Mars Images — MarsWatch 2005

Sunday, 01st of January 2006

Monday, 02nd of January 2006

I made an observation of Mars on January 2-3, 2006 (23:50 and 00:30 U.T., 
respectively) under average to good seeing conditions (5-7/10). A good 
amount of detail may still be noted over the planet if one is patient. 
Hellas appeared very bright (8/10) towards the preceding limb. I welcome 
any comments that you may have on my observation.

Date (U.T.): January 2-3, 2006	
Time (U.T.): 23:50 (left image) and 00:30 (right image)
CM: 351.2 (left image) and 001.0 (right image)
Ls 350.6, De -18.5, Ds -3.9, p 0.91, 11.8"
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x, 271x, and 348x
Filters: Klee OPS Barlow
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 4-5

Notes:
23:50 U.T. (Left image, Jan. 2, 2006, 351.2): The South Polar Cap (SPC) 
was not visible at this time. Mare Australe appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10). 
Sinus Sabaeus and Sinus Meridiani appeared dark (3/10) and prominent on 
the CM. Deucalionis Regio appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10). The preceding 
(eastern) half of Pandorae Fretum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and its 
following (western) half dull (5/10). Hellespontus appeared dark to dusky 
(3-4/10). Noachis appeared dusky to shaded (4-6/10) and mottled. Syrtis 
Major was visible on the preceding limb and appeared dark to dull (3-5/10) 
with bright to very bright (7-8/10) haze over it. Iapygia Viridis appeared 
dusky (4/10) and mottled. Hellas appeared very bright (8/10. connecting to 
an extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH). Aeria, Arabia, Moab, 
and Eden appeared bright (7/10). Mare Acidalium (3-5/10) was partially 
obscured by a bright to very bright (7-8/10) haze over the north-following 
limb. Mare Erythraeum and Margaritifer Sinus appeared dark to dull (3-5/10) 
towards the following limb. Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH), 
evening limb haze (ELH), North Polar Region (NPR), and South Polar Region 
(SPR) were visible as well.

00:30 U.T. (Right image, Jan. 3, 2006, CM 001.0): A very bright to extremely 
bright (8-9/10) cloud (haze) was visible over Hellas. Sinus Sabaeus, Sinus 
Meridiani, and Mare Erythraeum appeared dull (5/10). Noachis appeared shaded 
(6/10). Extremely bright (9/10) MLH, ELH, NPR, and SPR were visible.

Carlos E. Hernandez

Tuesday, 03rd of January 2006

Wednesday, 04th of January 2006

Here are some images from the 4th. Fair to good seeing. As Christophe 
already mentioned Hellas shows a misty bulge on the morning terminator, 
while there is also a misty cloud over Libya. There does seems some 
mistiness over the SPC also.
 
Damian

Thursday, 05th of January 2006

Date (UT): 5 January 2006 	            Time (UT): 17:25h

CM: 230°		H: 59°			Dec: 17°02'14"

De: -19°			Ls: 25°°		φ: 11"
Telescope Schmidt-Cassegrain 280   (f/25)
Seeing: (0-10 scale) 5   Trans.: (0-6) 4   moon
              (10 = excellent)
Magnification:   350x / 380x

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 was not visible at this time
- M. SIRENUM, M.CIMMERIUM, M.TYRRHENUM and S. MAJOR appeared dark
- HELLAS appeared normal (1)



Mars, January 5, 2006 UD
CM 41.4 degrees, De -18.3 degrees, Ls 351.6 degrees
Phase defect .912, Size 11.6"
Celestron NexStar 11 GPS at 311x  with W23A red filter.

Clear, cool, humid, no wind, Moon set.  First decent seeing in almost 2 
months.  Mars ~55 degrees high in W.  Chryse very bright, SPC not seen, 
NPH thin but bright.  Very bright haze in center of P limb.  Niliacus 
Lacus & Acidalia prominent in N.  Meridiani at P limb & Solis Lacus at 
F limb.  Margaritifer, Aurorae & Erythraeum darkest, most prominent features.  
Atmosphere clear in W38A blue filter with evening limb haze diminishing 
in brightness toward S limb.  NPH brighter in W58 green filter than 
in blue filter.

Jay Albert
Lake Worth, FL  

Friday, 06th of January 2006

Saturday, 07th of January 2006

Attached is an image obtained on Jan 07, showing a moderate bright cloud 
above Hellas.  It was already obvious during live-capturing on the screen 
in blue light.  The color IRB image shows it nicely too.
 
10 inch Newtonian & ATK.-1HS @ f/35--IR(G)B)
 
Ralf Vandebergh

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