O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> . --. THE INTERNATIONAL MARS WATCH ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER . ..../ | -------------------------------------------------- :::::: :::::: Volume 1; Issue 3 (file imw.may94) :::: 16 May 1994 <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O SUBJECT Line Number ------------------------------------------------------- ------------ Introductory remarks 22 Special Announcements 36 Observing deadlines and facility instrument status 52 Observing plans 64 Ephemerides and/or Satellite Orbital Elements 92 Recent Results 108 Recent Publications and Meetings 145 ************************************************************************ INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ************************************************************************ This is the third issue of the International Mars Watch Electronic Newsletter. The number of people receiving this newsletter continues to increase (61), and nearly all of the currently-active Mars observational groups in the U.S. are represented. Please continue to spread the word to other interested colleagues overseas. People are beginning to formulate specific plans for the 94-95 oppsition, and several more groups report their plans here. No news has yet been reported of any visual confirmation of the large dust storm reported by Todd Clancy et al. from their microwave observations. ************************************************************************ SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ************************************************************************ A special short meeting of researchers planning to conduct observations of Mars, Phobos, and Deimos during the 1994-1995 apparition is being planned for the 1994 DPS conference in Washington DC. The goal is to try to coordinate observations among different groups, and generally keep each other informed of the status and progress of observations. There is strong interest in establishing more cross-talk between visible, near-IR, mid-IR, and microwave observing groups. The meeting will hopefully be during lunch time or after hours on the same day as most of the Mars observational presentations, to facilitate attendance by as many people as possible. More details will be provided in future DPS mailings and in this newsletter... ************************************************************************ OBSERVING DEADLINES AND FACILITY INSTRUMENT STATUS ************************************************************************ Observatory Deadline Telescope and Time Period ----------- ----------- -------------------------------------------- Mauna Kea May 31 U. Hawaii 2.2m and 0.6m, for Aug-Nov 1994 Sept. 1 CFHT, for Feb-Jul 1995 Sept. 30 U. Hawaii 2.2m and 0.6m, for Dec 94-Mar 95 Oct. 1 NASA/IRTF, for Feb-Jul 1995 McDonald June 1 2.7m, 2.1m, 0.9m, 0.8m for Aug-Nov 1994 ************************************************************************ OBSERVING PLANS ************************************************************************ From: moersch@astrosun.TN.CORNELL.EDU (Jeffrey E. Moersch) We are planning to use the SpectroCam-10 instrument on the 200" at Palomar for a quick six-filter set of images this summer (probably in July when the instrument is on the telescope for the SL-9 impact) and then for a fairly complete observing program in imaging and spectrograph modes during the opposition next year. For those unfamiliar with the SC-10, it is a dual-mode 7.5 to 13 micron camera and spectrograph. In imaging mode, we have 6 broadband (1 micron wide) filters and a .25" x .25" pixel size on a 64x64 pixel array. In spectrograph mode, one dimension of the array is still spatial while the other is spectral. Spectral resolution in this mode is lambda/(delta lambda)=100, spatial resolution is .25" along the slit by 1" perpendicular to the slit. Large spectral image cubes may be assembled using spectrograph mode by marching the 1" tall slit down the planet. ------- From: clancy@zodiac.DNET.NASA.GOV (Todd Clancy) We (myself, Arie Grossman, Dewey Muhleman) are scheduled for VLA 22 GHZ measurements of Mars atmospheric water in early June at the VLA. New HST observations (with Phil James and Steve Lee) begin with a Mars overexposure I've designed to attempt a detection of a putative dust ring around the orbit of Phobos in August. Normal Mars monitoring begins in September. ************************************************************************ EPHEMERIDES AND/OR SATELLITE ORBITAL ELEMENTS ************************************************************************ The U.S. Naval Observatory MICA software package discussed by R. Simpson in the last newsletter is available from the National Technical Information Service for $55 plus shipping. ($80 outside the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) If you pay by P.O. there's $10 in additional fees. For more information, contact: U.S. Dept. of Commerce National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Rd. Springfield, VA 22161 phone: 703-487-4650; fax: 703-321-8547 ************************************************************************ RECENT RESULTS ************************************************************************ From: Don Parker <72317.3157@CompuServe.COM> I Have tried to observe Mars during the past several days with dismal results. It rises with the twilight and remains embedded in clouds forming over the Gulf Stream until well after sunrise. The only visual obs so far showed a beautiful spectrum! Will keep trying... -------- Todd Clancy provides some details on the initial analysis of the microwave observations of the Martian global dust storm: From: clancy@zodiac.DNET.NASA.GOV (Todd Clancy) I haven't anlyzed the April CO spectrum (Ls~255) of Mars, but a cursory examination of the depth of the CO absorption indicates Mars atmospheric temperatures 20-30K above those observed in January (Ls~205), which is a sign of atmospheric dust heating comparable to the Mariner 9 and Viking periods of peak global dust loading. I also just received another microwave CO spectrum of Mars taken for me by Phil Jewell at Kitt Peak NRAO on May 12, which indicates that substantial dust heating of the Mars atmosphere is still going on at Ls~275. I hope to get a couple more of these observations over the next month or so. Response From: TZMARTIN@jplpds.span.nasa.gov (Terry Z. Martin) [The Clancy et al. dust storm observations] are VERY INTERESTING, but not very surprising. This looks like a clear case of IR or microwave observations needed, and visual work not able to do much given the proximity of Mars to the sun - a lesson for the future. I would suggest anyone with a 10 micron camera who is able to should take data in the 9 micron dust band, and comparison images in the 12 micron region, to see how global a storm we have here. If this is in fact a global event, it would be rare and well worth the effort to characterize it! [Ed. Note: see Moersch et al. plans above...] ************************************************************************ RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND MEETINGS ************************************************************************ Mars-related papers presented at the 1994 AGU Spring Meeting in Baltimore: Four papers in a dedicated Mars session will be presented at the Spring AGU meeting in Baltimore on May 25 at 0830. Two additional papers dealing with HST observations of Mars will be presented during special sessions dedicated to the role of HST in planetary science. Abstracts have been published in EOS, vol. 75, April 19, 1994. ----- Recent Mars-related papers published: JGR-PLANETS: "Martian plate tectonics," N.H. Sleep, JGR, 99, 5639-5656. "Contribution to the study of thermal erosion on Mars," J. Aguirre-Puente et al., JGR, 99, 5657-5668. "Lithospheric-scale buckling and thrust structures on Mars: The Coprates rise and south Tharsis ridge belt," R.A. Schultz and K.L. Tanaka, JGR, 99, 8371-8386. ************************************************************************ Editor: Jim Bell NASA Ames Research Center Space Science Division, M/S 245-3 Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000 USA phone: 415-604-0324 fax: 415-604-6779 email: jimbo@anarchy.arc.nasa.gov ---------------------------END--------------------------------------