Mars Images — MarsWatch 2005
Tuesday, 15th of November 2005
Mars Image from Nov. 15 2005
Camera Meade DSI Pro
Telescope: The 16: F/ 4.5 Newt was stropped down to 6"
and was working at f/24 using a 2X barlow. The near
full moon very near Mars caused problems with
reflecting off the secondary. I took a page from
Gerald North's Book "Observing the Moon" and used an
off-set 6" mask thus eliminating the secondary. The
result was quiet good compared to some full aperture
images. Their seems to be dust activity all around
Solis Lacus extending to Mare Erythraeum. This area
appears brick red on my image. South polar haze is
also evident as well as some limb haze. Solis Lacus
is quiet dark.
Seeing: Seeing was poor to fair at times.
James Hannon
Thomaston Conn.
Wednesday, 16th of November 2005
MARS IMAGES, NOVEMBER 16th, 2005.
D. A. Peach. Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, UK.
14" (35cm) Celestron SCT @ f/40.
ATK-1HS camera.
Seeing poor (Pickering 2-4.)
Transparency very good (5.5mag) scatt high clouds.
Wind NNW (~5mph.) Heavy dew. -1deg C.
Alt= 55 degs.
After two nights of horrendously poor seeing, last night it improved enough
to actually do something!. I was to test a new camera but things didnt work
out, and my old Lumenera had a problem also, so i had to revert back to the
ATK (after spending most of the night trying to sort out camera problems!.)
Poor seeing this session, but the NPH is brilliant, and Aurorae sinus is
dark again.
MARS DRAWING: November 16, 2005, 0030 - 0045 UT, CM 78.8 - 82.5
J.D.Beish, Lake Placid, FL 16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, 335 - 500x
Seeing = 7 - 9. Transparency 6, Altitude 40 deg. T=23.3 C
BC = 2 (noticable BC)
NOTES: In near perfect seeing too many surface details to draw. Solis Lacus
larger than I remember it in years. SPC tiny but visible when seeing settles.
Haze on mornign side of SPR, MC, MH NPHood, and EH on north limb. Nix Olympica
visible with cloud. All in all great observing night -- bugs bad!
Thursday, 17th of November 2005
I made an observation of Mars on November 17, 2005 (05:00 and 05:45 U.T.)
under average to good seeing conditions (5-7/10). Much detail was noted
over the southern hemisphere from Solis Lacus to Mare Cimmerium. A bright
(7/10) streak was noted along the length of Mars Sirenum (cloud vs. dust?).
I welcome any comments that you may have on my observation.
Date (U.T.) November 17, 2005
Time (U.T.): 05:00 (left image) and 05:45 (right image)
CM: 135.8 (left image) and 146.8 (right image)
Ls: 325.4 (Mid-Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De: -17.0, Ds: -13.8, p: 0.99, 19.02"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 347x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
S (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 4
Notes:
05:00 U.T. (Left image, CM 135.8, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was
brilliant and very small (more readily noticeable during moments of steady
seeing). 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. Ambrosia
(5/10) and Bathys (5/10) were noted to project from the southern border of
Solis Lacus. Geryon (5/10) and Calydon (5/10) were noted to project from
its northern border. Aonius Sinus appeared dusky (4/10) with Phasis (5/10)
projecting from it's northern border. Daedalia, Phaethontis, and Electris
appeared bright (7/10). Mare Sirenum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and
mottled following the CM (Caralis Fons (4/10) was noted along its following-
southern border). A bright (7/10) streak was noted within Mare Sirenum along
its east-west length (possibly a cloud or dust?). Araxes was noted as a dull
(5/10), diffuse projection over the preceding end of Mare Sirenum. Mare
Cimmerium was diffusely visible within the extremely bright (9/10) morning
limb haze (MLH). Memnonia and Zephyria appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10)
north of Mare Sirenum. Tharsis and Amazonis appeared bright (7/10). Tempe
and Arcadia appeared dull to shaded (5-6/10). Olympus Mons appeared as a
bright (7/10) circular albedo feature over Tharsis preceding the CM. An
extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH) and North Polar Haze (NPH)
were noted as well.
05:45 U.T. (Right image, CM 146.8, W38A): Solis Lacus, Mare Sirenum and
Mare Cimmerium appeared dull (5/10). A very bright to extremely bright
(8-9/10) cloud was noted to project from the preceding limb over Tharsis.
Bright to very bright (7-8/10) clouds were noted over Memnonia and Zephyria.
Extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (LH), morning limb haze (MLH), and
North Polar Haze (NPH) were noted as well. A very bright (8/10) projection
(cloud) from the NPH was noted over Tempe-Arcadia.
Carlos E. Hernandez
RS IMAGES, NOVEMBER 17th, 2005.
D. A. Peach. Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, UK.
14" (35cm) Celestron SCT @ f/40.
