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

      THE INTERNATIONAL MARSWATCH ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
      -------------------------------------------------
                     Volume 7; Issue 4
                        1 August 2005
                     Circulation: 725 

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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) Mars on Earth project

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Happy August everyone!  I think this is a first: I'm actually getting
a newsletter out on time; I'll do my best to continue this trend.
The MarsWatch image pages are growing nicely---thanks to all the
wonderful contributors.  It's good to see many of the same names
as last opposition, but also just as nice to see some new ones which
just shows how much interest there is in the Red Planet for ground
based observing.

It has been brought to my attention that there just don't seem to
be any good freeware FTP programs that are all that intuitive for
the average users.  For those who are techno-savvy, the command line
instructions are good for any and all systems.  That means you can use
a terminal in any flavor of Unix/Linux as well as Mac OS X or you
can open a Command Prompt under any flavor of Windows (from 3.11
all the way up to XP) and those instructions should work.

Transfering files with FTP has become a lot harder since all the
major browsers decided to take get rid of their drag-and-drop
upload features.  However, I have just discovered that some very
talented and generous programmers have created a plugin for the
Mozilla FireFox browser that will allow you to do FTP.  I have
included detailed instructions on getting, and using, it to send
images to the MarsWatch.  Of course, this means you'll have to
use the FireFox browser---but since it out performs just about
all other browsers out there anyway, I think you'll like it.
And it works under just about any/all platforms.

So, have fun observing and I look forward to seeing your images.

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-Aug-01 03:50  r  02 03 56.95 +09 37 13.6  -0.48   11.315   32.10 -17.90
 2005-Aug-01 10:26 *t  02 04 32.15 +09 40 22.8  -0.48   11.336  128.44 -17.86
 2005-Aug-01 17:01 *s  02 05 07.19 +09 43 27.6  -0.49   11.356  224.55 -17.81
 2005-Aug-02 03:48  r  02 06 06.44 +09 48 31.6  -0.49   11.391   21.95 -17.73
 2005-Aug-02 10:24 *t  02 06 41.40 +09 51 38.5  -0.50   11.412  118.30 -17.68
 2005-Aug-02 17:00 *s  02 07 16.28 +09 54 41.4  -0.50   11.433  214.64 -17.63
 2005-Aug-03 03:45  r  02 08 14.95 +09 59 40.6  -0.51   11.467   11.57 -17.55
 2005-Aug-03 10:22 *t  02 08 49.74 +10 02 45.6  -0.51   11.489  108.16 -17.50
 2005-Aug-03 16:59 *s  02 09 24.46 +10 05 46.5  -0.52   11.510  204.75 -17.46
 2005-Aug-04 03:43  r  02 10 22.63 +10 10 41.4  -0.52   11.545    1.43 -17.38
 2005-Aug-04 10:20 *t  02 10 57.15 +10 13 44.0  -0.53   11.567   98.02 -17.33
 2005-Aug-04 16:58 *s  02 11 31.69 +10 16 43.0  -0.53   11.589  194.86 -17.28
 2005-Aug-05 03:40  r  02 12 29.27 +10 21 33.0  -0.54   11.624  351.06 -17.20
 2005-Aug-05 10:18 *t  02 13 03.61 +10 24 33.7  -0.54   11.646   87.89 -17.15
 2005-Aug-05 16:56 *s  02 13 37.87 +10 27 30.2  -0.55   11.668  184.73 -17.11
 2005-Aug-06 03:38  r  02 14 35.01 +10 32 16.3  -0.56   11.703  340.93 -17.03
 2005-Aug-06 10:16 *t  02 15 09.08 +10 35 14.6  -0.56   11.726   77.77 -16.98
 2005-Aug-06 16:55 *s  02 15 43.15 +10 38 09.1  -0.56   11.748  174.85 -16.93
 2005-Aug-07 03:35  r  02 16 39.67 +10 42 50.3  -0.57   11.784  330.57 -16.85
 2005-Aug-07 10:15 *t  02 17 13.61 +10 45 47.1  -0.58   11.807   67.90 -16.80
 2005-Aug-07 16:54 *s  02 17 47.40 +10 48 39.0  -0.58   11.829  164.98 -16.76
 2005-Aug-08 03:33  r  02 18 43.38 +10 53 15.9  -0.59   11.866  320.46 -16.68
 2005-Aug-08 10:13 *t  02 19 17.03 +10 56 10.2  -0.59   11.889   57.79 -16.63
 2005-Aug-08 16:53 *s  02 19 50.60 +10 59 00.0  -0.60   11.911  155.12 -16.58
 2005-Aug-09 03:30  r  02 20 45.94 +11 03 32.1  -0.60   11.948  310.11 -16.50
 2005-Aug-09 10:11 *t  02 21 19.37 +11 06 24.4  -0.61   11.972   47.68 -16.46
 2005-Aug-09 16:51 *s  02 21 52.63 +11 09 11.7  -0.61   11.994  145.01 -16.41
 2005-Aug-10 03:28  r  02 22 47.50 +11 13 39.8  -0.62   12.031  300.01 -16.33
 2005-Aug-10 10:09 *t  02 23 20.62 +11 16 29.6  -0.62   12.056   37.58 -16.28
 2005-Aug-10 16:50 *s  02 23 53.65 +11 19 14.8  -0.63   12.078  135.16 -16.23
 2005-Aug-11 03:25  r  02 24 47.86 +11 23 38.0  -0.64   12.116  289.67 -16.16
 2005-Aug-11 10:07 Ct  02 25 20.74 +11 26 25.8  -0.64   12.140   27.49 -16.11
 2005-Aug-11 16:49 *s  02 25 53.53 +11 29 08.8  -0.65   12.164  125.31 -16.06
 2005-Aug-12 03:23  r  02 26 47.15 +11 33 27.7  -0.65   12.201  279.58 -15.98
 2005-Aug-12 10:05 Ct  02 27 19.70 +11 36 13.0  -0.66   12.226   17.40 -15.94
 2005-Aug-12 16:47 *s  02 27 52.16 +11 38 53.4  -0.66   12.250  115.23 -15.89
 2005-Aug-13 03:20  r  02 28 45.19 +11 43 07.9  -0.67   12.288  269.25 -15.81
 2005-Aug-13 10:03 Ct  02 29 17.49 +11 45 51.1  -0.67   12.313    7.32 -15.77
 2005-Aug-13 16:46 *s  02 29 49.69 +11 48 29.4  -0.68   12.337  105.39 -15.72
 2005-Aug-14 03:18  r  02 30 42.12 +11 52 39.5  -0.69   12.376  259.18 -15.64
 2005-Aug-14 10:01 Ct  02 31 14.06 +11 55 20.2  -0.69   12.401  357.25 -15.60
 2005-Aug-14 16:44 *s  02 31 45.91 +11 57 55.9  -0.70   12.425   95.32 -15.55
 2005-Aug-15 03:15  r  02 32 37.73 +12 02 01.6  -0.70   12.464  248.87 -15.47
 2005-Aug-15 09:59 Ct  02 33 09.40 +12 04 40.3  -0.71   12.490  347.18 -15.43
 2005-Aug-15 16:43 *s  02 33 40.97 +12 07 13.7  -0.71   12.514   85.50 -15.38
 2005-Aug-16 03:13  r  02 34 32.16 +12 11 15.1  -0.72   12.554  238.80 -15.30
