I made a pair of observations of Mars on November 27, 2005 (03:00 and 04:00 U.T.) under average to good (5-7/10) seeing conditions. Much detail was noted over the southern hemisphere, especially between Sinus Sabaeus and Mare Erythraeum. I welcome any comments that you may have on my observations.
Date (U.T.): November 27, 2005
Time (U.T.): 03:00 (left image) and 04:00 (right image)
CM: 017.6 (left image) and 032.2 (right image)
Ls: 331.0 (Mid-Late Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -18.3, Ds -11.7, p 0.98, 17.6"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x, 290x, and 348x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
03:00 U.T. (Left image, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was very small and brilliant (10/10) surrounded by a thin, dark (3/10) collar. Mare Australe appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Noachis appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10). Pandorae Fretum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled (with a thin, bright (7/10) streak (cloud?) noted within it). Deucalionis Regio appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with two, dull (5/10) bands across it. Sinus Sabaeus and Sinus Meridiani appeared dark (3/10) preceding the CM (Sigeus Portus (4/10) noted along the northern border of Sinus Sabaeus). Iani Fretum (?) was noted as a dull (5/10) and diffuse band between Sinus Meridiani (south-following border) and Margaritifer Sinus (preceding (or eastern) border). Aeria, Arabia, Eden, Moab, and Aram appeared bright (7/10). Ismenius Lacus appeared as a thin, dusky (4/10) wedge adjacent to an extremely bright (9/10) North Polar Haze (NPH). Margaritifer Sinus appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled following the CM. Mare Erythraeum appeared dark to dull (3-5/10) and mottled with bright (7/10) streaks within it (Pyrrhae Regio?). Argyre appeared bright (7/10) over it's north-following sector whereas the rest of the albedo feature appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10). Aurorae Sinus appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and bifid towards the following limb. Chryse-Xanthe appeared bright (7/10) and free of dust. Niliacus Lacus appeared as a dark (3/10) wedge adjacent to the NPH (portions of it visible through the haze). Thin and extremely bright (9/10) morning and evening limb hazes (MLH and ELH) were noted as well.
04:00 U.T. (Right image, W38A): Sabaeus Sinus, Sinus Meridiani, Margaritifer Sinus, Mare Erythraeum, and Niliacus Lacus were visible as dull (5/10) albedo features. Diffuse and bright (7/10) streaks were noted over Mare Erythraeum/Argyre (water vapor clouds?). Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH), evening limb haze (ELH), North Polar Haze (NPH), and South Polar Haze (SPH) were visible as well.
The best of luck in your own imaging and observations of Mars.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
Date (U.T.): November 27, 2005
Time (U.T.): 03:00 (left image) and 04:00 (right image)
CM: 017.6 (left image) and 032.2 (right image)
Ls: 331.0 (Mid-Late Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -18.3, Ds -11.7, p 0.98, 17.6"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x, 290x, and 348x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
03:00 U.T. (Left image, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was very small and brilliant (10/10) surrounded by a thin, dark (3/10) collar. Mare Australe appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Noachis appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10). Pandorae Fretum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled (with a thin, bright (7/10) streak (cloud?) noted within it). Deucalionis Regio appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with two, dull (5/10) bands across it. Sinus Sabaeus and Sinus Meridiani appeared dark (3/10) preceding the CM (Sigeus Portus (4/10) noted along the northern border of Sinus Sabaeus). Iani Fretum (?) was noted as a dull (5/10) and diffuse band between Sinus Meridiani (south-following border) and Margaritifer Sinus (preceding (or eastern) border). Aeria, Arabia, Eden, Moab, and Aram appeared bright (7/10). Ismenius Lacus appeared as a thin, dusky (4/10) wedge adjacent to an extremely bright (9/10) North Polar Haze (NPH). Margaritifer Sinus appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled following the CM. Mare Erythraeum appeared dark to dull (3-5/10) and mottled with bright (7/10) streaks within it (Pyrrhae Regio?). Argyre appeared bright (7/10) over it's north-following sector whereas the rest of the albedo feature appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10). Aurorae Sinus appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and bifid towards the following limb. Chryse-Xanthe appeared bright (7/10) and free of dust. Niliacus Lacus appeared as a dark (3/10) wedge adjacent to the NPH (portions of it visible through the haze). Thin and extremely bright (9/10) morning and evening limb hazes (MLH and ELH) were noted as well.
04:00 U.T. (Right image, W38A): Sabaeus Sinus, Sinus Meridiani, Margaritifer Sinus, Mare Erythraeum, and Niliacus Lacus were visible as dull (5/10) albedo features. Diffuse and bright (7/10) streaks were noted over Mare Erythraeum/Argyre (water vapor clouds?). Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH), evening limb haze (ELH), North Polar Haze (NPH), and South Polar Haze (SPH) were visible as well.
The best of luck in your own imaging and observations of Mars.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
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