Light Cup served Deimos Tea?
Started by ronbee, 09/02/2003 06:58PM
Posted 09/02/2003 06:58PM
Opening Post
Posted 09/03/2003 09:46PM
#1
Hi Ron
When I enquired on Astromart a few days ago whether anyone had seen the moons of Mars I really didn't think that a 4" would manage it. Well, as Ed Hillary descended from Mt Everest, having climbed it 50 years ago, he gave us what is now his famous quote "We knocked the bastard off". Seems to be apt for the Light Cup and Deimos! So the Light Cup is no ordinary 4" - but we have always known that!!
One way to confirm your sightings is to make some measurements which will support a change in position of Deimos. A filar micrometer would do the trick nicely, but few of us have one of these. However, using a simple fine wire placed carefully across the field stop of your eyepiece and oriented North/South, switch off the RA drive and note the time as Mars, Deimos and at least two stars cross the wire. Repeat a short time later. And several times more. A pattern should develop!! You could even plot a graph showing the change of position with time!! That would be really neat!!! You will of course be measuring the orbital motions of both Mars relative to the stars and Deimos relative to Mars.
Thanks for the Mars applet - I wasn't aware of it. And as always, thanks for a really interesting read.
Best wishes from Downunder.
Anthony 41°S 175°E
When I enquired on Astromart a few days ago whether anyone had seen the moons of Mars I really didn't think that a 4" would manage it. Well, as Ed Hillary descended from Mt Everest, having climbed it 50 years ago, he gave us what is now his famous quote "We knocked the bastard off". Seems to be apt for the Light Cup and Deimos! So the Light Cup is no ordinary 4" - but we have always known that!!
One way to confirm your sightings is to make some measurements which will support a change in position of Deimos. A filar micrometer would do the trick nicely, but few of us have one of these. However, using a simple fine wire placed carefully across the field stop of your eyepiece and oriented North/South, switch off the RA drive and note the time as Mars, Deimos and at least two stars cross the wire. Repeat a short time later. And several times more. A pattern should develop!! You could even plot a graph showing the change of position with time!! That would be really neat!!! You will of course be measuring the orbital motions of both Mars relative to the stars and Deimos relative to Mars.
Thanks for the Mars applet - I wasn't aware of it. And as always, thanks for a really interesting read.
Best wishes from Downunder.
Anthony 41°S 175°E
Funding Member
