Some responses received to date regarding the recent Mars dust
storm announcement:

>From jakosky@argyre.colorado.edu Sat Jan  6 17:16 EST 1996
>Subject: Re: Possible Global Dust Storm on Mars
>
>Jim,
>
>The obvious way to confirm the dust storm is via thermal-ir spectral
>measurements.  The 9-micron dust feature closely follows the amount
>of dust, as seen in the M9 IRIS data and the in the IRTM T7-T9
>results that Terry Martin did.  ...  TIR observations can be done even
>when mars is relatively close to the sun or is a daytime object, and
>one can do global whole-disk spectral measurements even when Mars is
>not resolveable.  
>
>Bruce
>

[I checked with the folks at Palomar who have been doing thermal IR
observations of Mars, but they indicate that observations are not
possible for several more months because Mars is just too close to the
Sun for the 200" telescope]

>From Christian.Muller@oma.be Mon Jan  8 03:38 EST 1996
>Subject: ISO observation of dust-storms on Mars.
>
>	Dear Jim, 
>	As the PI of the ISO TOO [Target of Opportunity Proposal] on Martian dust 
>storms, I have a sad news
>to report, the observation of Mars by ISO will have to wait for certainly
>one year; this is due to the special ISO orbit where ISO spends most of its
>time in the shade of the earth and the absolute necessity to avoid any
>solar radiation in the payload. This point is much more critical for an
>entirely cryogenic satellite than for Hubble, I keep alert for the next
>storm session which will occur at the end of the ISO lifetime.
>	By the way, I had already one month ago an indication of the
>possibility of a dust-storm by Dr. Akabane who attended you Cornell Mars
>symposium this summer and who is certainly a recipient of your Mars watch
>letter.
>	Sincerely,
>	Christian Muller.
>

[Perhaps Dr. Akabane or others who are familiar with his results could
provide some details of what he saw??]


>From walter@troy.uchicago.edu Mon Jan  8 17:46 EST 1996
>Subject: Re:  Possible Global Dust Storm on Mars
>
>Hello,
>
>I can try to get some daytime observations of Mars using
>the Jupiter filter set that I have.  Or, is there a
>prefered filter band that you desire?  I obtained data
>of Jupiter using the Yerkes 41" on Dec. 7 when it was 7 degrees
>from the sun, so we can do this kind of work.  We are
>also getting an ST-7 CCD.  Please let me know and if there
>is interest I can see what I can do later this week (and
>of course if the weather cooperates).
>
>Walter Wild
>

[My response was that there would be interest in such observations,
and that images in the blue and red wavelengths would perhaps
be most appropriate]

--Jim

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[Here is the latest update on the possible Mars dust storm, starting off
with a report from Don Parker:]
 
>From: Don Parker <72317.3157@compuserve.com>
>
>	In response to your dust storm alert of 5 January, Carlos Hernandez and I
>made visual red-light observations of Mars on 9 and 10 Jan UT dates. The
>observations covered the CM range from 95 to 165 degrees. While no great amount
>of detail was detected, we did independently see the southern maria fairly well.
>In addition, there was possibly some brightening over Tempe and Candor and
>Xanthe when these were near the pm limb. 
>	Yesterday, 10 January, we obtained a number of CCD images, all taken
>through a sharp cut on (630 nm) red filter, equivalent to the Wratten 29. The
>CM's ranges from 138-148 degrees. These images reveal "normal" appearing
>features in the south, such as Aonius Sinus, M. Sirenum, and M. Cimmerium. The
>"Chevron" of Titanum S. was imaged and was seen visually.
>	Since the "dull side" of Mars was presented to us, no detail was seen in
>the north. However, from our observations, it is unlikely that a massive global
>storm exists at these longitudes.
>	We will continue observations over the next week if possible, or until
>the prominences interfere. If you wish, I will send you the raw, calibrated .FTS
>images as well as the composited and processed .TIF images. Carlos can scan our
>drawings and include these on disk.
 
