I made an observation of Mars on December 8-9, 2005 (23:45 and 00:15 U.T., respectively) under average to good seeing conditions (5-7/10). Detail was noted over the southern hemisphere. I welcome any comments that you may have on my observation.
Date (U.T.): December 8-9, 2005
Time (U.T.): 23:45 (left image, Dec. 8, 2005) and 00:15 (right image, Dec. 9, 2005)
CM: 221.6 (left image) and 228.9 (right image)
Ls: 337.4 (Late Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -19.1, Ds -9.3, p 0.96, 15.6"
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/ 13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 290x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 4-5
Notes:
23:45 U.T. (Left image, CM 221.6, IL/W30): The South Polar Region (SPR) was obscured by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) haze (The South Polar Cap (SPC) was not visible). Mare Chronium appeared dusky to dark (3-4/10). Electris and Eridania appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) and mottled. Mare Cimmerium appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) with a bright (7/10) northern border and "Valhalla" visible (5/10) in sections. A thin, dusky (4/10) streak (Aethiops I ?) was visible projecting from the Northern/following border of Mare Cimmerium. Hesperia appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with dull (5/10) streaks across it. Mare Tyrrhenum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and Syrtis Minor was dark (3/10). Zephyria, Aeolis, Aethiopis, and Aetheria appeared bright (7/10) without any other detail visible. Elysium appeared bright (7/10) on the CM with a dark to dusky (3-4/10) Phlegra to the east (preceding) and a dark to dusky (3-4/10) Hyblaeus Extension to the west (following). Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH), evening limb haze (ELH) and North Polar Region (NPR) were noted.
00:15 U.T. (Right image, CM 228.9, W38A): A bright to very bright (7-8/10) cloud was visible over Electris-Eridania projecting from the following limb. Mare Cimmerium, Mare Tyrrhenum, and Mare Chronium appeared dull (5/10). A very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) cloud was visible over the Amazonis-Arcadia region towards the preceding limb. Extremely bright (9/10) MLH, ELH, SPR, and NPR were noted.
Ironically the current diameter of Mars (15.6") is just smaller than the largest apparent diameter for the upcoming apparition (15.89" on December 18, 2007). The best of luck imaging and observing Mars.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
Date (U.T.): December 8-9, 2005
Time (U.T.): 23:45 (left image, Dec. 8, 2005) and 00:15 (right image, Dec. 9, 2005)
CM: 221.6 (left image) and 228.9 (right image)
Ls: 337.4 (Late Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -19.1, Ds -9.3, p 0.96, 15.6"
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/ 13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 290x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 4-5
Notes:
23:45 U.T. (Left image, CM 221.6, IL/W30): The South Polar Region (SPR) was obscured by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) haze (The South Polar Cap (SPC) was not visible). Mare Chronium appeared dusky to dark (3-4/10). Electris and Eridania appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) and mottled. Mare Cimmerium appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) with a bright (7/10) northern border and "Valhalla" visible (5/10) in sections. A thin, dusky (4/10) streak (Aethiops I ?) was visible projecting from the Northern/following border of Mare Cimmerium. Hesperia appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with dull (5/10) streaks across it. Mare Tyrrhenum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and Syrtis Minor was dark (3/10). Zephyria, Aeolis, Aethiopis, and Aetheria appeared bright (7/10) without any other detail visible. Elysium appeared bright (7/10) on the CM with a dark to dusky (3-4/10) Phlegra to the east (preceding) and a dark to dusky (3-4/10) Hyblaeus Extension to the west (following). Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH), evening limb haze (ELH) and North Polar Region (NPR) were noted.
00:15 U.T. (Right image, CM 228.9, W38A): A bright to very bright (7-8/10) cloud was visible over Electris-Eridania projecting from the following limb. Mare Cimmerium, Mare Tyrrhenum, and Mare Chronium appeared dull (5/10). A very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) cloud was visible over the Amazonis-Arcadia region towards the preceding limb. Extremely bright (9/10) MLH, ELH, SPR, and NPR were noted.
Ironically the current diameter of Mars (15.6") is just smaller than the largest apparent diameter for the upcoming apparition (15.89" on December 18, 2007). The best of luck imaging and observing Mars.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
Attached Image:
