O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O->

      THE INTERNATIONAL MARSWATCH ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
      -------------------------------------------------
                     Volume 6; Issue 2
                       Jul 7, 2003
                     Circulation: 1009

<-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O <-O

Greetings Mars Observers!  This issue is a little late due to
the holiday weekend and navitating some of the detials of deleting
dead e-mail addresses from the list.  On to the Mars info!

(1) Ephemerides
(2) Dust Storms
(3) Mars Explorer Rovers
(4) Mars Express
(5) Mars Odyssey
(6) Mars Global Surveyor
(7) Corrections

-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-

The following table was generated using JPL's online ephemerides site.
Times are all EDT (which should be the same local time for most sites if 
you are on the equivalent of U.S. daylight time).  Dates and times are
given for Mars rise (r), transit (t), and set (s).  The N, A and * in
the second column stand for nautical and astronomical twilight and day
light, respectively.  Ob-lon is the longitude on Mars facing the observer
(also called CM); Ob-lat is the corresponding latitude.

 Date_(ZONE)_HR:MN     R.A._(ICRF/J2000.0)_DEC  APmag  Ang-diam Ob-lon Ob-lat
 2003-Jul-01 05:00 Nt  22 35 01.65 -13 36 11.8  -1.45   16.746  269.23 -21.33
 2003-Jul-01 10:16 *s  22 35 17.95 -13 35 20.2  -1.46   16.782  346.16 -21.33
 2003-Jul-01 23:42  r  22 36 02.78 -13 33 17.0  -1.47   16.877  182.37 -21.32
 2003-Jul-02 04:58 Nt  22 36 18.72 -13 32 32.0  -1.48   16.916  259.30 -21.32
 2003-Jul-02 10:14 *s  22 36 34.57 -13 31 42.9  -1.48   16.952  336.23 -21.32
 2003-Jul-02 23:39  r  22 37 18.21 -13 29 46.6  -1.50   17.048  172.21 -21.31
 2003-Jul-03 04:55 Nt  22 37 33.69 -13 29 04.3  -1.51   17.087  249.14 -21.30
 2003-Jul-03 10:11 *s  22 37 49.07 -13 28 17.9  -1.51   17.124  326.08 -21.30
 2003-Jul-03 23:36  r  22 38 31.56 -13 26 28.4  -1.53   17.221  162.06 -21.29
 2003-Jul-04 04:52 Nt  22 38 46.56 -13 25 48.8  -1.53   17.260  238.99 -21.28
 2003-Jul-04 10:09 *s  22 39 01.51 -13 25 05.0  -1.54   17.297  316.17 -21.28
 2003-Jul-04 23:33  r  22 39 42.78 -13 23 22.6  -1.55   17.395  151.91 -21.27
 2003-Jul-05 04:50 Nt  22 39 57.35 -13 22 45.6  -1.56   17.434  229.10 -21.26
 2003-Jul-05 10:06 *s  22 40 11.77 -13 22 04.7  -1.57   17.472  306.04 -21.26
 2003-Jul-05 23:30  r  22 40 51.84 -13 20 29.4  -1.58   17.571  141.78 -21.25
 2003-Jul-06 04:47 Nt  22 41 05.92 -13 19 55.3  -1.59   17.610  218.97 -21.24
 2003-Jul-06 10:03 *s  22 41 19.85 -13 19 17.2  -1.60   17.648  295.91 -21.24
 2003-Jul-06 23:27  r  22 41 58.70 -13 17 49.1  -1.61   17.748  131.66 -21.22
 2003-Jul-07 04:44 Nt  22 42 12.29 -13 17 17.9  -1.62   17.788  208.85 -21.22
 2003-Jul-07 10:01 *s  22 42 25.77 -13 16 42.5  -1.62   17.826  286.04 -21.21
 2003-Jul-07 23:24  r  22 43 03.34 -13 15 21.8  -1.64   17.926  121.55 -21.19
 2003-Jul-08 04:41 Nt  22 43 16.42 -13 14 53.5  -1.65   17.967  198.74 -21.19
 2003-Jul-08 09:58 *s  22 43 29.39 -13 14 21.1  -1.65   18.006  275.93 -21.18
 2003-Jul-08 23:21  r  22 44 05.70 -13 13 07.8  -1.67   18.106  111.45 -21.17
 2003-Jul-09 04:38 Nt  22 44 18.27 -13 12 42.5  -1.68   18.147  188.64 -21.16
 2003-Jul-09 09:55 *s  22 44 30.72 -13 12 12.9  -1.68   18.186  265.84 -21.15
 2003-Jul-09 23:18  r  22 45 05.76 -13 11 07.3  -1.70   18.287  101.36 -21.14
 2003-Jul-10 04:35 Nt  22 45 17.80 -13 10 44.9  -1.70   18.329  178.56 -21.13
 2003-Jul-10 09:52 *s  22 45 29.73 -13 10 18.4  -1.71   18.368  255.75 -21.12
 2003-Jul-10 23:15  r  22 46 03.46 -13 09 20.3  -1.73   18.470   91.28 -21.10
 2003-Jul-11 04:32 Nt  22 46 14.97 -13 09 01.1  -1.73   18.511  168.48 -21.10
 2003-Jul-11 09:50 *s  22 46 26.40 -13 08 37.5  -1.74   18.551  245.92 -21.09
 2003-Jul-11 23:12  r  22 46 58.77 -13 07 47.3  -1.75   18.654   81.21 -21.07
 2003-Jul-12 04:29 At  22 47 09.74 -13 07 31.1  -1.76   18.695  158.41 -21.06
 2003-Jul-12 09:47 *s  22 47 20.62 -13 07 10.6  -1.77   18.735  235.86 -21.05
 2003-Jul-12 23:09  r  22 47 51.64 -13 06 28.3  -1.78   18.838   71.16 -21.03
 2003-Jul-13 04:26 At  22 48 02.05 -13 06 15.3  -1.79   18.880  148.36 -21.02
 2003-Jul-13 09:44 *s  22 48 12.37 -13 05 57.9  -1.80   18.920  225.81 -21.02
 2003-Jul-13 23:05  r  22 48 41.98 -13 05 23.7  -1.81   19.024   60.87 -20.99
 2003-Jul-14 04:23 At  22 48 51.86 -13 05 13.9  -1.82   19.066  138.32 -20.99
 2003-Jul-14 09:41 *s  22 49 01.61 -13 04 59.7  -1.83   19.107  215.77 -20.98
 2003-Jul-14 23:02  r  22 49 29.80 -13 04 33.5  -1.84   19.211   50.83 -20.96
 2003-Jul-15 04:20 At  22 49 39.10 -13 04 27.0  -1.85   19.253  128.29 -20.95
 2003-Jul-15 09:37 *s  22 49 48.24 -13 04 16.0  -1.85   19.294  205.49 -20.94
 2003-Jul-15 22:59  r  22 50 15.03 -13 03 58.1  -1.87   19.398   40.81 -20.92
 2003-Jul-16 04:17 At  22 50 23.73 -13 03 54.8  -1.88   19.441  118.27 -20.91
 2003-Jul-16 09:34 *s  22 50 32.28 -13 03 47.2  -1.88   19.481  195.48 -20.90
 2003-Jul-16 22:56  r  22 50 57.60 -13 03 37.6  -1.90   19.587   30.80 -20.87
 2003-Jul-17 04:13 At  22 51 05.68 -13 03 37.7  -1.91   19.629  108.02 -20.86
 2003-Jul-17 09:31 *s  22 51 13.64 -13 03 33.3  -1.91   19.670  185.48 -20.86
 2003-Jul-17 22:53  r  22 51 37.46 -13 03 32.3  -1.93   19.776   20.81 -20.83
 2003-Jul-18 04:10 At  22 51 44.92 -13 03 35.8  -1.94   19.818   98.02 -20.82
 2003-Jul-18 09:28 *s  22 51 52.27 -13 03 34.7  -1.94   19.859  175.48 -20.81
 2003-Jul-18 22:49  r  22 52 14.54 -13 03 42.2  -1.96   19.965   10.58 -20.79