[At last some data! I have asked Don to send me the images and I will post 
them on the marswatch home page so we can all take a look.]

[next, a few more reports about attempts to observe or attempts to determine
if it's feasible to observe...]
 
>From walter@troy.uchicago.edu Tue Jan  9 11:07 EST 1996 (Walter Wild)
>
>We have a "Cookbook" CCD camera that has been our workhorse to date.
>It has modest capabilities and fast readout and software.  This 
>week we will be getting the substantially better ST-7 CCD camera
>with a Kodak chip (765x510 pixels, 9 microns square) and much lower
>dark current.  This camera was bought by funds furnish by the
>Fund for Astrophysical Research, and we are very fortunate to have
>their support.  I have colored filters that I bought from Orion
>last year -- perhaps I can try them.  My only concern is that
>daytime observations suffer from greater scattering at short
>wavelengths so that background is much higher.  The weather is
>always our limiting factor here this time of year.  From the forcasts,
>I am aiming for going to Yerkes on Friday (maybe Thursday) and I
>will do what I can.  We have computer control for the 41" and
>what I probably will do is point to Venus -- which is easy to find and
>see in the finderscope during the day -- initialize the telescope software
>on it and then move to Mars.  The main problem is that Mars is
>very low in the sky during the entire day (from Yerkes) and basically
>the telescope is somewhat cumbersome to work with at such angles.
>But we have done this for Jupiter in December and a Triton occultation
>in AUgust, and I believe this telescope is good for projects where people 
>need a fast response time.
>
>I will keep you informed of my progress.
>

>
>From kaminski@herschel.IFA.Hawaii.Edu (Charlie Kaminski)
>Wed Jan 10 00:11 EST 1996 
>
>Hi Jim, 
>
>in case Bill didn't reply last night, 12 degrees from the 
>sun is too close for us at the IRTF also, unless a filter
>is put in place and a bunch of logistics is covered.  Only
>longer wavelengths are covered (ie ~> 7um.) In a pinch, 5um,
>but it's really noisy.  Not exactly window of oportunity stuff.
>I think we need about 25-30 degree separations from the sun.
>
 
>From TANGA@to.infn.it Thu Jan 11 22:36 EST 1996 (Paolo Tanga)
>
>Dear Jim, 
>
>thank you for the alert. As Coordinator for the Mars Program in Italy I have
>alerted the active observers. Here in Italy weather is very bad all over
>the country. Anyway, I will communicate you immediately any observation.
>The alert appears also in the web pages of Unione Astrofili Italiani
>(http://www.mclink.it/mclink/astro/uai/news/n960111.htm)
>
 
[finally, a conversation on the likelihood of being able to detect a
dust event under the current observational conditions...]

>From pbj@physics.utoledo.edu Tue Jan  9 10:08 EST 1996 (Phil James)
>
>I sort of doubt that visible wavelength observations of Mars at this point
>would be very useful for dust.  These things are hard enough to spot in
>opposition observations (e.g. the 1973 storm).  
>
>Sadly we could not test our CO2 band technique even if we got some decent
>weather here because Mars is so close to the sun that we could not get a
>long enough integration time to do anything.
>
>By the time we again approach perihelic oppositions I hope we will have
>orbiters in place.

>
>From ljm@lowell.edu Thu Jan 11 16:31 EST 1996 (Leonard Martin)
>
>Jim:
>
>I pretty much agree with Phil on this one.  Mars is both too small and too
>low at dusk, when it is observable.  As you know, the seeing is generally
>poor near the horizon, except possibly under rare conditions on Mauna Kea.
> [...or if you are Don Parker...]
>Under the best conditions we might recognize Syrtis Major.  If we were
>unable to do so because of dust, we still probably could not be be sure
>whether we were seeing a "storm" or a widespread obscuration.  On the other 
>hand Syrtis could be in the clear while there was a raging storm in the 
>opposite hemisphere.  The bottom line is that even with a rare, good 
>observation, we would probably be unable to confirm or refute a dust storm.
>
>The '73 storm was well documented from the earth, but this was a planet-
>wide storm seen under the best of conditions.  I think that Phil's point
>may have been that we probably would not have seen much of it under present
>circumstances.  It was initially identified from clouds much too small to
>see now, and later these clouds became less bright and less well defined.
>They may have obscured albedo features, but it is not always clear from
>these wavelengths, whether the obscurations are on the surface or in the 
>atmosphere.  
>
>The '73 images were also contiguous in time, enabling us to verify movement.  
>Without a good "patrol" network observing, it is doubtful that we can ever
>replicate that data set, even at opposition.
>
>What is needed is a large telescope, using more sophisticated instrumentation,
>as was used by Todd for the initial identification.
>

[James and Martin both make excellent points, but Parker's message would
seem to indicate that it may be possible to detect at least very large
events even under the present circumstances.  It will be very interesting
to see Parker's images...]

[FYI: These postings are being sent to approximately 100 observers and other
interested amateurs and professionals worldwide who were either on the 1994 
Marswatch electronic newsletter distribution list, or who attended the 1995 
Mars Telescopic Observations Workshop.]

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[Latest update on the possible Mars dust storm observations.  Note
that the images obtained on Jan. 10 by Don Parker and Carlos Hernandez, 
ALPO Mars Recorders observing in Coral Gables FL, can be seen on my
WWW page at the URL  http://marswatch.tn.cornell.edu/parker96.html]

[First, a note from Carlos Hernandez about the recent ALPO imaging:]

From CarlosEHer@aol.com Fri Jan 12 17:26 EST 1996
Subject: Re: Mars Dust Storm? Parker obs., etc.

Dear Jim,
   Thank you for the notice on the possible martian dust
storm and follow-up comments by members of the Marswatch Team.
   Don Parker and I were initially skeptical about being able
to visualize (let alone image!) the planet Mars so close to the Sun (12.08
degrees East) and subtending such a small angular diameter (4.00 arc-seconds)
as reflected by the comments of the rest of the team, but we did manage to do
both as Don indicated in his previous message. The two most prominent albedo
features noted were Solis Lacus (appearing as a oval-shaped, dark (3/10)
albedo feature preceding the CM, but no other detail noted around it) and
Mare Sirenum (wedge-shaped and dark (3/10)) as well as it's eastern
elongation Araxes). Later we were able to visualize (and image) Mare
Cimmerium as well. We will continue to attempt to image the planet over the
next few days (in order to evaluate the other side of Mars containing  common
dust storm sites (or nuclei, ie Hellas-Noachis, Argyre I, Thaumasia, and
Chryse-Xanthe) and report our findings to you and the rest of the Marswatch
team. Please keep in touch and the best of luck to you and the rest of the
team.

Carlos E. Hernandez (ALPO Mars Recorder)   


[And secondly, a note from Todd Clancy on his follow-up microwave
observations from Kitt Peak:]

From clancy@isidis.colorado.edu Fri Jan 12 11:40 EST 1996
Subject: More dust storm observations from Kitt Peak

Jim,

I've obtained two more CO spectra of Mars (on Jan 5 and 11).  Analysis
of these spectra (and the Jan 4 observation) show the storm is in the 
growth stage. 

1)The atmospheric heating at 0-60 km altitudes is ~1/2 of the peak
heating observed in the 1994 storm (also 1/2 the 25 km altitude peak
heating observed in the 1971 and 1977 storms).   

2)There was minimal atmospheric heating at 40-60 km (5K) in the Jan 4,5
observations.  But the Jan 11 spectrum shows that atmospheric
temperatures increased by 10-15K in this region between Jan 5 and 11
(with no obsvious change at the lower altitudes).  So the dust appears
to be still climbing to higher altitudes at this point.  

3)I'll get another measurement early next week, and the Kitt Peak NRAO
staff has graciously scheduled me for additional measurements every 4-8
days over the next two months.  After that, I'll continue the monthly
measurements to see how this storm decays compared to the 1971, 1977,
and 1994 storms.

4)I'm still hopeful the groundbased imaging can see something, although
I generally agree with what Phil and Leonard said.  However, this storm
has not grown to the peak atmospheric heating levels seen in previous
storms.  I hope Parker continues to image, you never know what may be
possible with modern CCD imaging compared to earlier filter/eye monitoring.

Todd

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[This is the latest update on the possible Mars dust storm observations.
Reported here are the results obtained from amateur observer Ted Stryk,
who made a Herculean effort to observe Mars so close to the Sun, and
another update from Don Parker and Carlos Hernandez. Let's hope we get 
an army of enthusiastic and capable people like Ted, Don, and Carlos 
to obtain data in 1996/97!]

[It is unlikely that any professionals or perhaps even amateurs will be 
able to observe Mars visually again until after conjunction (officially 
on March 4). Mars once again reaches around 10 degrees elongation from 
the Sun in mid-April.]

>
>From tedstryk@tricon.net Mon Jan 15 20:07 EST 1996
>
>        I finally made it up to the observatory, and managed to observe
>between about 20:00 and 20:45 UT on January 15, 1996 using the 6 inch
>apochromatic refractor at Bays Mountain Observatory in Kingsport, TN (+36
>1/2 degrees).  Seeing was not the best, around 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.  The
>mountain was somwhat hazy, hurting contrast.
>        Mars did offer some steady moments, during which I could just make
>out the dark albedo features in the southern hemisphere, just as Mars
>normally appears when it is distant, with no hint of obscuration.  However,
>in red light the preceding limb appeared unusually bright.  This could be
>due to a dusty haze.  I can not say for sure wether or not there is a large
>scale dust storm on Mars right now, but the southern albedo features are not
>significantly obscured if there is one at this time.  I couldn't tell if the
>red brightening on the limb extended on to the disk. I hope to observe again
>by the end of the week.  I will send you a copy of my drawing.

[Ted's drawings can be found at http://marswatch.tn.cornell.edu/early96.html]

>From Don Parker, Fri Jan 19 00:37 EST 1996
>
>    I got some more Mars images on 13 Jan - CM=115-119, but the seeing was
>terrible, and they don't show much. Have tried three more times this week, 
>but I couldn't find Mars! Never thought I would say that. Actually, there was 
>a slight haze which made it impossible. ... A cold front is coming through
>tomorrow, so it should clear the atmosphere for a couple of days. 
>

[Note: Don has sent me his digital FITS data from the Jan. 10 observations.
We will post the data on our archive here shortly for anyone interested
in collaborating with Don on some quantitative studies.]

>
>From tedstryk@tricon.net Sat Jan 20 23:39 EST 1996
>
>        Well, I got another observation in, though the view was not nearly
>as good as the last one.  The sun problem is so bad that despite steady
>skies, Mars was hard to observe.  I question wether I'll be able to find it
>again.  I observed it today between  20:50 and 21:00 UT (such a short time
>since it took all my time just to find the planet).  The image was steady
>but contrast was poor, and like last time, the dark south of Mars was
>obvious, but nothing else.  If there was a bright limb in red like last
>time, the contrast was so bad that I probably would have missed it.  I
>didn't see Mare Acidalium, which should have been in view, though this is
>most likely due to the poor contrast due to the sun and not dust.   I will
>probably attempt one more drawing when the Syrtis Major side is visible just
>to see if anything looks obscured. 
>

>From tedstryk@tricon.net Sat Jan 27 21:34 EST 1996
>
>        I tried to get another observation today (1/27/96).  The glare is so
>bad, however, that I could not pick out Mars, and was afraid pointing the
>telescope so near the sun might be dangerous.   So, barring an extremely
>clear day within the next half a week or so, this is probably it for my Mars
>observations until after Conjunction.
>
>
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