Mars Images — MarsWatch 2005
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.
Tuesday, 08th of November 2005
I made a pair of Mars observations on November 8, 2005 (00:50 and 01:15 U.T.)
under average to good seeing conditions (6-7/10). Much detail was noted over
the southern hemisphere from Solis Lacus to Mare Cimmerium. Olympus Mons
(orographic cloud) was noted as well. I welcome any comments that you may
have on my observations.
Date (U.T.) November 8, 2005
Time (U.T.): 00:50 (left image) and 01:15 (right image)
CM: 154.1 (left image) and 160.2 (right image)
Ls: 320.3 (Mid-Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De: -15.5, Ds: -15.5, p: 1.00, 19.88"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x, 298x, and 388x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
S (1-10): 6-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
00:50 U.T. (Left image, CM 154.1, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was
brilliant and small. Mare Austale was dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled.
Solis Lacus appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) over the south-preceding limb.
Aonius Sinus appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) with Phasis (5/10) projecting
from it's northern border. Daedalia, Phaethontis, Electris, and Eridania
appeared bright (7/10). Mare Sirenum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and
mottled on the CM (Caralis Fons (4/10) was noted along it's southern border).
Mare Cimmerium was dark to dusky (3-4/10) following Mare Sirenum. "Valhalla"
appeared as a dull (5/10) and diffuse band north of Mare Sirenum and Mare
Cimmerium. Memnonia and Zephyria appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10).
Tithonius Lacus was visible as a dark to dusky (3-4/10) wedge along the
preceding limb surrounded by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) cloud
projecting from the extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH). Tharsis
and Amazonis appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10). Tempe and Arcadia
appeared dull to shaded (5-6/10). Olympus Mons (orographic cloud) appeared
very bright (8/10) over Tharsis preceding the CM. Phlegra appeared dusky to
dull (4-5/10) towards the following limb (preceding Elysium). The southern
components of the Propontis Complex (Euxinus Lacus, Propontis I, and possibly
Castorius Lacus) were dusky to dull (4-5/10). Elysium appeared bright to
very bright (7-8/10) adjacent to an extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze
(MLH). An extremely bright (9/10) North Polar Haze (NPH) was noted as well.
01:15 U.T. (Right image, CM 160.2, W38A): A very bright to extremely bright
(8-9/10) cloud was noted to project from the preceding limb over Tharsis and
extending to Memnonia. Mare Sirenum and Mare Cimmerium appeared dull (5/10).
Olympus Mons (orographic cloud) was very bright (8/10) towards the
north-preceding limb over Tharsis. Bright to very bright (7-8/10) discrete
clouds were noted over Phaethontis, Electris, Memnonia, and Zephyria. Elysium
appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10) over the north-following limb.
Extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (LH), morning limb haze (MLH),
and North Polar Haze (NPH) were noted as well.
Carlos E. Hernandez
These pictures were taken in Augsburg Germany with a C11 using a 13mm
Plössl for projection and a toucam pro 740.
Seeing 4 (pickering)
Transparency: slightly hazy
Baader UV/IR filter
Juergen Riedmann
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
Mars Image:
Nov 8, 2005 01:11 UT
CM 159
16" f/4.5 newt. (2) 2X barlows stacked
Conditions: Poor with some clouds.
Camera: Meade DSI Pro
Stack of 210 images in RGB
Note: Image appears "soft" compared to image set
taken on Nov. 6, 2005 near the same CM. Bad seeing
conditions or dust?
James Hannon
Thomaston, CT
I took picture of a blue clearing that had happened yesterday to confirm it.
This day was seen especially carefully in the monitor though seeing was bad.
The pattern of surface were able to be confirmed even to the image of B of
450nm or less where the pattern of the ground did not reflect at all even
if the image was processed while taking picture clearly. November 7 was a
day of the opposition in Mars. There is an opinion that the effect of the
passage works in the one about the factor of a blue clearing though there
seem to be various ideas. In that case, a bright region is an idea that
reflectivity seems for a dark pattern to come to the surface greatly, and
relatively in the effect of the high straightening passage than a dark
region though the effect of the passage works at an area all visible optical
and the entire Mars side lightens in Mars before and behind the passage.
Large Shiltis etc. were able to confirm Sabaeus and Meridiani, etc. directly
even without processing the image this time though the effect seemed to be
large thickly be going against. However, it felt relieved in the image
November 3 though it was thought it was uneasy because the symptom did not
exist in the place where a blue clearing might not occur also in the passage
because it happened on that day of the passage. It was called Hairiganshain
of the Saturn, and I felt the importance of the planet observation in the
vicinity of the opposition.
When did a blue clearing start, and the image in the longitude in the same
vicinity of this term was arranged. It is thought that this blue clearing
happens in the passage after November 4 until November 7 when this is seen.
Geographical features are not reflected though the cloud is reflected in
some places in B image September 1 and October 1. The cloud is not found,
and a Mars side of a plain impression in B image November 3 besides an ultra
cloud. I appended it below referring to R image of the day the same as what
one the geographical features of the same phase was was understood. The peak
seems to be in the vicinity of 390nm though the penetration chart of this
filter was put up. The contrast is attached to the pattern of surface on
September 1 when the phase angle with the earth is large when this R image
is seen, and it is understood that can be hung on becoming small of the
approaching phase angle to the passage and the contrast has decreased.
An image from 2005/11/08 at 00:26 UTC. 10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS @/f/36 RsGB)
Seeing: poor-fair.Transp: fair-good.
Notes: Arsia orographic cloud moderate bright in blue light. Olympus Mons
very bright, bright in blue light too. NPH moderate bright in blue light.
Further a bright morning limb cloud, also obvious in the color result. In
blue light, this cloud looks as bright as the NPH.
Ralf Vandebergh
An image from 2005/11/08 at 22:49 UTC, taken in very hard imaging conditions
due to strong wind which destroyed most of the captures. Seeing: poor,
transparance: very good.
Notes: Some detail, maybe a bright core visible within Olympus Mons, the
HC blue light image shows the Tharsis orographic clouds, especially above
Arsia, as bright. NPH is bright but small.
10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS @ f/30 IRGB- blue light high contrast.
Ralf Vandebergh
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