441 UT
CM=250
Wycliffe Hoffler
Titusville, FL
Thursday, 03rd of November 2005
MARS IMAGES, NOVEMBER 3rd, 2005.
D. A. Peach. Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, UK.
14" (35cm) Celestron SCT @ f/40.
Lumenera LU075M CCD camera.
Seeing poor-fair (Pickering 3-5.)
Transparency very good (5.5mag.) occ high clouds.]
Wind SW (5-10mph.) Moderate dew.
Alt= 54-55 degs.
Here are some images from Nov 3rd. Poor-fair seeing after many days of
poor weather and rain.
Some interesting detail present on this hemisphere. Notably Olympus Mons
is shining brightly in Red (easy to see visually). Also fairly bright in
Blue. Some interesting redish spots across Electris/Phaethontis. Some
redish streaks across Mare Chronium also.
The Arsia Mons cloud is very weak in blue. The SPC remnant can just be
seen in Red.
Note the "Hot Spot" in Aeria, this being seen visually as well...comments
welcome. This was a very intense illumination that actually created much
difficulty in obtaining a reasonably-balanced image (very poor seeing);
however we watched this for about a 3-hour period.
Dr. P. Clay Sherrod
Arkansas Sky Observatories
Ramiro Hernández Banda , Saltillo, México.
8" SC Celestron telescope, QuickCam + eyepiece projection UV/IR cut off filter.
Diameter: 20.2" , -2.3mag, Phase:0.998, UT=4:40, CM Central Meridian=257 deg.
Friday, 04th of November 2005
MARS DRAWING: November 04, 2005, 0100 - 0150 UT, CM 192 - 204
J.D.Beish, Lake Placid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 335 - 500x
Seeing = 6 - 7. Transparency 6, Altitude 35 deg. T=27 C
BC=1
NOTES: No dust clouds, some dusty haze in south. EC, MH bright, in red,
green and blue light. NPH still retarded, duller than usual.
Observer : Mick Hyde
Instrument : Celestron 9.25 SCT, 2xBarlow
Camera : Philips ToUCam Pro II CCD Webcam
Location : Swindon, Wiltshire, UK
Date (UT) : November 4, 2005
Time (UT) : 00:34
Observer : Mick Hyde
Instrument : Celestron 9.25 SCT, 2xBarlow
Camera : Philips ToUCam Pro II CCD Webcam
Location : Swindon, Wiltshire, UK
Date (UT) : November 4, 2005
Time (UT) : 00:31
Saturday, 05th of November 2005
The night of Nov 05, allowed a session in fair seeing finally after more
than 3 weeks poor-very poor seeing without even any sharp moment. Seeing
was still not good,but acceptable last night. Olympus Mons is both in red
and blue light a bright dot, easily seen during live capturing on the screen.
There is a very small sign of an SPC visible from this side of the planet.
10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS f/35 IRGB)
Ralf Vandebergh
This image taken on November 5, shows Olympus Mons as a bulge at the
terminator limb. Actually just in front of a very thin shadow-line,
the last terminator-remnant before opposition. This is well seen in
the negative image.
01:00 UTC, IR670-1000nm 10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS)
Ralf Vandebergh
Sunday, 06th of November 2005
MARS IMAGES, NOVEMBER 6th, 2005.
D. A. Peach. Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, UK.
14" (35cm) Celestron SCT @ f/40.
Lumenera LU075M CCD camera.
Seeing fair (Pickering 4-7.)
Transparency very good (5.5mag.) occ high clouds.
Wind SW (5-10mph.) Heavy dew.
Alt= 54-55 degs.
Tharsis and Solis Lacus are presented. Olympus Mons is shining brightly in
all filters. In the red images it clearly shows a small off-centre bright
spot, surrounded by a larger slightly less bright area. Ascraeus Mons is
also bright in all filters. Pavonis and Arsia are "lost" in the bright area
that seems to cover this part of Tharsis. In Blue this area looks like the
Arsia cloud is bright, but with some extensive mistiness across most of
Tharsis. Also a faint morning cloud off toward Trivium Charontis on the limb.
Date (UT): 6 November 2005 Time (UT): 21:42h
CM: 117° H: 52° Dec: 15°53'27"
De: -16° Ls: 320° φ: 19.9"
Telescope Schmidt-Cassegrain 280 (f/25)
Seeing: (0-10 scale) 6 Trans.: (0-6) 5
(10 = excellent)
Magnification: 330x / 350x
Filters: Schott: OG 550 orange
Wratten: W 64 blue/green
W 80a blue
W 85 salmon
Zeiss: VG 6 green
Observer Station: Observer:
7° 18' (E) / 48° 01' (N) Teichert Gérard
Hattstatt (France)
Observing notes:
-The SPC could not be seen
-ELECTRIS is whitish (1) (Filter VG 6 )
-NIX OLYMPUS (Olympus Mons !) appears very to extremely brighr (2)
(Filter VG 6 green )
Observer : Mick Hyde
Instrument : Celestron 9.25 SCT, 2xBarlow
Camera : Philips ToUCam Pro II CCD Webcam
Location : Swindon, Wiltshire, UK
Date (UT) : November 6, 2005
Time (UT) : 23:02
Mars, Marte
Ramiro Hern´dez Banda , Saltillo, México.
8" SC Celestron telescope, QuickCam + eyepiece projection UV/IR cut off filter.