Lumenera LU075M CCD camera.
Seeing good (Pickering 6-8.)
Transparency excellent (5.5mag.)
Wind NNW (0-5mph.) Heavy dew.
Alt= 52-54 degs.
Here are some belated Mars images from back on Nov 17th. Good seeing. The
Chryse hemisphere was nicely placed for this session. Some nice evening
mists across Solis Lacus. Also a weak mist over Argyre.
Date (UT): 19 November 2005 Time (UT): 20:10h
CM: 340° H: 49° Dec: 15°19'37"
De: -18° Ls: 327° φ: 18.6"
Telescope Schmidt-Cassegrain 280 (f/25)
Seeing: (0-10 scale) 6 Trans.: (0-6) 3 Moon !
(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 NPH can be seen very well
-The SPC appears faded
-HELLAS is normally and slightly bright
MARS DRAWING: J.D. Beish, Lake Placid, FL (27N21', 081W19')
16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, Mag: 335 - 500 x
November 17, 2005, 0100 - 0120 UT, CM 77 - 82, Ls = 325.4, Ds = -17.0
Seeing: 7 - 8. Trans: 6, Alt: 47 deg. OAT: 24 C
NOTES: BC = 2. SPR hazy. NP hood bright, MH and EH.
MARS DRAWING: J.D. Beish, Lake Placid, FL (27N21', 081W19')
16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, Mag: 335 - 500 x
November 17, 2005, 0130 - 0145 UT, CM 84.6 - 88.3, Ls = 325.4, Ds = -17.0
Seeing: 9 - 10. Trans: 6, Alt: 53 deg. OAT: 23.4 C
NOTES: BC = 2. SPR hazy. NP hood bright, MH and EH. Nic Olympica dull,
but seen.
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
Here's Mars taken 11/17/05 at 6:12 UT from Corte Madera, CA.
Camera: Unibrain Fire-i monochrome board camera
Filters: red 23A, green 58, blue 38A in Apogee color wheel, IR blocking filter
Telescope: Meade 12.5" f/4.5 Starfinder Newtonian hot-rodded with Dob-Driver II
tracking, JMI 2" motorized focuser, 3x barlow for effective f/12.
Very good seeing and transparency.
Images captured with Astro IIDC.
I used the best of a thousand images in each color, aligned and stacked in
Lynkeos, and processed in Kieth's Image Stacker and Photoshop all on a mac.
More pics at http://homepage.mac.com/stevepur/firei_astrophotos.htm
Steve Bryson
http://homepage.mac.com/stevepur
Friday, 18th of November 2005
Saturday, 19th of November 2005
MARS IMAGES, NOVEMBER 19th, 2005.
D. A. Peach. Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, UK.
14" (35cm) Celestron SCT @ f/40.
Lumenera LU075M CCD camera.
Seeing good-very good (Pickering 7-8.)
Transparency good (4,5mag) mist/occ high clouds.
Wind NNW (0-5mph.) Heavy dew.
Alt= 49-55 degs.
Here are some belated images from November 19th. Some very good seeing at
times. An extensive morning mist extends across Chryse, Aurorae Sinus. The
anomalous dark feature reported by Don Parker can also be clearly seen. Some
interesting faint spots extending from Oxia Palus/Meridiani into Eden. Also
some interesting details across Hellespontus up toward Mare Australe.
Date (UT): 17 November 2005 Time (UT): 21:27h
CM: 17° H: 56° Dec: 15°23'51"
De: -17° Ls: 326° φ: 18.9"
Telescope Schmidt-Cassegrain 280 (f/25)
Seeing: (0-10 scale) 4 - 5 Trans.: (0-6) 2 – 3 Moon !
(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 Martian atmosphere is less transparent than usual !
-No details can be seen on the SPC
-High contrast in HELLAS ! (White clouds) (1)
-Bright cloud near SYRIA (appears faded !) (2)
-The NPH is bright
An image from 2005/11/19 at 23:39 UTC taken in fair seeing conditions,
just before upcoming clouds. I had to work very quick to get the blue
light image. The NPH appears beautiful.
10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS @ f/65 IRGB)
Ralf Vandebergh
Sunday, 20th of November 2005
Mars Images Obtained Nov. 20 2005
16" Newt. working at F/18
Meade DSI Pro Camera
North Polar hood noted in each image, Solis Lacus very
dark as well as the Aurorae Sinus area. Some high
clouds degraded the green and blue channel in the
image centered on 01:35 UT. Otherwise seeing fair.
James Hannon
Thomaston, Conn.
Monday, 21st of November 2005
Attached is an observation from last night, 2005/11/21 23:07 UTC.
An other processing technique was used.
A nice blue morning-cloud is visible above Mare Erythraeum.
Seeing was fair in this session.
10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS @f/40 R(G)B)
Ralf Vandebergh
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