 2005-Aug-16 09:57 Ct  02 35 03.47 +12 13 51.2  -0.73   12.580  337.12 -15.26
 2005-Aug-16 16:42 *s  02 35 34.75 +12 16 22.4  -0.73   12.605   75.68 -15.21
 2005-Aug-17 03:10  r  02 36 25.22 +12 20 19.1  -0.74   12.644  228.50 -15.14
 2005-Aug-17 09:55 Ct  02 36 56.23 +12 22 53.1  -0.74   12.671  327.06 -15.09
 2005-Aug-17 16:40 *s  02 37 27.14 +12 25 21.8  -0.75   12.696   65.63 -15.05
 2005-Aug-18 03:07  r  02 38 16.96 +12 29 14.1  -0.75   12.736  218.21 -14.97
 2005-Aug-18 09:53 Ct  02 38 47.67 +12 31 46.0  -0.76   12.763  317.02 -14.93
 2005-Aug-18 16:38 *s  02 39 18.19 +12 34 12.0  -0.76   12.789   55.58 -14.88
 2005-Aug-19 03:05  r  02 40 07.42 +12 38 00.3  -0.77   12.829  208.17 -14.81
 2005-Aug-19 09:51 Ct  02 40 37.73 +12 40 29.7  -0.78   12.856  306.97 -14.76
 2005-Aug-19 16:37 *s  02 41 07.93 +12 42 53.4  -0.78   12.882   45.78 -14.72
 2005-Aug-20 03:02  r  02 41 56.40 +12 46 37.0  -0.79   12.923  197.89 -14.64
 2005-Aug-20 09:49 Ct  02 42 26.38 +12 49 04.2  -0.80   12.951  296.94 -14.60
 2005-Aug-20 16:35 *s  02 42 56.18 +12 51 25.3  -0.80   12.977   35.75 -14.55
 2005-Aug-21 03:00  r  02 43 44.03 +12 55 05.0  -0.81   13.019  187.86 -14.48
 2005-Aug-21 09:46 Nt  02 44 13.52 +12 57 29.2  -0.81   13.046  286.67 -14.44
 2005-Aug-21 16:34 *s  02 44 43.04 +12 59 48.3  -0.82   13.073   25.97 -14.39
 2005-Aug-22 02:57  r  02 45 30.10 +13 03 23.3  -0.83   13.115  177.59 -14.32
 2005-Aug-22 09:44 Nt  02 45 59.23 +13 05 45.3  -0.83   13.143  276.65 -14.28
 2005-Aug-22 16:32 *s  02 46 28.31 +13 08 01.7  -0.84   13.170   15.95 -14.24
 2005-Aug-23 02:54  r  02 47 14.64 +13 11 32.3  -0.84   13.213  167.33 -14.17
 2005-Aug-23 09:42 Nt  02 47 43.39 +13 13 52.1  -0.85   13.241  266.64 -14.12
 2005-Aug-23 16:30 *s  02 48 12.02 +13 16 05.8  -0.85   13.269    5.94 -14.08
 2005-Aug-24 02:51  r  02 48 57.60 +13 19 31.9  -0.86   13.311  157.08 -14.01
 2005-Aug-24 09:40 Nt  02 49 25.97 +13 21 49.4  -0.87   13.340  256.63 -13.97
 2005-Aug-24 16:28 *s  02 49 54.13 +13 24 00.4  -0.87   13.368  355.94 -13.93
 2005-Aug-25 02:49  r  02 50 39.01 +13 27 22.5  -0.88   13.411  147.08 -13.86
 2005-Aug-25 09:38 Nt  02 51 06.89 +13 29 37.3  -0.89   13.441  246.63 -13.82
 2005-Aug-25 16:27 *s  02 51 34.64 +13 31 45.9  -0.89   13.469  346.18 -13.77
 2005-Aug-26 02:46  r  02 52 18.66 +13 35 03.2  -0.90   13.513  136.84 -13.71
 2005-Aug-26 09:35 Nt  02 52 46.05 +13 37 15.4  -0.91   13.543  236.40 -13.67
 2005-Aug-26 16:25 *s  02 53 13.37 +13 39 21.5  -0.91   13.571  336.20 -13.62
 2005-Aug-27 02:43  r  02 53 56.58 +13 42 34.4  -0.92   13.615  126.62 -13.56
 2005-Aug-27 09:33 Nt  02 54 23.53 +13 44 44.3  -0.92   13.645  226.42 -13.52
 2005-Aug-27 16:23 *s  02 54 50.34 +13 46 47.6  -0.93   13.674  326.22 -13.48
 2005-Aug-28 02:40  r  02 55 32.71 +13 49 56.1  -0.94   13.719  116.40 -13.41
 2005-Aug-28 09:31 Nt  02 55 59.20 +13 52 03.5  -0.94   13.750  216.44 -13.37
 2005-Aug-28 16:21 *s  02 56 25.48 +13 54 04.1  -0.95   13.779  316.24 -13.33
 2005-Aug-29 02:38  r  02 57 07.07 +13 57 08.5  -0.96   13.824  106.43 -13.27
 2005-Aug-29 09:28 Nt  02 57 32.96 +13 59 12.9  -0.96   13.855  206.23 -13.23
 2005-Aug-29 16:19 *s  02 57 58.76 +14 01 11.0  -0.97   13.884  306.28 -13.19
 2005-Aug-30 02:35  r  02 58 39.47 +14 04 10.9  -0.98   13.930   96.22 -13.13
 2005-Aug-30 09:26 Nt  02 59 04.86 +14 06 13.0  -0.98   13.961  196.27 -13.09
 2005-Aug-30 16:17 *s  02 59 30.10 +14 08 08.2  -0.99   13.991  296.32 -13.05
 2005-Aug-31 02:32  r  03 00 09.92 +14 11 03.7  -1.00   14.038   86.03 -12.99
 2005-Aug-31 09:23 At  03 00 34.75 +14 13 03.1  -1.00   14.069  186.08 -12.95
 2005-Aug-31 16:15 *s  03 00 59.47 +14 14 55.8  -1.01   14.100  286.37 -12.92

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The launch countdown for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is now just over
nine and a half days.  I have to admit that this one has me very excited
since it will be the first near-infrared instrumentation in orbit since,
well, a very long time and this is the area of my own ground-based
observing research.  MRO has still in Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape
Canaveral; the last step is to put the orbiter, now inside the Atlas
fairing, onto the Atlas launch stage, then transport to its launch pad.

You can keep up with all the latest, and look for more launch information
as 10 August approachs, at their web site http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/.

Good luck to all the MRO teams and have a succussful launch!

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Spirit is moving further up into the Columbia Hills and has about
200 meters to go before it reaches the summit.  Just to give some
perspective on what this rover has been doing, and just how far
it has driven, take a look at this image at the rover web site
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/spirit/20050713.html

At the end of last May, Spirit captured several images of dust
devils in action and dust movement by wind gusts..  These images have 
been put together into a few movie clips and can be found at
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20050708a.html

Although free from the dunes that trapped it, Opportunity is still
in the dusty and sandy terrain so the team is doing its best to
navigate around the ripples to avoid getting stuck again.  After
many weeks, Opportunity is now beginning to see rocky terrain
ahead.  You can see a full color image of the dune in which it
was trapped, and notice the DEEP wheel ruts in the sand at
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20050728a.html

As of 21 July, Spirit has traveled a total of 4685 meters 
(about 2.91 miles) and Opportunity has traveled a total of
about 5,555 meters (about 3.45 miles).

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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As of 8 July 2005 Mars Odyssey has achieved 15,000 science orbits
and is still going strong!  Some of the latest THEMIS images show
an old crater that has been filled in by the ejecta of a younger
crater (http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20050729a.html), a crater that
was filled at two different episodes, the last time by lava flow
(http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20050725A.html) and a really nice
crater ejecta blanket showing some nice, sharp, radial spokes
(http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20050726a.html).

The Odyssey team has also put together an 11-minute movie which
discovers some of the major scientific achievements and plans on
how to continue studying the wealth of information still coming
in.  You can download the video (QuickTime or MPEG versions) at
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/gallery/video/video.html#OdysseyOfExploration

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

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Mars Express has taken a breath-taking image with its High Resolution
Stereo Camera of a crater at the north pole that has a "pool" of water
ice at its bottom.  This image can be found at the ESA web site
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMGKA808BE_0.html

The ESA web site has put up a Flash animated image browser.  It shows
a spinning Mars with flags linking to the 3-d stero images.  You can
play with it at http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMVZF77ESD_0.html

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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The Mars Global Surveyor has released several images over the past
month including a composite image of the the Syrtis Major hemisphere
at L_S 249, or early northern winter.  This full color image is
at http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/07/19/.  There is also
a nice image of a flood channel on the Tharsis plateau, which is the
location of four large volcanoes.  The image can be seen at
http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/07/17/.  There are also a
couple images of the residual south polar cap, which is compose
primerily of CO_2 (or "dry") ice.  One of them shows a polygon
cracked plain (http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/07/21/)
and the other is a close-up of the ice-covered cap itself
(http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/07/23/).  The MOC team
has also created an animated GIF image which shows differences
in the south polar cap region over a six year period.  You can
see it at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/sci/mgs13jul05/index.html.

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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Stationed at the Haughton impact structure on Devon Island in the high
arctic here on Earth, an international, interdisciplinary team of
researchers is studying the area as a Mars analog.  Along with studying
the impact area in its terrestrial context, they will be woring on
developing technologies and strategies for human exploration of the
Moon and Mars.  You can read all about the project, sponsored in part
by NASA and the SETI institute, see live webcam images, and follow
their progress via field reports.  Their web site is at
http://www.marsonearth.org/

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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