Mars Images — MarsWatch 2005
Tuesday, 22nd of November 2005
An image taken in the night 22/23 November at 23:10 UTC. The current morning
limb cloud is very obviously visible, and its elongated in N-S direction. A
few other clouds can also be seen.
10 inch Newtonian & ATK1HS @f/40 R(G)B)
Ralf Vandebergh
Attached is a set observation from Nov. 22.Beside the very obvious morning
clouds, the image shows clearly cloud/haze activity over Moab, at best seen
in the color image. Note also the beautiful view through the NPH clouds on
the albedo structures(Mars Acidalium,Cydonia etc).
Still cloudy here, so I work on older images.
10" N & ATH-1HS@ f/65)
Ralf Vandebergh
November22, 2005 - There appears to be a brightening near the border of
Chryse Planitia and Acidalia Planitia (near the Viking 1 landing site).
Is this a possible beginning of a dust storm?
Wednesday, 23rd of November 2005
Mars 2005/11/23. It was hard work, this session due to a very cold foggy air,
but it provided some nice views of our red neighbor. I captured again at
f/65 and it was truly amazing to see the big in clouds wrapped disk of Mars
in the blue light on my screen, looked more then only an image. It was like
I was looking out of the window of a spacecraft on the way to Mars.....
10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS @f/65 R-IR(G)B
Ralf Vandebergh
The attached image is a last result from my Nov 23 session on Mars. There
are some interesting things:
-The long elongated shape of the bright morning cloud which reaches until
in Pyhrrae region.
-The yellow streak above the NPH edge, in height about just below the southern
edge of Niliacus Lacus. I already oftener imaged the deviated color of this
streak during the apparition. The blue image shows it dark and also we see
the space between the southern edge of the NPH and the streak. It seems also
its not parallel with the NPH edge. At last, it clearly crosses in front of
Niliacus Lacus as seen in both the IRGB color image and the blue image. Who
can tell me more about this streak?
-The chain(s) of small dark spots left from Oxia Palus is (especially well
visible in one of Damian's recent images in good seeing). Witness the Hubble
and spacecraft images, these are actually chains of small craters, looks like
they were 'dropped' or 'detached' from Sinus Sabeaus and Oxia Palus. The
image shows just the connection of this chain with the northern Sinus
Sabeaus edge.
10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS @ f/65 IR(G)B),
Ralf Vandebergh
November23,2005 - The long bright streak in the Chryse region is clearly a
new dust storm. Also, the albedo features Achilis Fons and Ideus Fons appear
washed out compared to the images taken last night. Is this dust storm related
to the small brightening noted in last nights images?
Thursday, 24th of November 2005
MARS DRAWING: J.D. Beish, Lake Placid, FL (27N21', 081W19')
16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, Mag: 225-500 x
November 24, 2005, 0000 - 0030 UT, CM 001.7 - 007.8, Ls = 329, De = -18.0
Seeing: 5-6. Trans: 6, Alt: 45 deg. OAT: 11 C
NOTES: BC = 2 . Sky clear, M33 seen naked eye, seeing less than desirable.
Morning and evening limb arc/haze bright. Hellas either hazy or a cloud forming
in it. NPH bright. Dust streak in Chryse. Seeing just not good enough to make
detailed drawing of dust streak. SPC barely visible, but at times it seems to
be divided.
I remember observing on November 24 - 30, 1982 when a dust storm blew up and
I could not find anyone to verify it. So, after calling Don Parker's cousin
and speaking with Don, he was there for Thanksgiving meal, after telling him
of the dust storm he arranged to fly back home the next morning to observe and
photograph it.
Those were the days when we were dedicated. Can't remember if he imaged
anything or not because the storm subsided during the first week December
1982. The good old days.
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
TEC 200 Fl F/8
2X into 3X barlow
Seeing: Poor- Fair. 6-7/10
Atik color webcam. Registax
9:24- 28 PM EST November 24, 2005
2:24 - 2:28 UT November 25, 2005
The morning hazes and mists have been increasing over the past few weeks as
Don Parker and Christophe Pellier's images have been showing. I caught a long
delicate cloud of mist on the 24th. A high contrast enlargement shows its
shape very well, along with a second, smaller cloud to the south of it and a
third cloud just north of the SPC on the limb.
Friday, 25th of November 2005
I made a pair of observations of Mars on November 25, 2005 (06:30 and 07:00
U.T.) under average (5-6/10) seeing conditions. Much detail was noted over
the southern hemisphere, especially the Solis Lacus region. I welcome any
comments on my observations.
Date (U.T.): November 25, 2005
Time (U.T.): 06:30 (left image) and 07:00 (right image)
CM: 086.6 (left image) and 094.0 (right image)
Ls: 330.0 (Mid-Late Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -18.1, Ds -12.1, p 0.982, 17.85"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 290x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5-6, Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
06:30 U.T. (Left image, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was very small and
brilliant (10/10) surrounded by a dark (3/10) collar. Mare Australe appeared
dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Solis Lacus was visible just preceding the
CM appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) with northern (Geryon (5/10) and Calydon
(4/10)) and southern (Ambrosia (5/10) and Bathys (4/10)) projections over
Thaumasia (7/10). Solis Lacus appeared to be mottled within during moments of
steady seeing. Nectar (3-4/10) was visibly connecting Solis Lacus to Mare
Erythraeum (3-4/10). Protei Regio appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) within
Mare Erythraeum. Aurorae Sinus appeared as a dark (3/10), bifid projection from
the north-following border of Mare Erythraeum. Agathodaemon (Coprates) was
visible as a dark to dusky (3-4/10), curvilinear projection from the following
(western) border of Mare Erythraeum connecting to the Tithonius Lacus complex
(3-4/10, Melas Lacus, Noctis Lacus, Echus Lacus, Hebes Lacus, and Ius Lacus).
Bosporos Gemmatus was dark to dusky (3-4/10) with condensations within it.
Aonius Sinus (3/10) was visible following the CM. Daedalia appeared bright
(7/10) between Phasis and Araxes (5/10). Mare Sirenum was visible following
the CM, towards the following limb. and appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10).
Phaethontis appeared bright (7/10) south of Mare Sirenum. Niliacus Lacus
(3-4/10) and Mare Acidalium (4/10) were visible towards the north-preceding
limb, partially obscured by clouds/haze (8-9/10). Tharsis , Arcadia and
Amazonis appeared bright (7/10). Dusky to dull (4-5/10) albedo features were
noted over (or visible through) a semi-transparent North Polar Haze (NPH,
8-9/10). Thin and extremely bright (9/10) morning and evening limb hazes
(MLH and ELH) were noted as well.
07:00 U.T. (Right image, W38A): Solis Lacus and Mare Sirenum were visible
as dull (5/10) albedo features. Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze
(MLH) and evening limb haze (ELH) were visible as well.
Carlos E. Hernandez
MARS IMAGES, NOVEMBER 25th, 2005.
D. A. Peach. Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, UK.
9.25" (23.5cm) Celestron SCT @ f/42.
Lumenera Infinity 2-1 CCD camera.
Seeing very poor (Pickering 2-3.)
Transparency excellent (5.5mag.)
Wind gusty N (10-20mph.) No dew.
Alt= 53-54 degs.
Here are some images from Nov 25th. Take under very poor seeing using a new
Lumenera Infinity 2-1 camera attached to the 9.25" telescope. Weather has been
poor recently.
Not much to comment on in these. Some morning mists are present in Blue.
MARS DRAWING: J.D. Beish, Lake Placid, FL (27N21', 081W19')
16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, Mag: 335-500 x
November 25, 2005, 0050 - 0130 UT, CM 3.7 - 13.6, Ls = 330, De = -18.1
Seeing: 7-8. Trans: 6, Alt: 60 deg. OAT: 18.3 C
NOTES: BC = 1 . Sky clear, M31&M33 seen naked eye, seeing good. Morning
and evening limb arc/haze bright. Hellas either cloudy. NPH bright, M. limb
cloud next to NPR. Chryse clear. SPC visible, fine detail -- at times it
seems to be divided.
TEC 200 Fl F/8
2X into 3X barlow
Seeing: Poor- Fair. 6-7/10
Atik color webcam. Registax
10:08- 10:12 PM EST November 25, 2005
3:08- 3:12 UT November 26, 2005
Saturday, 26th of November 2005
MARS IMAGES, NOVEMBER 26th, 2005.
D. A. Peach. Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, UK.
9.25" (23.5cm) Celestron SCT @ f/42.
Lumenera LU075M CCD camera.
Seeing again very poor (Pickering 2-3.)
Transparency fair (3.5mag) constant high clouds.
Wind NNW (5-10mph.) Light dew.
Alt= 50 degs.
Here are some images from Nov 26th. Seeing again terrible. Mare Serpentis
is strikingly dark in Blue light - much dark than Syrtis.
Mars Image:
Date: Nov. 26, 2005
16" Newt. working at F/22
Camera: Meade DSI Pro
Image: Stack of 655 images in RGB
Time: 02:12 UT
CM 14.70
Strong Northern polar hood and mourning clouds
evident.
Seeing: Fair to Good
James Hannon
Thomaston, Conn.
Sunday, 27th of November 2005
I made a pair of observations of Mars on November 27, 2005 (03:00 and 04:00
U.T.) under average to good (5-7/10) seeing conditions. Much detail was noted
over the southern hemisphere, especially between Sinus Sabaeus and Mare
Erythraeum. I welcome any comments that you may have on my observations.
