I made a pair of Mars observations on November 8, 2005 (00:50 and 01:15 U.T.) under average to good seeing conditions (6-7/10). Much detail was noted over the southern hemisphere from Solis Lacus to Mare Cimmerium. Olympus Mons (orographic cloud) was noted as well. I welcome any comments that you may have on my observations.
Date (U.T.) November 8, 2005
Time (U.T.): 00:50 (left image) and 01:15 (right image)
CM: 154.1 (left image) and 160.2 (right image)
Ls: 320.3 (Mid-Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De: -15.5, Ds: -15.5, p: 1.00, 19.88"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x, 298x, and 388x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
S (1-10): 6-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
00:50 U.T. (Left image, CM 154.1, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was brilliant and small. Mare Austale was dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Solis Lacus appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) over the south-preceding limb. Aonius Sinus appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) with Phasis (5/10) projecting from it's northern border. Daedalia, Phaethontis, Electris, and Eridania appeared bright (7/10). Mare Sirenum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled on the CM (Caralis Fons (4/10) was noted along it's southern border). Mare Cimmerium was dark to dusky (3-4/10) following Mare Sirenum. "Valhalla" appeared as a dull (5/10) and diffuse band north of Mare Sirenum and Mare Cimmerium. Memnonia and Zephyria appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10). Tithonius Lacus was visible as a dark to dusky (3-4/10) wedge along the preceding limb surrounded by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) cloud projecting from the extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH). Tharsis and Amazonis appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10). Tempe and Arcadia appeared dull to shaded (5-6/10). Olympus Mons (orographic cloud) appeared very bright (8/10) over Tharsis preceding the CM. Phlegra appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) towards the following limb (preceding Elysium). The southern components of the Propontis Complex (Euxinus Lacus, Propontis I, and possibly Castorius Lacus) were dusky to dull (4-5/10). Elysium appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10) adjacent to an extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH). An extremely bright (9/10) North Polar Haze (NPH) was noted as well.
01:15 U.T. (Right image, CM 160.2, W38A): A very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) cloud was noted to project from the preceding limb over Tharsis and extending to Memnonia. Mare Sirenum and Mare Cimmerium appeared dull (5/10). Olympus Mons (orographic cloud) was very bright (8/10) towards the north-preceding limb over Tharsis. Bright to very bright (7-8/10) discrete clouds were noted over Phaethontis, Electris, Memnonia, and Zephyria. Elysium appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10) over the north-following limb. Extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (LH), morning limb haze (MLH), and North Polar Haze (NPH) were noted as well.
The best of luck in your own imaging and observations of Mars.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
Date (U.T.) November 8, 2005
Time (U.T.): 00:50 (left image) and 01:15 (right image)
CM: 154.1 (left image) and 160.2 (right image)
Ls: 320.3 (Mid-Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De: -15.5, Ds: -15.5, p: 1.00, 19.88"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x, 298x, and 388x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
S (1-10): 6-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
00:50 U.T. (Left image, CM 154.1, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was brilliant and small. Mare Austale was dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Solis Lacus appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) over the south-preceding limb. Aonius Sinus appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) with Phasis (5/10) projecting from it's northern border. Daedalia, Phaethontis, Electris, and Eridania appeared bright (7/10). Mare Sirenum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled on the CM (Caralis Fons (4/10) was noted along it's southern border). Mare Cimmerium was dark to dusky (3-4/10) following Mare Sirenum. "Valhalla" appeared as a dull (5/10) and diffuse band north of Mare Sirenum and Mare Cimmerium. Memnonia and Zephyria appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10). Tithonius Lacus was visible as a dark to dusky (3-4/10) wedge along the preceding limb surrounded by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) cloud projecting from the extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH). Tharsis and Amazonis appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10). Tempe and Arcadia appeared dull to shaded (5-6/10). Olympus Mons (orographic cloud) appeared very bright (8/10) over Tharsis preceding the CM. Phlegra appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) towards the following limb (preceding Elysium). The southern components of the Propontis Complex (Euxinus Lacus, Propontis I, and possibly Castorius Lacus) were dusky to dull (4-5/10). Elysium appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10) adjacent to an extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH). An extremely bright (9/10) North Polar Haze (NPH) was noted as well.
01:15 U.T. (Right image, CM 160.2, W38A): A very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) cloud was noted to project from the preceding limb over Tharsis and extending to Memnonia. Mare Sirenum and Mare Cimmerium appeared dull (5/10). Olympus Mons (orographic cloud) was very bright (8/10) towards the north-preceding limb over Tharsis. Bright to very bright (7-8/10) discrete clouds were noted over Phaethontis, Electris, Memnonia, and Zephyria. Elysium appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10) over the north-following limb. Extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (LH), morning limb haze (MLH), and North Polar Haze (NPH) were noted as well.
The best of luck in your own imaging and observations of Mars.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
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