Dust Storm on Mars

I set the alarm for 3:00 but woke up early and was imaging by 3:00AM.
As soon as I focused in I noticed a bright V-shaped bright yellow area,
a dust storm. Here is an image FYI.

TMB 8" F/9
2X into 3X barlow
3:00 - 3:03 AM EDT (7:00 - 7:03 UT ) Oct 18, 2005
Seeing 7/10
Atk color camera
Registax

Jim Phillips

Attached Image:

Jim,

Great image! Perhaps this dust storm in the 'big one' everybody's been waiting for. It looks like it was right on the equator at the time of your image. It will be interesting to track growth and movement. My worst-case-scenario: the atmosphere in Northern VA finally clears up only to reveal a totally obscured atmosphere on Mars! Oh well.

Bob

Very interesting, Jim - I hope the opening in the clouds holds long enough for me to have a look at this tonight.

cheers-
Alan

Hi Jim,

Great image, the dust storm shows up very well, I hope it stays localized.

Thanks,

Wes Higgins

You captured it superbly, Jim!

Rolando

Beautiful!

it started a few days ago it seems from images from a Dutch amateur I saw.

Dodi