Solar
& Planetary LtE Now in February 2022
Not every email is
necessarily cited in the PDF’s CMO LtE
To see the preceding ones, click
The latest is at the top
¤¤••••• Subject: The CICLOPS Legacy
Website ... and an Epilogue
for commemoration
Received:
Dear
Friends and Colleagues,
After nearly a quarter of a century, and over 4 years since the end of Cassini,
the official Cassini Imaging Team website ...
http://ciclops.org
... has been recast into its final legacy form and is
retiring. It has been converted from a dynamic site, built, with
every click, one page at a time with information extracted from various
databases, to a static one requiring no on-the-fly computation. What it
looks like today is the way it will look in perpetuity.
This has been a very big task and required my going through the site,
correcting broken links and other mistakes, improving organization, making
stylistic changes, and adding supporting materials. And it required
collecting together a team of volunteers, with skills in php, html, website
configuration, cloud services, and operating systems, to convert and migrate it
to the cloud. The members of the CICLOPS Legacy Team are mentioned
here: http://ciclops.org/webcredits.php.html
(In addition, assistance was freely given to migrate
other software packages that I will be using in the future to write my
book. Yes, there will be a book ... eventually.)
I am very pleased to say that, as a result of a remarkable team effort over the
last 2 months, all done remotely, the site is far
better and faster than it ever was.
To mark this big moment, I have today posted a final Captain's Log, appropriately
called 'Epilogue', in which I remind us all of the intent for the site when it
was first established in 1999, its various components, the highlights of the
Cassini mission, and most importantly for us, the discoveries made by my
imaging team members and I in 20 years of producing the visual record of our
travels to and around Saturn.
It was an extraordinary experience in every way. It is worth remembering.
I hope that, in the future, you visit CICLOPS.org when you wish to recall that
experience and those glorious years traveling Saturn.
Enjoy!
Carolyn Porco (UC
Cassini Imaging Team leader
Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley, CA
Fellow, California Academy of Sciences
http://carolynporco.com
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 28 February
0329UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Aurorae
Sinus is central with Valles Marineris extending to right of centre. Solis
Lacus is at upper right and M Erythraeum at upper left. Argyre appears to have
some cloud on the edge of the SPC/H at upper left. Nilokeras is at lower centre
with Niliacus Lacus and M Acidalium coming into view at lower left.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220228/CFs28Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Re: Mars 27 February
0336UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi
Your
rgb and blue images show bright clouds. I think that is the North polar hood
forming at the very beginning of Fall in
the Northern hemisphere.
Based
on previous apparitions, the NPC won't be visible until the end of Fall.
Good
seeing,
Jim
Jim MELKA (
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 27 February
0336UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Image
set from this morning with Solis Lacus is just to the right of upper centre.
The western
extension of Valles Marineris is at centre with Aurorae Sinus to its left and
the familiar light Ophir region between them.
Lunae
Lacus and Nilokeras are in the lower section of the planet.
There
may be some light equatorial cloud extending over the Chryse region.
M
Erythraeum is coming into view at upper left.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220227/CFs27Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 25 February
0343UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Image
set from this morning with Solis Lacus at upper centre.
Valles Marineris
is starting to come into view and the late afternoon equatorial cloud is
persisting over the Aurorae Sinus region.
The
recent weather has allowed the Mars imaging sessions to become part of my daily
routine, and I must say that there have been some stunning deep, rich, red
predawn skies as the Tongan volcano fallout has arrived over
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220225/CFs25Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 24 February
0330UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Conditions
were not particularly good this morning, with disappointing G data. Solis Lacus
is at upper left and Olympus Mons at lower right. Late afternoon equatorial
cloud is seen in the region of Aurorae Sinus.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220224/CFs24Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 23 February
0403UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Solis Lacus
is starting to come into view at upper left, with Olympus Mons at lower right.
As previously noted, Vortitus extends off M Sirenum. I think it is Noctis L.
that is seen below Solis L. Phlegethan is to the lower left of Olympus Mons.
The northern extension off Aonis Sinus is well seen- interesting that it is
only shown as dotted on the Ebisawa map, with the note "1877-1878".
There is quite a prominent cloud on the evening terminator, over the Valles
Marineris region. The IR was from earlier in the session.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220223/CFs23Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Spiral galaxy NGC 1232
Received:
Hi all,
Finally
had time to process this data set from the end of January - the picturesque
face on spiral galaxy NGC 1232 was the target.
https://www.damianpeach.com/deepsky/ngc1232_2022_01_30dp.jpg
1m F/8 RC. LRGB. 2.5hrs
total.
Best
wishes,
Damian PEACH
(Selsey, WS, the
Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 22 February
0354UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Although
clear, conditions were poor this morning, and the only (barely) useable data was
right at the end of the session. The R was the best with Olympus Mons showing
quite nicely.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220222/CFs22Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 21 February
0355UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
The
Olympus Mons "donut" can just be made out on the CM below centre. M
Sirenum is again the main dark albedo feature at upper right. The IR appears to
show Vortitis D extending below M Sirenum. Possibly Arcti F and Noctis L may be
seen? Solis Lacus is on the limb at upper left and should become better seen in
coming days. The G data was not bad and although not well seen in the B, there
may be a cloud over/near Arsia Mons. Unfortunately my old friend, the Mars edge
artefact, is also well seen!
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220221/CFs21Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 20 February
0351UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
After a
few mornings of being clouded out, I had a break this morning, although there
was still plenty of cloud that interfered, no doubt a contributing factor to
the very poor seeing conditions.
M
Sirenum is the main dark albedo feature towards the top. Valles Marineris and
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220220/CFs20Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 17 February
0348UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
The
best conditions were again closer to sunrise, but it was worth the wait. The G
was surprisingly good, so I am not sure if the "spot" in the SPC is
real or not. The B appears to show some equatorial cloud, as well as clouds
over the Tharsis region on the terminator. M Sirenum is at upper centre, and
the Tharsis volcanos are just coming into view. The view should get a bit more
interesting in coming days.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220217/CFs17Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 16 February
0326UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
A first
glimpse of Olympus Mons for this apparition, just visible at lower left (R). M Sirenum
is now the main dark feature in the south(top).
Propontis is at lower right. Other than the SPC/Hood, cloud can be seen in the
north and also across Tharsis on the terminator. Also
possibly across the bright limb.
There
was quite a bit of cloud interferance this morning, but there were some brief
good moments. The RGB is produced from the single best R and G, and the best 2
B's.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220216/CFs16Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 15 February
0357UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Conditions
were hopeless at the beginning of the session, with some improvement towards
sunrise, hence limited rotation from yesterday. The RGB was produced from the
single best R and G captures, and the two best B captures. Elysium again shows
as bright, and cloud continues in the far north. I am a bit tempted to suggest
some dust activity in the centre of the planet, but with the R being a single
capture, would not make any definitive comment. Recent images seem to indicate
extensive cloud over the bright limb.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220215/CFs15Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Re:14
February 0327UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi
I like
your analysis. I'd add with the green filter showing bright on morning limb
this indicates deep fog there. Conjecture that much of the night side has much
the same fog.
Thanks.
Jim
Jim MELKA (
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 14 February
0327UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
I was
pleased to get this image set out of another session negatively affected by
cloud and poor seeing. The view was quite similar to yesterday, with Elysium at
lower right and M Cimmerium stretching across the top of the planet. M Sirenum
is starting to come into view. Propontis is at lower centre, with some cloud
persisting in the far north at bottom. Hesperia and M Tyrrhenum are unnaturally
enhanced by the limb artefact at upper right.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220214/CFs14Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 13 February
0333UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
I had
some moments of decent seeing this morning, although the session was affected
by some cloud.
It was
nice to see a familiar, although subtle under these conditions, feature- what I
refer to as the giant Amazonis "?", which includes Cerberus, Trivium
Charontis and Propontis at lower left (the dot at the bottom of the
"?"). It is best seen in the R image.
Elysium
is at lower right. M Cimmerium is the main dark feature extending across the
upper section of the planet. Unfortunately, I am still not able to detect the
Other
than the obvious SPC/hood, clouds are visible in the far north.
Unfortunately
the bright limb is quite badly affected by the edge artefact, but I hope the
rest of the planet is of interest.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220213/CFs13Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 12 February
0321UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Although
I did manage an image set, seeing conditions this morning were very poor, and I
resorted to a single alignment box in AS3! and derotating
multiple images in Winjupos Under the conditions, I would caution against
interpretation of any supposedly fine detail.
Out of
interest, it was nice for me to get a small mention in the latest MRO MARCI
weekly weather report, related to the dust storm activity in the
Malin
Space Science Systems Captioned Image Release, MSSS-608
Best
regards, Clyde
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220212/CFs12Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 11 February
0340UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Some moments of reasonable seeing this morning. Detail
should be interpreted with caution, but I would note the following: There
appears to be a light diagonal feature extending from lower left (seen in R and
G) towards the centre of the planet as well as other possible R-light features
across the central and lower (northern) part of the planet . Given the detail
that is visible, I would have expected to see at least some indication of the
Sinus Gomer extensions (Gale crater/Curiosity rover) which are close to the CM,
so I suspect that there may be some dust activity over that region.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220211/CFs11Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 10 February
0350UT IR
Received:
Hi all,
I only
managed to catch 2x45s IR's this morning, which I derotated together, in small
gaps in the extensive cloud cover. Elysium is close to the centre, although no
significant detail is seen. Syrtis Major is near the limb.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220210/CFs10Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Re: Mars 8 February
0350UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi
It
looks like the two dust clouds you previously recorded in
Best,
Jim
Jim MELKA (
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 8 February
0318UT RGB IR 2nd (earlier) set
Received:
Hi all,
2nd (earlier) set from this morning. B data
was a bit better in the darker sky. I again captured quite a few extra R's and
have included a second R from the better data.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220208/CFs08Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 8 February
0350UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Image
set from this morning. I had an extended session into bright sky to try and
catch
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220208/CFs08Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 7 February
0356UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
After
three cloudy mornings, I was able to catch this image set this morning.
The
Elysium region is rotating into view at lower left.
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220207/CFs07Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 3 February
0326UT RGB IR Dust storms in Hellas
Received:
Hi all,
It's
only been just over a week since I've been able to start imaging Mars and with
the planet so small and at associated reduced resolution, I was not expecting
to pick up any significant activity. So my interest was pricked when I seemed
to detect two large dust clouds in the giant
Best
regards,
¤¤••••• Subject: Re: Mars 2 February
0324UT RGB IR
Received:
I agree
that your image shows a dust storm in
--
Roger
Roger VENABLE (Chester,
GA )
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 3 February
0326UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
I am fortunate
to have some fairly consistent morning conditions, allowing a reasonable early
overview of Mars. Syrtis Major and
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220203/CFs03Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 2 February
0324UT RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Image
set from this morning with Syrtis Major and an indistinct
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220202/CFs02Feb22.png
¤¤••••• Subject: Mars 1 February 0327UT
RGB IR
Received:
Hi all,
Image
set from this morning with the bright
Best
regards,
https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2022/220201/CFs01Feb22.png
