I made a pair of Mars observations on November 3, 2005 (04:45 and 05:45 U.T). The following (morning) limb appears to contain dust (a dull beige color noted) as well as portions of the southern hemisphere (especially over Eridania-Ausonia). Hesperia may have contained some dust as well. I welcome any comments on my observations.
Date (U.T.): November 3, 2005
Time (U.T.): 04:45 (left image) and 05:45 (right image)
CM: 255.4 (left image) and 270.0 (right image)
Ls: 317.6 (Mid-Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -14.6, Ds -16.4, p 0.99, 20.11"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 388x
Filters (Wratten): 30 (magenta) and 38A (blue)
Seeing (1-10): 5-6 (moments of 7), Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
04:45 U.T. (Left image, CM 255.4, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) appeared small and brilliant (10/10). Mare Australe appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Mare Chronium appeared dusky (4/10) preceding the CM. Mare Hadriacum and Tiphys Fretum appeared as a dark to dusky (3-4/10), curvilinear albedo feature following the CM. Electris, Eridania, and Ausonia appeared bright (7/10) with a pale yellow-mustard color noted over these regions (dust?). Hellas appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with a very bright (8/10) northwest sector (water vapor versus dust?). Mare Cimmerium and Tritonis Sinus (sharp projection over the following end of Mare Cimmerium) appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) preceding the CM. Hesperia appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with dull (5/10) streaks across it (including Cerberus III). Hesperia appeared a pale yellow-mustard color as well (dust?). Mare Tyrrhenum and Syrtis Minor appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled following the CM. Iapygia Viridis appeared dusky to dark (3-4/10) and mottled. Syrtis Major appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) over it's preceding half (Moeris Lacus appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) along it's preceding border). Aeolis, Aethiopis, and Aetheria appeared bright (7/10) without any other detail visible. Nodus Alcyonius appeared a dusky (4/10), elliptical albedo feature towards the north-following limb. Utopia appeared as a dark to dusky (3-4/10) wedge adjacent to an extremely bright (9/10) cloud over the Nf limb. The Hyblaeus Extension appeared as a dusky to dull (4-5/10) area preceding the CM. Extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH) and morning limb haze (MLH) were visible.
05:45 U.T. (Right image, CM 270.0, W38A): Mare Cimmerium, Mare Tyrrhenum, Mare Hadriacum, Iapygia Viridis, and Syrtis Major appeared dull (5/10). Eridania and Ausonia appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10). Hellas appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10, brightest over the northwest sector). Libya appeared to contain a very bright (8/10) cloud over it. Extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH) and morning limb haze (MLH) were visible as well.
The best of luck observing and imaging Mars.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
Date (U.T.): November 3, 2005
Time (U.T.): 04:45 (left image) and 05:45 (right image)
CM: 255.4 (left image) and 270.0 (right image)
Ls: 317.6 (Mid-Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -14.6, Ds -16.4, p 0.99, 20.11"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 388x
Filters (Wratten): 30 (magenta) and 38A (blue)
Seeing (1-10): 5-6 (moments of 7), Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
04:45 U.T. (Left image, CM 255.4, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) appeared small and brilliant (10/10). Mare Australe appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Mare Chronium appeared dusky (4/10) preceding the CM. Mare Hadriacum and Tiphys Fretum appeared as a dark to dusky (3-4/10), curvilinear albedo feature following the CM. Electris, Eridania, and Ausonia appeared bright (7/10) with a pale yellow-mustard color noted over these regions (dust?). Hellas appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with a very bright (8/10) northwest sector (water vapor versus dust?). Mare Cimmerium and Tritonis Sinus (sharp projection over the following end of Mare Cimmerium) appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) preceding the CM. Hesperia appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with dull (5/10) streaks across it (including Cerberus III). Hesperia appeared a pale yellow-mustard color as well (dust?). Mare Tyrrhenum and Syrtis Minor appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled following the CM. Iapygia Viridis appeared dusky to dark (3-4/10) and mottled. Syrtis Major appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) over it's preceding half (Moeris Lacus appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) along it's preceding border). Aeolis, Aethiopis, and Aetheria appeared bright (7/10) without any other detail visible. Nodus Alcyonius appeared a dusky (4/10), elliptical albedo feature towards the north-following limb. Utopia appeared as a dark to dusky (3-4/10) wedge adjacent to an extremely bright (9/10) cloud over the Nf limb. The Hyblaeus Extension appeared as a dusky to dull (4-5/10) area preceding the CM. Extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH) and morning limb haze (MLH) were visible.
05:45 U.T. (Right image, CM 270.0, W38A): Mare Cimmerium, Mare Tyrrhenum, Mare Hadriacum, Iapygia Viridis, and Syrtis Major appeared dull (5/10). Eridania and Ausonia appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10). Hellas appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10, brightest over the northwest sector). Libya appeared to contain a very bright (8/10) cloud over it. Extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH) and morning limb haze (MLH) were visible as well.
The best of luck observing and imaging Mars.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
Attached Image:
