Mars Images — MarsWatch 2005
Thursday, 08th of December 2005
I made an observation of Mars on December 8-9, 2005 (23:45 and 00:15 U.T.,
respectively) under average to good seeing conditions (5-7/10). Detail was
noted over the southern hemisphere. I welcome any comments that you may have
on my observation.
Date (U.T.): December 8-9, 2005
Time (U.T.): 23:45 (left image, Dec. 8, 2005)
and 00:15 (right image, Dec. 9, 2005)
CM: 221.6 (left image) and 228.9 (right image)
Ls: 337.4 (Late Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -19.1, Ds -9.3, p 0.96, 15.6"
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/ 13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 290x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 4-5
Notes:
23:45 U.T. (Left image, CM 221.6, IL/W30): The South Polar Region (SPR) was
obscured by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) haze (The South Polar
Cap (SPC) was not visible). Mare Chronium appeared dusky to dark (3-4/10).
Electris and Eridania appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) and mottled. Mare
Cimmerium appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) with a bright (7/10) northern border
and "Valhalla" visible (5/10) in sections. A thin, dusky (4/10) streak
(Aethiops I ?) was visible projecting from the Northern/following border
of Mare Cimmerium. Hesperia appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with dull
(5/10) streaks across it. Mare Tyrrhenum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and
Syrtis Minor was dark (3/10). Zephyria, Aeolis, Aethiopis, and Aetheria
appeared bright (7/10) without any other detail visible. Elysium appeared
bright (7/10) on the CM with a dark to dusky (3-4/10) Phlegra to the east
(preceding) and a dark to dusky (3-4/10) Hyblaeus Extension to the west
(following). Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH), evening limb
haze (ELH) and North Polar Region (NPR) were noted.
00:15 U.T. (Right image, CM 228.9, W38A): A bright to very bright (7-8/10)
cloud was visible over Electris-Eridania projecting from the following limb.
Mare Cimmerium, Mare Tyrrhenum, and Mare Chronium appeared dull (5/10). A very
bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) cloud was visible over the Amazonis-Arcadia
region towards the preceding limb. Extremely bright (9/10) MLH, ELH, SPR, and
NPR were noted.
Ironically the current diameter of Mars (15.6") is just smaller than the
largest apparent diameter for the upcoming apparition (15.89" on December 18,
2007). The best of luck imaging and observing Mars.
Carlos E. Hernandez
Friday, 09th of December 2005
Date (UT): 9 December 2005 Time (UT): 19:09h
CM: 145° H: 52° Dec: 15°13'19"
De: -19° Ls: 338° φ: 15.4"
Telescope Schmidt-Cassegrain 280 (f/25)
Seeing: (0-10 scale) 5-6 Trans.: (0-6) 2 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 SPC is difficult to see
-SOLIS LACUS, MARE SIRENUM and MARE CIMMERIUM appeared dark
-White cloud in the located over ERIDANIA (1)
-MLH appeared near THARSIS (2)
I attach these results of observations from last night Dec 9, IRGB and blue
images. The blue image shows an obvious brightening at the east limb, already
obvious during capturing at the screen. There are nice subtle color visible
over the whole disk.
10" N & ATK-1HS @ f/70 IRGB)
Ralf Vandebergh
Saturday, 10th of December 2005
This set is the result of observations from Dec 10, under fair seeing
conditions. There is going on definitely a strong activity of clouds in
the southern polar regions.
Futher, the orographic Arsia cloud is still obvious but much smaller then
before opposition. It appears Olympus Mons has turned back to dark but is
not very obvious in all wavelengths, but there are some interesting clouds
in that region. The large clouds above Electris and Eridania, were already
very obvious in the blue light as seen live on the monitor screen.
10 inch Newtonian & ATK-1HS @ f/70 IR(G)B)
Ralf Vandebergh
Here is the same set of images from Dec 10, but now with some higher contrast,
it shows the clouds in the northern hemisphere better.
Ralf Vandebergh
Sunday, 11th of December 2005
Monday, 12th of December 2005
Tuesday, 13th of December 2005
I made an observation of Mars on December 13, 2005 (01:45 and 02:15 U.T.)
under average seeing conditions (5/10). Detail is still noted over the Martian
southern hemisphere as recorded. Elysium was prominent on the CM. I welcome
any comments that you may have on my observation.
Date (U.T.): December 13, 2005
Time (U.T.): 01:45 (left image) and 02:15 (right image)
CM: 214.3 (left image) and 221.6 (right image)
Ls: 339.6 (Late Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De: -19.2, Ds: -8.4, p 0.95, 14.9"
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x, 290x, and 344x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5, Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
01:45 U.T. (Left image, CM 214.3, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was very
small and brilliant (10/10). Mare Chronium was dusky to dark (3-4/10) and
mottled on the CM. Electris and Eridania were bright (7/10), but no cloud or
dust activity was noted at this time. The western (following) tip of Mare
Sirenum (4/10) was visible on the preceding limb. Mare Cimmerium was dusky to
dark (3-4/10) and mottled. Hesperia was thin and bright (7/10) with dull (5/10)
streaks across it. Mare Tyrrhenum was dusky to dark (3-4/10) and mottled
towards the following limb. Zephyria and Aeolis appeared shaded to bright
(6-7/10). Aethiopis and Aetheria appeared bright (7/10). Elysium was shaded
to bright (6-7/10) on the CM towards the North Polar limb with dull (5/10)
condensations within it. Phlegra appeared dusky to dark (3-4/10) preceding
Elysium. The Hyblaeus Extension appeared dusky to dark (3-4/10) as well
following Elysium. Morning limb haze (MLH), evening limb haze (ELH), South
Polar Region (SPR), and the North Polar Region (NPR) appeared extremely bright
(9/10).
02:15 U.T. (Right image, CM 221.6, W38A): Mare Cimmerium and Mare Tyrrhenum
appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) preceding and following the CM, respectively.
Mare Chronium appeared dull (5/10) on the CM. Very bright (8/10) hazes were
noted to project from the preceding, Southern, and following limbs over
Zephyria, Aethiopis, and Mare Chronium, respectively. Extremely bright (9/10)
MLH, ELH. SPR, and NPR were noted as well.
Carlos E. Herenandez
Taken in poor seeing, 12-13-05, 22:20 UT.
LU075, MN-76.
Sean Walker
Wednesday, 14th of December 2005
I made an observation of Mars on December 13, 2005 (23:45 U.T.) and December
14 (00:15 U.T.), 2005 under average seeing conditions (5-6/10). Detail was
noted over the Martian southern hemisphere between Mare Sirenum and Mare
Cimmerium. Elysium was visible over the north-following limb. I welcome any
comments that you may have on my observation.
Date (U.T.): December 13-14, 2005
Time (U.T.): 23:45 (left image, Dec. 13, 2005) and 00:15 (right image, Dec. 14, 2005)
CM: 175.8 (left image) and 183.2 (right image)
Ls: 340.1 (Late Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De: -19.2, Ds: -8.2, p 0.95, 14.8"
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x, 290x, and 344x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5-6, Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 4-5 (hazy)
Notes:
23:45 U.T. (Left image, Dec. 13, 2005, CM 175.8, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap
(SPC) was very small and brilliant (10/10). Mare Chronium was dusky to dark
(3-4/10) and mottled on the CM. Electris and Eridania were bright (7/10), but
no cloud or dust activity was noted at this time. Mare Sirenum appeared dark
to dusky (3-4/10) preceding the CM. Mare Cimmerium was dusky to dark (3-4/10)
and mottled on and following the CM. Memnonia, Zephyria and Aeolis, Aethiopis
and Aetheria appeared bright (7/10). Elysium was bright (7/10) over the
north-following limb. Phlegra appeared dusky to dark (3-4/10) preceding
Elysium. Morning limb haze (MLH), evening limb haze (ELH), South Polar Region
(SPR), and the North Polar Region (NPR) appeared extremely bright (9/10).
00:15 U.T. (Right image, Dec. 14, 2005, CM 183.2, W38A): Mare Sirenum and Mare
Cimmerium dusky to dull (4-5/10) preceding and following the CM, respectively.
Mare Chronium appeared dull (5/10) on the CM. Very bright (8/10) hazes were
noted to project from the preceding, and following limbs over Arcadia,
Zephyria, and Aethiopis, respectively. A very bright (8/10) cloud was noted
over Elysium. Extremely bright (9/10) MLH, ELH. SPR, and NPR were noted as well.
Carlos E. Hernandez
Here is a two image composite of Mars taken on the 14th December with average
to poor seeing. A few days before these, Hellas seemed quite dusky on the
evening limb; but apart from a slightly brighter northern Hellas, nothing
seems unusual to me.
Maurice
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