I made a pair of observations of Mars on October 13, 2005 (06:00 and 06:35 U.T.) under average to good (6-7/10) seeing conditions. A wealth of detail was again visible over the Martian disk that was very difficult render. The Solis Lacus region was very complex and mottled within. A W-cloud was again noted over the Tharsis region, especially in blue light (Wratten 38A). I welcome any comments on my observations.
Date (U.T.): October 13, 2005
Time (U.T.): 06:00 (left image) and 06:35 (right image)
CM: 099.7 (left image) and 108.3 (right image)
Ls: 305.4 (Mid-Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -11.3, Ds -20.0, p 0.96, 19.24"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 344x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (III-II)
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
06:00 U.T. (Left image, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was very small and brilliant (10/10) surrounded by a dark (3/10) collar. Mare Australe appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Solis Lacus was visible just preceding the CM appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) with northern (Geryon (5/10) and Calydon (4/10)) and southern (Ambrosia (5/10) and Bathys (4/10)) projections over Thaumasia (7/10). Solis Lacus appeared to be mottled within during moments of steady seeing. Nectar (3/10) was visibly connecting Solis Lacus to Mare Erythraeum (3-4/10). Protei Regio appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) within Mare Erythraeum. Aurorae Sinus appeared as a dark (3/10), bifid projection from the north-following border of Mare Erythraeum. Agathodaemon (Coprates) was visible as a dark (3/10), curvilinear projection from the following (western) border of Mare Erythraeum connecting to the Tithonius Lacus complex. The southern border of Tithonius Lacus was the only segment visible as haze/clouds obscured the rest of the complex. (Melas Lacus, Noctis Lacus, Echus Lacus, Hebes Lacus, and Ius Lacus). A very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) W-shaped cloud was noted north of the Tithonius Lacus complex over Tharsis (it appeared to extend from the preceding limb to over the following border of Solis Lacus). Bosporos Gemmatus was dark to dusky (3-4/10) with condensations within it. Aonius Sinus (3/10) was visible following the CM with Phasis (4/10) projecting to the north. Phasis appeared to connect to a curvilinear, dark (3/10), comma-shaped albedo feature on the CM. The ring complex surrounding Solis Lacus was partially obscured over it's following (western) half. Daedalia appeared bright (7/10) between Phasis and Araxes (5/10). Mare Sirenum was visible following the CM, towards the following limb. and appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10). Phaethontis appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10) south of Mare Sirenum. The western (following) border of Mare Acidalium (5/10) was partially obscured by clouds/haze (8-9/10). Tharsis appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10). Arcadia and Amazonis appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and very mottled. Dusky to dull (4-5/10) albedo features were noted over (or visible through) a semi-transparent North Polar Hood (NPH, 8-9/10). Thin and extremely bright (9/10) morning and evening limb hazes (MLH and ELH) were noted as well.
06:35 U.T. (Right image, W38A): The South Polar Cap (SPC) appeared small and brilliant (10/10). Solis Lacus and Mare Sirenum were visible as dull (5/10) albedo features. A very bright (8/10) W-cloud was noted over Tharsis, north of the Tithonius Lacus complex. Arcadia and Amazonis appeared to be obscured by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) haze. Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH) and evening limb haze (ELH) were visible as well.
The best of luck in your own imaging and observations of Mars.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
Date (U.T.): October 13, 2005
Time (U.T.): 06:00 (left image) and 06:35 (right image)
CM: 099.7 (left image) and 108.3 (right image)
Ls: 305.4 (Mid-Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De -11.3, Ds -20.0, p 0.96, 19.24"
Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 344x
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (III-II)
Transparency (1-6): 5
Notes:
06:00 U.T. (Left image, IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was very small and brilliant (10/10) surrounded by a dark (3/10) collar. Mare Australe appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Solis Lacus was visible just preceding the CM appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) with northern (Geryon (5/10) and Calydon (4/10)) and southern (Ambrosia (5/10) and Bathys (4/10)) projections over Thaumasia (7/10). Solis Lacus appeared to be mottled within during moments of steady seeing. Nectar (3/10) was visibly connecting Solis Lacus to Mare Erythraeum (3-4/10). Protei Regio appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) within Mare Erythraeum. Aurorae Sinus appeared as a dark (3/10), bifid projection from the north-following border of Mare Erythraeum. Agathodaemon (Coprates) was visible as a dark (3/10), curvilinear projection from the following (western) border of Mare Erythraeum connecting to the Tithonius Lacus complex. The southern border of Tithonius Lacus was the only segment visible as haze/clouds obscured the rest of the complex. (Melas Lacus, Noctis Lacus, Echus Lacus, Hebes Lacus, and Ius Lacus). A very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) W-shaped cloud was noted north of the Tithonius Lacus complex over Tharsis (it appeared to extend from the preceding limb to over the following border of Solis Lacus). Bosporos Gemmatus was dark to dusky (3-4/10) with condensations within it. Aonius Sinus (3/10) was visible following the CM with Phasis (4/10) projecting to the north. Phasis appeared to connect to a curvilinear, dark (3/10), comma-shaped albedo feature on the CM. The ring complex surrounding Solis Lacus was partially obscured over it's following (western) half. Daedalia appeared bright (7/10) between Phasis and Araxes (5/10). Mare Sirenum was visible following the CM, towards the following limb. and appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10). Phaethontis appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10) south of Mare Sirenum. The western (following) border of Mare Acidalium (5/10) was partially obscured by clouds/haze (8-9/10). Tharsis appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10). Arcadia and Amazonis appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and very mottled. Dusky to dull (4-5/10) albedo features were noted over (or visible through) a semi-transparent North Polar Hood (NPH, 8-9/10). Thin and extremely bright (9/10) morning and evening limb hazes (MLH and ELH) were noted as well.
06:35 U.T. (Right image, W38A): The South Polar Cap (SPC) appeared small and brilliant (10/10). Solis Lacus and Mare Sirenum were visible as dull (5/10) albedo features. A very bright (8/10) W-cloud was noted over Tharsis, north of the Tithonius Lacus complex. Arcadia and Amazonis appeared to be obscured by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) haze. Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH) and evening limb haze (ELH) were visible as well.
The best of luck in your own imaging and observations of Mars.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
Attached Image:
