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      THE INTERNATIONAL MARSWATCH ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
      -------------------------------------------------
                     Volume 7; Issue 3
                        6 July 2005
                     Circulation: 717 

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(1) Opening Remarks
(2) Ephemerides
(3) Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
(4) Mars Explorer Rovers
(5) Mars Odyssey
(6) Mars Express
(7) Mars Global Surveyor
(8) Phoenix Mars Lander

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Hello MarsWatchers!  I just wanted to thank all those who have been
contributing their images to this project.  Our goal is to image the
entire globe of Mars every day this observing season---this is what
makes this a truly international effort since this goal will require
observers the world over.  To contribute, just go to the MarsWatch
web site (see address at bottom of this newsletter) and follow the
FTP site link.  We would also like to hear from any professional
groups on their observing plans and hope they will also be able
to submit images or at least information on their programs.

Clear Skies!
      Dave

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The following table was generated using JPL's online ephemerides site.
Times are all UT.  Dates and times are given for Mars rise (r), 
transit (t), and set (s) although these will only be approximate for
any specific place.  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 (commonly 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
2005-Jul-01 05:03  r  00 51 37.33 +02 46 35.2  -0.05    9.337  351.73 -22.72
2005-Jul-01 11:15 *t  00 52 15.13 +02 50 25.5  -0.06    9.351   82.20 -22.69
2005-Jul-01 17:28 *s  00 52 53.00 +02 54 15.3  -0.06    9.365  172.91 -22.66
2005-Jul-02 05:01  r  00 54 05.03 +03 01 22.2  -0.07    9.392  341.44 -22.60
2005-Jul-02 11:14 *t  00 54 42.82 +03 05 11.8  -0.07    9.406   72.15 -22.56
2005-Jul-02 17:27 *s  00 55 20.58 +03 09 00.4  -0.07    9.420  162.87 -22.53
2005-Jul-03 04:59  r  00 56 32.32 +03 16 04.2  -0.08    9.446  331.16 -22.47
2005-Jul-03 11:12 *t  00 57 10.00 +03 19 52.6  -0.08    9.461   61.87 -22.44
2005-Jul-03 17:26 *s  00 57 47.75 +03 23 40.4  -0.09    9.475  152.83 -22.40
2005-Jul-04 04:56  r  00 58 59.08 +03 30 40.6  -0.09    9.502  320.63 -22.34
2005-Jul-04 11:11 *t  00 59 36.85 +03 34 28.9  -0.09    9.517   51.84 -22.31
2005-Jul-04 17:26 *s  01 00 14.60 +03 38 15.9  -0.10    9.531  143.04 -22.27
2005-Jul-05 04:54  r  01 01 25.52 +03 45 12.4  -0.10    9.558  310.36 -22.21
2005-Jul-05 11:09 *t  01 02 03.17 +03 48 59.4  -0.11    9.573   41.56 -22.17
2005-Jul-05 17:25 *s  01 02 40.90 +03 52 45.6  -0.11    9.587  133.01 -22.14
2005-Jul-06 04:52  r  01 03 51.51 +03 59 38.8  -0.12    9.615  300.09 -22.07
2005-Jul-06 11:08 *t  01 04 29.15 +04 03 25.0  -0.12    9.630   31.53 -22.04
2005-Jul-06 17:24 *s  01 05 06.75 +04 07 09.7  -0.12    9.644  122.98 -22.00
2005-Jul-07 04:49  r  01 06 16.95 +04 13 59.1  -0.13    9.672  289.57 -21.93
2005-Jul-07 11:06 *t  01 06 54.57 +04 17 44.5  -0.13    9.687   21.27 -21.90
2005-Jul-07 17:24 *s  01 07 32.25 +04 21 28.9  -0.14    9.702  113.20 -21.86
2005-Jul-08 04:47  r  01 08 42.03 +04 28 14.4  -0.14    9.730  279.31 -21.79
2005-Jul-08 11:05 *t  01 09 19.62 +04 31 58.9  -0.15    9.745   11.24 -21.76
2005-Jul-08 17:23 *s  01 09 57.18 +04 35 41.7  -0.15    9.760  103.18 -21.72
2005-Jul-09 04:45  r  01 11 06.64 +04 42 23.9  -0.16    9.788  269.05 -21.65
2005-Jul-09 11:03 *t  01 11 44.11 +04 46 06.8  -0.16    9.804    0.99 -21.61
2005-Jul-09 17:22 *s  01 12 21.63 +04 49 48.7  -0.16    9.819   93.17 -21.58
2005-Jul-10 04:42  r  01 13 30.67 +04 56 26.9  -0.17    9.847  258.55 -21.51
2005-Jul-10 11:02 *t  01 14 08.20 +05 00 09.5  -0.17    9.863  350.97 -21.47
2005-Jul-10 17:21 *s  01 14 45.60 +05 03 49.7  -0.18    9.878   83.15 -21.43
2005-Jul-11 04:40  r  01 15 54.32 +05 10 24.4  -0.18    9.906  248.30 -21.36
2005-Jul-11 11:00 *t  01 16 31.71 +05 14 05.5  -0.19    9.922  340.72 -21.32
2005-Jul-11 17:21 *s  01 17 09.18 +05 17 45.2  -0.19    9.938   73.39 -21.28
2005-Jul-12 04:38  r  01 18 17.46 +05 24 15.8  -0.20    9.966  238.05 -21.21
2005-Jul-12 10:59 *t  01 18 54.82 +05 27 55.8  -0.20    9.983  330.72 -21.17
2005-Jul-12 17:20 *s  01 19 32.14 +05 31 33.9  -0.20    9.998   63.39 -21.13
2005-Jul-13 04:35  r  01 20 39.99 +05 38 00.4  -0.21   10.027  227.56 -21.06
2005-Jul-13 10:57 *t  01 21 17.31 +05 41 39.4  -0.21   10.044  320.48 -21.02
2005-Jul-13 17:19 *s  01 21 54.60 +05 45 16.2  -0.22   10.060   53.39 -20.98
2005-Jul-14 04:33  r  01 23 02.11 +05 51 39.2  -0.22   10.088  217.32 -20.91
2005-Jul-14 10:56 *t  01 23 39.39 +05 55 17.1  -0.23   10.105  310.48 -20.87
2005-Jul-14 17:18 *s  01 24 16.53 +05 58 52.2  -0.23   10.121   43.40 -20.83
2005-Jul-15 04:31  r  01 25 23.70 +06 05 11.6  -0.24   10.150  207.09 -20.75
2005-Jul-15 10:54 *t  01 26 00.83 +06 08 47.7  -0.24   10.167  300.25 -20.71
2005-Jul-15 17:17 *s  01 26 37.93 +06 12 21.6  -0.24   10.184   33.41 -20.67
2005-Jul-16 04:28  r  01 27 44.66 +06 18 36.8  -0.25   10.213  196.61 -20.59
2005-Jul-16 10:52 *t  01 28 21.74 +06 22 11.8  -0.25   10.230  290.02 -20.55
2005-Jul-16 17:17 *s  01 28 58.88 +06 25 45.0  -0.26   10.247   23.67 -20.51
2005-Jul-17 04:26  r  01 30 05.17 +06 31 56.0  -0.26   10.276  186.39 -20.44
2005-Jul-17 10:51 *t  01 30 42.20 +06 35 29.8  -0.27   10.294  280.04 -20.39
2005-Jul-17 17:16 *s  01 31 19.19 +06 39 01.2  -0.27   10.311   13.68 -20.35
2005-Jul-18 04:24  r  01 32 25.12 +06 45 08.5  -0.28   10.340  176.17 -20.27
2005-Jul-18 10:49 *t  01 33 02.00 +06 48 40.5  -0.28   10.358  269.82 -20.23
2005-Jul-18 17:15 *s  01 33 38.93 +06 52 10.5  -0.28   10.375    3.71 -20.19
2005-Jul-19 04:21  r  01 34 44.41 +06 58 13.6  -0.29   10.405  165.70 -20.11
2005-Jul-19 10:48 *t  01 35 21.33 +07 01 44.9  -0.29   10.423  259.84 -20.07
2005-Jul-19 17:14 *s  01 35 58.10 +07 05 13.0  -0.30   10.440  353.74 -20.03
2005-Jul-20 04:19  r  01 37 03.23 +07 11 12.3  -0.30   10.470  155.49 -19.95
2005-Jul-20 10:46 *t  01 37 39.98 +07 14 41.8  -0.31   10.488  249.63 -19.91
2005-Jul-20 17:13 *s  01 38 16.69 +07 18 08.6  -0.31   10.506  343.77 -19.86
2005-Jul-21 04:17  r  01 39 21.45 +07 24 04.1  -0.32   10.536  145.28 -19.78
2005-Jul-21 10:44 *t  01 39 58.04 +07 27 31.7  -0.32   10.555  239.42 -19.74
2005-Jul-21 17:12 *s  01 40 34.68 +07 30 57.1  -0.33   10.572  333.81 -19.70
2005-Jul-22 04:14  r  01 41 38.98 +07 36 48.2  -0.33   10.603  134.84 -19.62
2005-Jul-22 10:43 *t  01 42 15.59 +07 40 15.0  -0.34   10.622  229.46 -19.57
2005-Jul-22 17:11 *s  01 42 52.06 +07 43 38.4  -0.34   10.639  323.85 -19.53
2005-Jul-23 04:12  r  01 43 55.98 +07 49 25.6  -0.35   10.671  124.64 -19.45
2005-Jul-23 10:41 *t  01 44 32.42 +07 52 50.5  -0.35   10.689  219.27 -19.41
2005-Jul-23 17:10 *s  01 45 08.81 +07 56 12.4  -0.35   10.707  313.90 -19.36
2005-Jul-24 04:09  r  01 46 12.25 +08 01 55.2  -0.36   10.739  114.20 -19.28
2005-Jul-24 10:39 *t  01 46 48.60 +08 05 18.6  -0.36   10.758  209.07 -19.24
2005-Jul-24 17:09 *s  01 47 24.90 +08 08 39.0  -0.37   10.776  303.95 -19.19
2005-Jul-25 04:07  r  01 48 27.95 +08 14 17.8  -0.37   10.808  104.01 -19.11
2005-Jul-25 10:38 *t  01 49 04.20 +08 17 39.7  -0.38   10.827  199.13 -19.07
2005-Jul-25 17:08 *s  01 49 40.32 +08 20 58.0  -0.38   10.846  294.00 -19.02
2005-Jul-26 04:05  r  01 50 42.96 +08 26 32.8  -0.39   10.878   93.83 -18.94
2005-Jul-26 10:36 *t  01 51 19.02 +08 29 52.6  -0.39   10.897  188.95 -18.90
2005-Jul-26 17:07 *s  01 51 55.03 +08 33 09.2  -0.40   10.916  284.07 -18.85
2005-Jul-27 04:02  r  01 52 57.17 +08 38 39.5  -0.40   10.949   83.40 -18.77
2005-Jul-27 10:34 *t  01 53 33.13 +08 41 57.8  -0.41   10.968  178.77 -18.72
2005-Jul-27 17:06 *s  01 54 09.03 +08 45 12.7  -0.41   10.987  274.13 -18.68
2005-Jul-28 04:00  r  01 55 10.74 +08 50 38.8  -0.42   11.020   73.23 -18.60
2005-Jul-28 10:33 *t  01 55 46.58 +08 53 55.4  -0.42   11.040  168.84 -18.55
2005-Jul-28 17:05 *s  01 56 22.27 +08 57 08.1  -0.43   11.060  264.20 -18.51
2005-Jul-29 03:57  r  01 57 23.45 +09 02 29.6  -0.43   11.092   62.82 -18.42
2005-Jul-29 10:31 *t  01 57 59.17 +09 05 44.5  -0.44   11.113  158.67 -18.38
2005-Jul-29 17:04 *s  01 58 34.73 +09 08 55.4  -0.44   11.132  254.28 -18.33
2005-Jul-30 03:55  r  01 59 35.47 +09 14 12.7  -0.45   11.166   52.65 -18.25
2005-Jul-30 10:29 *t  02 00 10.96 +09 17 25.5  -0.45   11.186  148.51 -18.20
2005-Jul-30 17:03 *s  02 00 46.39 +09 20 34.5  -0.46   11.206  244.36 -18.16