Date (U.T.): November 27, 2005
Time (U.T.): 03:00 (left image) and 04:00 (right image)
CM: 017.6 (left image) and 032.2 (right image)
Ls: 331.0 (Mid-Late Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -18.3, Ds -11.7, p 0.98, 17.6"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x, 290x, and 348x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
03:00 U.T. (Left image, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was very small
and brilliant (10/10) surrounded by a thin, dark (3/10) collar. Mare Australe
appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Noachis appeared shaded to bright
(6-7/10). Pandorae Fretum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled (with a
thin, bright (7/10) streak (cloud?) noted within it). Deucalionis Regio
appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with two, dull (5/10) bands across it.
Sinus Sabaeus and Sinus Meridiani appeared dark (3/10) preceding the CM
(Sigeus Portus (4/10) noted along the northern border of Sinus Sabaeus).
Iani Fretum (?) was noted as a dull (5/10) and diffuse band between Sinus
Meridiani (south-following border) and Margaritifer Sinus (preceding (or
eastern) border). Aeria, Arabia, Eden, Moab, and Aram appeared bright (7/10).
Ismenius Lacus appeared as a thin, dusky (4/10) wedge adjacent to an extremely
bright (9/10) North Polar Haze (NPH). Margaritifer Sinus appeared dark to
dusky (3-4/10) and mottled following the CM. Mare Erythraeum appeared dark to
dull (3-5/10) and mottled with bright (7/10) streaks within it (Pyrrhae
Regio?). Argyre appeared bright (7/10) over it's north-following sector
whereas the rest of the albedo feature appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10).
Aurorae Sinus appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and bifid towards the following
limb. Chryse-Xanthe appeared bright (7/10) and free of dust. Niliacus Lacus
appeared as a dark (3/10) wedge adjacent to the NPH (portions of it visible
through the haze). Thin and extremely bright (9/10) morning and evening limb
hazes (MLH and ELH) were noted as well.
04:00 U.T. (Right image, W38A): Sabaeus Sinus, Sinus Meridiani, Margaritifer
Sinus, Mare Erythraeum, and Niliacus Lacus were visible as dull (5/10) albedo
features. Diffuse and bright (7/10) streaks were noted over Mare Erythraeum/
Argyre (water vapor clouds?). Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH),
evening limb haze (ELH), North Polar Haze (NPH), and South Polar Haze (SPH)
were visible as well.
Carlos E. Hernandez
MARS DRAWING: J.D. Beish, Lake Placid, FL (27N21', 081W19')
16-in (41cm) f/6.9 Newtonian, Mag: x
November 27, 2005, 0020 - 0035 UT, CM 338.5 - 342.2, Ls = 331, De = -18.3
Seeing: 9 - 10. Trans: 6, Alt: 48 deg. OAT: 20.4 C
NOTES: BC = 1. SPC has dull rift ~320 areographic longitude. Hellas surface
features, i.e., Zea Lacus and part of Peneus visible through haze. Evening
limb cloud over Hardriacum. EH, NP Hood bright, MH and morning cloud over
Argyre. Sky clear and steady, when up to over 1000X. With my eye problems
this magnification is becoming difficult to use. In perfect seeing I can
stretch the 16" f/6.9 to the highest limits with no apparent deterioration in
contrast or image quality. New Spectrum Coatings aluminum coat makes a
difference.
Monday, 28th of November 2005
I used the data from an imaging session on Nov 28 on Mars, to improve my
used technique to show subtle color differences better in the darker albedo
regions. As noted before here, the color differences of the western and
eastern parts of Syrtis Major are especially interesting. The western side
seems to be clearly brown/yellow/reddish while the eastern side clearly has
the general color of the large mares on that side of the planet. According
to this observation, there are some places in this region with other subtle
colors; as the southern part of Lapygia Viridis/northern edge of Hellas
contains some green; the northern edge of the Sinus Sabeaus-arm seems to have
a mix of green and brownish tints. The eastern edge of Syrtis Major is even
derogatory colored at all, with a kind of cyan tint. As far as I can
recognise, the patch of Nodus Alcyonius has more the color of western Syrtis,
but is hard to tell with certainty at this difficult position angle. I give
this another try at the next transit.
10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS @ f/35 LRGB)
Ralf Vandebergh
Tuesday, 29th of November 2005
RS IMAGES, NOVEMBER 29th, 2005.
D. A. Peach. Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, UK.
14" (35cm) Celestron SCT @ f/40.
Lumenera LU075M CCD camera.
Seeing good (Pickering 6-8.)
Transparency excellent (6.0mag.)
No wind. Heavy dew.
Alt= 54 degs.
Here are some images from the 29th. Some unexpected good seeing. Syrtis
Major is well presented. Most striking of all is the very dark Mare Serpentis
in Blue light.
Wednesday, 30th of November 2005
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