Diameter: 19.9", Phase:0.99, left image UT=4:24, Central Meridian=89 deg
Monday, 07th of November 2005
I made a pair of Mars observations on November 7, 2005 (02:15 and 02:50 U.T.)
under average seeing conditions (5/10, the atmosphere did steady for brief
moments to 6-7/10). Electris and Eridania appeared bright and both exhibiting
a mildly yellow-mustard color (dust?). "Valhalla" was diffusely visible
following the CM. I welcome any comments on my observations.
Date (U.T.): November 7, 2005
Time (U.T.): 02:15 (left image) and 02:50 (right image)
CM: 183.7 (left image) and 192.2 (right image)
Ls: 319.8 (Mid-Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De: -15.3, Ds: -15.7, p 1.00, 19.94"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 388x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5, Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 4
Notes:
02:15 U.T. Left image, CM 183.7, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) appeared
over the southern limb as a thin, brilliant (10/10) oval (not as readily
visible from this longitude). Mare Australe and Mare Chronium appeared dark
to dull (3-5/10) and mottled. Phaethontis appeared bright (7/10). Electris
and Eridania wee also bright (7/10) but appeared to be mildly yellow-mustard
tinged (dust?). Mare Sirenum appeared dark (3/10) and mottled. Mare Cimmerium
appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled as well. "Valhalla" appeared as a
diffuse, dull (5/10) band north of Mare Cimmerium. Zephyria and Aeolis appeared
bright to very bright (7-8/10) north of Mare Cimmerium as well (water vapor
cloud vs. dust). Memnonia, Zephyria, Aeolis, Aethiopis, and Aetheria appeared
bright (7/10). Elysium appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) preceding the CM.
Phlegra appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10). The Hyblaeus Extension appeared dark
to dull (3-5/10) and mottled following Elysium. Utopia appeared dusky to dull
(4-5/10) following the CM. An extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH)
and morning limb haze (MLH) were noted. An extremely bright (9/10) North Polar
Limb (or Hood?) was noted as well.
02:50U.T. (Right image, CM 192.2, W38A): Mare Sirenum and Mare Cimmerium were
dull (5/10) preceding and following the CM, respectively. Bright to very bright
(7-8/10) clouds were noted over Phaethontis, Electris, Eridania, Zephyria, and
Aeolis. Extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH), morning limb haze
(MLH), North polar limb, and South polar limb were noted.
Carlos E. Hernandez
Date (UT): 7 November 2005 Time (UT): 21:13h
CM: 102° H: 50° Dec: 15°50'38"
De: -16° Ls: 320° φ: 19.9"
Telescope Schmidt-Cassegrain 280 (f/25)
Seeing: (0-10 scale) 6 Trans.: (0-6) 5
(10 = excellent)
Magnification: 330x / 350x
Filters: Schott: OG 550 orange
Wratten: W 64 blue/green
W 80a blue
W 85 salmon
Zeiss: VG 6 green
Observer Station: Observer:
7° 18' (E) / 48° 01' (N) Teichert Gérard
Hattstatt (France)
Observing notes:
-ELECTRIS is whitish on the western side (1)
-OLYMPUS MONS is very bright (2) (Filter VG 6 green)
-The NPH was weak on the day
MARS DRAWING: November 07, 2005, 0100 -0130 UT, CM 165 - 178
J.D.Beish, Lake Placid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 335 - 500x
Seeing=7-8. Transparency 6, Altitude 38 deg. T=21°C BC=1
NOTES: Uncomfortable observing position so drawing not good. SPC just
visible and clear. NPH bright in blue light. MH and MC in Hesperia. Small
EC over western Solis Lacus. Orographic cloud at Nix Olympica. No shadow
in caldera or on evening slope, no way, no how. Opposition, Mars bright in
16" telescope and had to lean over too far to make good drawing!
Attached is an RGB composite of our HST WFPC2 images of Mars from November 7;
a JPEG and an annotated JPEG that provides some more information on features
of interest.
The images that went into the composite were obtained through the F410M, F502N,
and F631N filters from 04:27 to 04:33 UT on 2005-11-07, within about four hours
of the lowest phase (difference between Sun-Mars angle and Earth-Mars angle)
that Mars has had during the lifetime of HST (around 0.31 degrees--effectively
zero because that's about the same angle that the Sun subtends from Mars).
This is the most "Full Mars" anyone can ever see from Earth, and we're still
trying to figure out if we saw the so-called "opposition effect" brightening in
these images. It's hard to tell because HST only observed Mars twice this
opposition, on Oct. 28 (phase angle around 9 degrees), and Nov. 7, and opposite
sides of the planet were viewed. We have to compare these images to ones from
the past decade of HST Mars images to figure it out... In our spare time...
The "divot" taken out of the right side of the planet near the equator is real,
and might be related to the high volcano Arsia Mons being almost exactly on the
limb and for whatever reason (weather, probably) having fewer clouds than the
surrounding plains at this particular time. Interesting geometric/meteorologic
effect. The smallest features resolvable in the image (small craters and wind
streaks) are about 35 km across.
It was thought a blue clearing, and took picture instead of the B2 filter
of 450nm or less because the pattern was clearly seen usually when the
B1(370–530nm) image in the monitor was seen when taking picture. When
the image after it processes it is seen, the pattern of surface of the earth
hardly reflects usually in B2 of 450nm or less compared with B1, and both of
this day patterns are almost similarly reflected. It might be a blue clearing
of happening in the vicinity of the passage. It is the first time that the
pattern reflected like this this term by B of 450nm or less. At that time,
the pattern is not reflected though this vicinity is taken by B of 450nm or
less on November 03.
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