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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is undergoing preflight testing.  According
to their 15 June update, the Centaur upper stage has been delivered
and it will be joined to the Atlas V booster.  Launch is still
scheduled for 10 August---that's about 34 days from now!  In the
mean time, you can check out a mission animation at the
official site http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/gallery/video/.
The current time line calls for launch on 10 August, a seven
month Cruise phase, a two month Approach phase, followed by
Orbit Insertion and a six month, 500+ orbit Aerobraking phase.
The primary Science Operations phase will run from November
2006 through November 2008.

For more information on the mission, check out the official site 
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/index.html.

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Spirit continues its studies of areas and rock outcrops within
the Columbia Hills.  Throughout June it looked at Larry's
Outcrop and the rock Backstay.  On 3 June, it achieved a milestone:
500 Sols on Mars and still going strong!  At the beginning of July
will be studying a very interesting layered rock dubbed Independence.
As of 28 June, Spirit has traveled a total of 4583.38 meters 
(about 2.85 miles).

Opportunity has been freed from the dune which had trapped it
for more than five weeks.  A lot of planning, testing, and
hard work paid off as it rolled free in early June.  It has
since been studying the dune region.  There is a great image
of Opportunity's tracks running through the thick sand at 
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20050621a.html
It is easy to see just how it got stuck!

If you want to explore some of the results, and other mission
information, see the MER site at http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/
and be ready to spend a lot of time!

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You can check out the Mars Odyssey THEMIS images --- they post the
latest ones at http://themis.asu.edu/latest.html and this past
month they have released a mosaic of Arsia Mons, a Tharsis volcano
(http://themis.asu.edu/zoom-20050613A.html), and two images they
label as THEMIS Images As Art which will go on for about two weeks.
These are images released for their aesthetic content.  The first
two are at http://themis.asu.edu/zoom-20050704A.html and
http://themis.asu.edu/zoom-200500405A.html.

For more information, see http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/ which is
the official NASA web site for the mission.

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With the successful deployment of its second and third antenna booms
on 14 and 17 June, the Mars Express MARSIS (Sub-Surface Sounding Radar
Altimeter) instrument is ready to go.  It went through a commissioning
phase throughout the end of June and has begun its nominal science
phase.  MARSIS will be used to survey the night-side of Mars to
its sub-surface structure to a depth of a few kilometers.

In early June, Mars Express scientists report seeing evidence of
a Martian aurora.  On Earth, our aurora is caused by charged particles
interacting with the global, dipole magnetic field.  Since Mars
does not have a global magnetic field, it is hard to make an
aurora---it would have to be smaller and localized over the many
anomalous magnetic fields Mars does have.  You can read all the
details at http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=37523

For more information on Mars Express, visit the ESA web site at
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=9
or http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/

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Mars Global Surveyor is truly a workhorse!  On 3 June the Mars Orbiter
Camera team released its 200,000th image---a closeup view of a
crater and its ejecta plain.  You can see the image at
http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/06/03/.  Other interesting
images over the month of June include one of the south pole
(http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/06/24/), defrosting
terrain (http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/06/29/) and 
a color mosaic of the daily global images showing Tharsis
(http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/07/05/).

The daily temperature profiles from the TES team are showing that
it is still quite cold in the northern hemisphere (about -100C);
as northern spring begins to arrive, we should see this start
to rise.  The warmest spots, still in the southern hemisphere, are 
still at about 0C; details are at http://tes.asu.edu/daily.html which 
shows a nice plot of temperature vs. latitude for a recent orbit.

For more information on MGS, go to http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/index.html
which has links to all the "final" and continuing results from all
the instrument teams.

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On 2 June, NASA has given the green light to the Phoenix mission and
is slotting it for a 2007 launch window.  Phoenix is the first of the
NASA Scout missions---low-cost projects that are to compliment the
core Mars Exploration Program.  In this case, it will be a lander
in the northern plains to dig down into the "permafrost" layers below
and extract samples for on-board analysis.

You can see the latest at http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/

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Questions, comments, concerns, and contributions to:

David R. Klassen
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Road
Glassboro, NJ 08028
klassen@rowan.edu