 2003-Jul-19 04:07 At  22 52 21.40 -13 03 49.1  -1.97   20.008   88.04 -20.78
 2003-Jul-19 09:24 *s  22 52 28.10 -13 03 51.5  -1.97   20.049  165.26 -20.77
 2003-Jul-19 22:46  r  22 52 48.83 -13 04 07.5  -1.99   20.155    0.61 -20.74
 2003-Jul-20 04:03 At  22 52 55.03 -13 04 17.9  -1.99   20.198   77.83 -20.73
 2003-Jul-20 09:21 *s  22 53 01.11 -13 04 23.7  -2.00   20.239  155.30 -20.72
 2003-Jul-20 22:43  r  22 53 20.26 -13 04 48.5  -2.02   20.345  350.65 -20.69
 2003-Jul-21 04:00 At  22 53 25.81 -13 05 02.3  -2.02   20.388   67.88 -20.68
 2003-Jul-21 09:18 *s  22 53 31.25 -13 05 11.5  -2.03   20.429  145.35 -20.67
 2003-Jul-21 22:39  r  22 53 48.77 -13 05 44.9  -2.05   20.534  340.46 -20.65
 2003-Jul-22 03:57 At  22 53 53.68 -13 06 02.3  -2.05   20.578   57.94 -20.63
 2003-Jul-22 09:14 *s  22 53 58.44 -13 06 14.8  -2.06   20.618  135.16 -20.63
 2003-Jul-22 22:36  r  22 54 14.35 -13 06 57.1  -2.08   20.724  330.53 -20.60
 2003-Jul-23 03:53  t  22 54 18.58 -13 07 17.9  -2.08   20.767   47.76 -20.59
 2003-Jul-23 09:10 *s  22 54 22.67 -13 07 33.9  -2.09   20.808  125.00 -20.58
 2003-Jul-23 22:32  r  22 54 36.93 -13 08 24.8  -2.10   20.913  320.37 -20.55
 2003-Jul-24 03:49  t  22 54 40.49 -13 08 49.0  -2.11   20.956   37.61 -20.54
 2003-Jul-24 09:07 *s  22 54 43.92 -13 09 08.5  -2.12   20.997  115.08 -20.53
 2003-Jul-24 22:29  r  22 54 56.50 -13 10 08.2  -2.13   21.102  310.47 -20.50
 2003-Jul-25 03:46  t  22 54 59.38 -13 10 35.9  -2.14   21.145   27.71 -20.49
 2003-Jul-25 09:03 *s  22 55 02.12 -13 10 58.7  -2.15   21.185  104.94 -20.48
 2003-Jul-25 22:25  r  22 55 13.02 -13 12 07.0  -2.16   21.290  300.34 -20.45
 2003-Jul-26 03:42  t  22 55 15.21 -13 12 38.1  -2.17   21.332   17.58 -20.43
 2003-Jul-26 08:59 *s  22 55 17.25 -13 13 04.3  -2.18   21.372   94.82 -20.42
 2003-Jul-26 22:22  r  22 55 26.46 -13 14 21.2  -2.19   21.476  290.46 -20.39
 2003-Jul-27 03:38  t  22 55 27.96 -13 14 55.7  -2.20   21.519    7.46 -20.38
 2003-Jul-27 08:55 *s  22 55 29.31 -13 15 25.2  -2.20   21.558   84.70 -20.37
 2003-Jul-27 22:18  r  22 55 36.80 -13 16 50.6  -2.22   21.662  280.35 -20.34
 2003-Jul-28 03:35  t  22 55 37.60 -13 17 28.5  -2.23   21.704  357.60 -20.33
 2003-Jul-28 08:51 *s  22 55 38.25 -13 18 01.2  -2.23   21.743   74.60 -20.32
 2003-Jul-28 22:14  r  22 55 44.02 -13 19 34.8  -2.25   21.845  270.26 -20.29
 2003-Jul-29 03:31  t  22 55 44.13 -13 20 16.0  -2.26   21.887  347.51 -20.28
 2003-Jul-29 08:47 *s  22 55 44.09 -13 20 51.9  -2.26   21.926   64.52 -20.27
 2003-Jul-29 22:11  r  22 55 48.13 -13 22 33.9  -2.28   22.027  260.43 -20.24
 2003-Jul-30 03:27  t  22 55 47.54 -13 23 18.2  -2.28   22.068  337.44 -20.22
 2003-Jul-30 08:43 *s  22 55 46.80 -13 23 57.1  -2.29   22.107   54.45 -20.21
 2003-Jul-30 22:07  r  22 55 49.11 -13 25 47.0  -2.31   22.207  250.37 -20.18
 
-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-
 
Dust Storms

The beginning of this month sees the onset of dust storm activity on Mars.  
As can be seen in all the July images on our web site, there has been an
increase in the red brightness on the northern edge of Hellas Basin.  This
cloud has been expanding and now appears to cover the entire basin as well
as moving northward toward Syrtis Major.  The dust storm activity is also
being watched by the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer
(TES) and you can see their daily maps of dust optical depth in the
thermal infrard at http://emma.la.asu.edu/ .  They are also monitoring
the atmospheric temperature which should increase as more dust is lofted.

You can follow the growth of this storm from the TES page and from the
the vast number of mages at our MarsWatch site.  I assume, base on
the last apparition, that the number of image submissions will be
increasing dramatically!  Since images pages are broken down by the month,
please be patient while they are loading.  If any single page gets too
large, I may have to break them into half-month pages.

-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-

Mars Explorer Rovers

Spirit, previously known as MER-A lifted off successfully from Florida
on 10 June 2003.  So far all systems are in good health and on 20 June,
the spacecraft made its first trajectory correction and attitude turn 
 --- the rockets have fired and are working fine.  There is one more
scheduled trajectory correction and one more attitude turn during the
cruise phase.  Cruise phase will end 20 Nov 2003 and then things get
really exciting as the mission teams prepare for arrival on 4 Jan 2004.

Opportunity (MER-B) is currently scheduled to liftoff today; there
are two launch windows every day through 15 July so if it does not
go today, we still have some time.  Here's hoping the weather holds
out in Florida!

You can get more information at the offical MER web site 
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/ .

-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-

Mars Express

The European Space Agency launched the Mars Express mission on 2 June
2003 and the Near-Earth commissioning of all on-board systems has been
completed.  So far, so good!  Tests of the Beagle 2 lander were performed
over the weekend and a report is expected soon.  See the offical web site
at http://sci.esa.int/marsexpress/ for more information and updates.

The spacecraft carries a suite of instruments including ASPERA, to study
the interaction of Mars and the solar wind, the High Resolution Stereo 
Colour Imager (HRSC) to image Mars at 2-m resolution, the Mars Radio Science 
Experiment (MaRS) to probe the atmosphere and ionosphere of Mars, the 
Subsurface Sounding Radar/Altimeter (MARSIS) which will use radio waves
to probe for subsurface ices, IR Mineralogical Mapping Spectrometer
(OMEGA) which will look at Mars in visible and near-infrared wavelengths
in order to measure the mineralogy of the surface, the Planetary Fourier
Spectrometer (PFS) which will use infrared observations to measure the
temperature and pressure profiles of the Mars atmosphere and the UV and 
IR Atmospheric Spectrometer (SPICAM) which will monitor atmospheric
composition.

The Beagle 2 lander will bounce-down in Isidis Planitia and begin studying
its environment.  It carries three cameras, a mass spectrometer to look
for evidence of Mars biology, a Mossbauer spectrometer to measure iron
content of samples, an X-ray spectrometer to measure sample elemental
abundances, and a suite of local environment (UV, temperature, pressure,
wind, etc.) sensors.  More information on this high-science density
probe can be found at http://www.beagle2.com/ .

-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-

Mars Odyssey

In orbit now for 622 days and all instruments are now online and running.
The Gamma-Ray Spectrometer now has two global maps showing sesonal changes
in water-ice content in the surface.  MARIE continues to measure the 
radiation dose in Mars orbit and has seen some interesting spikes that
reach levels 100 times greater than the average!  Finally, THEMIS 
continues to provide us with very high resolution images of the surface
in the visible and thermal infrared including a recent image of some
interesting looking sand dunes in the southern hemisphere.  You can follow
all the latest results from these instrument packages at the JPL site
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/mission/instruments.html.

-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-

Mars Global Surveyor

After over 19,500 orbits MGS is still going strong!  As stated above, the 
MGS-TES instrument has been continued to collect thermal infrared spectra 
and from these the teams have been able to produce daily maps of dust 
optical depth and atmospheric temperature.  Just as our ground-based folks, 
the TES instrument has detected the beginning and growth of the Hellas Basin 
dust storm.  

The Mars Observer Camera has also snapped a nice shot of Hellas covered with
dust (see http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/07/07/index.html).
The MOC has also been able to image the satellite Phobos in orbit about
Mars.  The images were taken on 23 June 2003 when Phobos was just off
the Martain limb (see http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/06/23/).

-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-

Correction: the date in the header of the previous newsletter is wrong.
The corrected newsletter has been posted at the MarsWatch site.  Sorry
for any confusion that may have caused.  Secondly, I listed the MER
spacecraft as being the "next missions to Mars" --- that should have
been the "next NASA missions to Mars" as just that day, the Mars Express
lifted off.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marswatch WWW site --- http://elvis.rowan.edu/marswatch

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions, comments, concerns, and contributions to:
David R. Klassen                          voice: 856-256-4500 x3273
Department of Physics & Astronomy         fax: 856-256-4478
Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Road                     klassen@rowan.edu
Glassboro, NJ 08028                       http://elvis.rowan.edu/~klassen