Solar&Planetary LtE Now for CMO/ISMO #95 (CMO #469)

Solar & Planetary LtE Now for CMO/ISMO #95 (CMO #469)

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¤····Subject: Jupiter images, 8th May 2018

Received: 16 May 2018 at 02:16 JST

Hi all,
Here is finally my first good night of the season (... for the alt. !)

Best regards

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)
Planetary astronomy and imaging

¤····Subject: Mars images (April 15th.)

Received: 16 May 2018 at 01:19 JST

Hi all,

Catching up on some unprocessed data. Here is Mars on April 15th under very poor seeing.

Best Wishes
http://www.damianpeach.com/mars2018/m2018_04_15dp.jpg

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180415/DPc15Apr18.png

Damian PEACH (Selsey, WS, the UK)

Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/

¤····Subject: Mars images

Received: 15 May 2018 at 21:13 JST

Dear Sirs,

Please find attached a Mars image set from the 8th May 2018.

Note that I have replaced my Edmund RGB filters and IR block combination with Baader RGB filters which don't require an IR block.

Best regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180508/MJs08May18.png

Mark JUSTICE (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA)

¤····Subject: Mars 2018/05/14-Kumamori

Received: 15 May 2018 at 17:10 JST

Mars images on 14 May 2018.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180514/Km14May18.png

Teruaki KUMAMORI (Osaka, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars M180514 ishibashi

Received: 15 May 2018 at 14:32 JST

Mars image on 14 May 2018.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180514/Is14May18.png

Tsutomu ISHIBASHI (Kanagawa, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Jupiter images 5th May 2018

Received: 15 May 2018 at 02:42 JST

Hi all,
Some IR images taken under fair seeing.
Best wishes

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)
Planetary astronomy and imaging

¤····Subject: Mars capture

Received: 14 May 2018 at 22:08 JST

Hello,

For your information I send you my recent Mars capture.

Met vriendelijke groet,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180511/ESb11May18.png

SUSSENBACH, Eric (Willemstad, Curaçao)

¤····Subject: Mars images May 12th 2018

Received: 14 May 2018 at 00:19 JST

Hi,

attached one RGB set from last night, under variable seeing and average transparency.

Best Regards

Tiziano

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180512/TOl12May18.png

Tiziano OLIVETTI (Bangkok, THAILAND)

¤····Subject: Jupiter images 10 May 2018

Received: 14 May 2018 at 00:35 JST

Jupiter images 10 May 2018.

Tomio AKUTSU (Ibaraki, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars image - May 8, 2018

Received: 12 May 2018 at 12:39 JST

Gentlemen,

Here is a set of Mars images from May 8. Seeing was better than average.

Regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180508/PGc08May18.png

Peter GORCZYNSKI (Oxford, CT, the USA)

¤····Subject: Mars image from May 10 UT

Received: 11 May 2018 at 23:32 JST

Dear CMO,
Here is a Mars image showing Sinus Sabaeus and Sinus Meridiani from Osaka, Japan.

Planet elevation is 32 deg from here.

Best regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180510/RHf10May18.png

Robert HEFFNER (Osaka, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars 2018/05/10-Kumamori

Received: 11 May 2018 at 20:09 JST

Mars image on 10May 2018.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180510/Km10May18.png

Teruaki KUMAMORI (Osaka, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars M180510 ishibashi

Received: 11 May 2018 at 12:19 JST

Mars image on 10May 2018.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180510/Is10May18.png

Tsutomu ISHIBASHI (Kanagawa, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars 8th May 2018 UT

Received: 9 May 2018 at 20:23 JST

Hello all,

Here are two image sets of Mars taken this morning in fair to good seeing.

Hellas looks dusty on the evening terminator and this aspect of Mars generally appears somewhat hazy.

Syrtis blue evening cloud is just visible.

Best Wishes

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180508/MVl08May18.png

Maurice VALIMBERTI (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA)

¤····Subject: Jupiter, Io, Callisto and Europa in transit 2018.05.05

Received: 8 May 2018 at 01:53 JST

Dears,

First Jupiter observation for me this year, after a Saturn observation under very bad conditions during the week (that was my first observation in 5 months).

Start of the night was ok despite a low elevation (below 30° here), but it degraded for the RGB.

Details can be made out on Callisto (in infrared, visible and even in methane maybe), with what should be the young bright "Lofn" crater at meridian on the South, and the dark patch at the center. Europa is transiting on Jupiter.

BA oval is setting (white/reddish at bottom right on IR/RGB), and southern SSTB with white ovals A8, A1, A2, A3 (from right to left, bright in methane).

At meridian, following BA, dark STB spectre, elongated with a small whitish zone inside bright in methane.

North edge of North Equatorial Band shows the distinct wave shapes in visible.

Best infrared image:

http://www.astrosurf.com/delcroix/images/planches/j2018-05-05_22-23-30_ir685_md.png

Color image:

http://www.astrosurf.com/delcroix/images/planches/j2018-05-05_22-46-46_rgb_md.png

Methane image:

http://www.astrosurf.com/delcroix/images/planches/j2018-05-05_23-16-51_ch4_md.png

And one other infrared and the color layers images:
http://astrosurf.com/delcroix/images/planches/j2018-05-05_23-01-31_ir685_md.png
http://astrosurf.com/delcroix/images/planches/j2018-05-05_22-43-23_r_md.png

http://astrosurf.com/delcroix/images/planches/j2018-05-05_22-46-46_g_md.png

http://astrosurf.com/delcroix/images/planches/j2018-05-05_22-50-12_b_md.png

Steady skies,

Marc

Marc DELCROIX (Tournefeuille, FRANCE)

http://astrosurf.com/delcroix

¤····Subject: Mars 2018/05/05-Kumamori

Received: 7 May 2018 at 21:13 JST

Mars images on 05 May 2018.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180505/Km05May18.png

Teruaki KUMAMORI (Osaka, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Jupiter images on 05 May 2018

Received: 6 May 2018 at 23:32 JST

Jupiter images on 5 May 2018.

Tomio AKUTSU (Ibaraki, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mo29Apr_18

Received: 6 May 2018 at 21:30 JST

Mars images on 29 April 2018.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180429/Mo29Apr18.png

Yukio MORITA (Hiroshims, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Venus 2018 April (NOT MARCH) 18-22

Received: 6 May 2018 at 04:37 JST

Apologies, the image I sent out earlier had the wrong dates on it. They should all have read April, not March. Here is a correct version.

Funny how one can stare at a thing like that for ages and think ‘Is this all correct?’, and not notice that kind of repeated error till later.

>>subject: Venus 2018 March 18-22

>>A run of clear(ish) evenings allowed me to capture one rotation of the Venusian atmosphere.

>>The IR images show nothing except the phase, but the UV clearly shows the same clouds returning on the 5th day. Diameter about 10”.

>>David

David ARDITTI (Edgware, Middx., the UK)

¤····Subject: Mars image - May 2, 2018

Received: 5 May 2018 at 23:09 JST

Gentlemen,

Here is a set of images from May 2.

Seeing was poor, which is evident especially in the blue image.

The low elevation of 26 degrees adds to the poor quality.

Regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180502/PGc02May18.png

Peter GORCZYNSKI (Oxford, CT, the USA)

¤····Subject: Mars 4th May UT

Received: 5 May 2018 at 15:18 JST

Hello all,

attached is an image set of Mars taken on the 4th May 2018.

Seeing was poor and imaging was interrupted with passing clouds, but I managed to salvage 10% of the data to produce an image.

Best wishes

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180504/MVl04May18.png

Maurice VALIMBERTI (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA)

¤····Subject: Small dust storm in northern Amazonis Planitia-30 April 2018

Received: 5 May 2018 at 15:08 JST

Hi Roger, all,
Dr Cantor originally sent me a more comprehensively annotated map (attached) from the 30th April which he also gave me permission to share, and which indicated quite a number of, localised dust storms across the planet. Image credit: Bruce Cantor (MSSS):NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems.

Best, Clyde

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Re: Small dust storm in northern Amazonis Planitia-30 April 2018

Received: 5 May 2018 at 05:04 JST

Thanks, Clyde. That's a pretty exciting image you made.

The pros tell us that there are about 1000 dust storms per Martian year detected by spacecraft images, mostly small ones near the edge of the polar caps. We amateurs pick up about 6.

-- Roger

Roger VENABLE (Chester, GA )

¤····Subject: Small dust storm in northern Amazonis Planitia-30 April 2018

Received: 5 May 2018 at 04:50 JST

Hi all，

As some of you may have seen in recent communications, I have been somewhat intrigued by a small, bright feature, adjacent to the terminator, in the northern Amazonis Planitia region, that I imaged on 30 April. I had initially thought it was the summit of Olympus Mons, as there are no other significant features in the vicinity. However, on detailed checking of the co-ordinates (approx. Lat +30, Long 150), it was clear that it was, although close by, not the giant volcano. The feature was brightest in R, and just detected in IR and G, but not in B, which, following some online discussion, pointed to a possible small dust event. On capturing a “duplicate” image on 2 May, no feature was detectable, which also seemed to strengthen the view that the original bright spot may have been a local, condensed, transient dust storm.

I had been privileged to meet Dr Michael Ravine of Malin Space Science Systems(MSSS) at EPSC 2017 in Latvia, and I had mentioned to him how much I appreciated the weekly online reports (http://www.msss.com/msss_images/latest_weather.html ) from the MARCI imaging system onboard the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter(MRO), which has been in orbit around Mars since March 2006. MSSS are responsible for, amongst others, the MARCI imager, and the management, download and processing of imagery from the instrument on behalf of NASA.

Out of interest, I forwarded a copy of my images to him, and was pleasantly surprised to get a response from one of his co-workers, Dr Bruce Cantor, who is the MSSS inhouse Mars atmospheric Scientist and deputy principle Investigator for the MARCI instrument onboard the MRO.

Dr Cantor very kindly forwarded me a global, simple cylindrically projected MARCI/MRO map of Mars from 30 April, and to my amazement and delight, it clearly showed a bright, condensed, dust storm exactly in the location that I had imaged the bright spot (the storm is the one at far left on the Map, with Olympus Mons just to the lower right of it). He subsequently sent me a MARCI composite Mars image, which I have compared directly with my own image. Unlike normally, I have put my image with north at top, to allow the comparison. Planetary orientation of the two images is slightly different due to the orbital configuration of the MRO.

Further, he very kindly sent me an amazing, high resolution (1 km/pixel), cropped MARCI/MRO image of the storm.

Some details regarding the storm (with thanks to Dr Cantor and referring to the high resolution MARCI/MRO image): “The Storm covers an area of approximately 154,000 km^2. For reference, the bright spot in the centre of the storm is at 29.9 N, 153.2 W , north is up and west longitude increasing from right to left across the projection. The top of the image is Arcadia Planitia and Olympus Mons is on the far right. The bright spots just to the north and northwest of the storm (south of the large dark albedo feature, Euxinus Lacus) are the large Amazonis dust devils that are typically observed during the northern summer season.”

As far as my own image is concerned, if the storm had been in full sunlight, a short while earlier, it would very likely have made it significantly more difficult to detect due to reduced contrast. Similarly, a short while later, it would have rotated into darkness, so the timing of my image of the 30 April, appears to have been just perfect- an amazing co-incidence.

My sincere appreciation to Dr Michael Ravine and Dr Bruce Cantor of Malin Space Science Systems for the interaction on this issue, and giving permission for me to share the above information. All images other than my own, are credited to Bruce Cantor (MSSS): NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems．

Best regards, Clyde

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Mars 3 May 2018 0209UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 4 May 2018 at 14:52 JST

Hi all，

Mars image set from 3 May. Pity about the edge artefact, but submitting for the record.

OM nicely see, and apparently cloudless. I believe it would be Arsia Mons that is coming into view on the terminator with afternoon cloud visible.

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180503/CFs03May18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Mars images

Received: 4 May 2018 at 11:25 JST

Dear Sirs,
Please find attached a Mars image set from the 30th April 2018.
Best regards,
http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180430/MJs30Apr18.png

Mark JUSTICE (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA)

¤····Subject: Mars Sketch 2 May 2018

Received: 4 May 2018 at 04:38 JST

Sirs,

Please find attached my 3rd sketch of Mars for the current apparition. The eyepiece view of the tiny planet reminded me very much of one of the first Mars sketches done by Christiaan Huygens.

Details:

35cm SCT f/11 @ 326x & 230x     Filters: W21, 23A, & IL
S: 5-6/10 P     T: 5/6     Alt: 29°
CM: 295°     Ls: 169°     De: -12.1°     Dia: 11.2"

Best regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180502/MRs02May18.png

Michael ROSOLINA (WV USA)

Twin Sugars Observatory

¤····Subject: Jupiter images on 01 May 2018

Received: 3 May 2018 at 12:11 JST

Jupiter images on 1 May 2018.

Tomio AKUTSU (Ibaraki, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars 2 May 2018 0130UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 2 May 2018 at 19:22 JST

Hi all,

Mars image set from this morning. Olympus Mons at lower left(I am sure this time!)

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180502/CFs02May18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: RE: Mars 30 April 2018 0227UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 2 May 2018 at 17:39 JST

Hi Roger, all,

Just to try and solve the mystery of the terminator bright spot from 30 April, which I had initially incorrectly identified as OM, I waited for the same CM this morning. I found no trace of any feature, as per attached comparison images. The spot was brightest in red on the 30 Apr, although was also detectable in IR and G, but not blue. As Roger suggested, possibly a small, condensed spot of dust activity?

Best regards, Clyde

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Mars images from April 20 and April 28 UT

Received: 2 May 2018 at 10:52 JST

Dear CMO,

I wasn't sure if my last email you reached you or not, so just sending this just in case.

Two Mars images, from April 20 and April 28 UT, from Osaka, Japan.

best regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180420/RHf20Apr18.png

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180428/RHf28Apr18.png

--------------------------------------

On 2018/4/23 at 7:17 PM, "R. Heffner" wrote:

Dear CMO and Minami-san,
Long time no correspond! How are you?

I send you a Mars image from April 20 UT from my low altitude location in Japan. I'm in Osaka now.

Not sure how useable my images will be this apparition, but will try to send a few this year.

Image comments: Elysium appears bright, SPC prominent

Best regards,
Robert Heffner

--------------------------------------

Robert HEFFNER (Osaka, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars images (April 5th.)

Received: 2 May 2018 at 06:16 JST

Hi all,

Some moments of decent seeing. A good view of Elysium and Mare Cimmerium.

http://www.damianpeach.com/mars2018/m2018_04_05dp.jpg

Best Wishes

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180405/DPc05Apr18.png

Damian PEACH (Selsey, WS, the UK)

Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/

¤····Subject: Mars images (April 4th.)

Received: 2 May 2018 at 03:28 JST

Hi all,

Here is an image from April 4th. Average seeing.

http://www.damianpeach.com/mars2018/m2018_04_04dp.jpg

Best Wishes

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180404/DPc04Apr18.png

Damian PEACH (Selsey, WS, the UK)

Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/

¤····Subject: Mars 2018/04/30-Kumamori

Received: 1 May 2018 at 20:49 JST

Mars images on 30 April 2018.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180430/Km30Apr18.png

Teruaki KUMAMORI (Osaka, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars 30th April 2018 UT

Received: 1 May 2018 at 20:06 JST

Hello all
Attached is an image set of Mars taken this morning in good seeing but with poor transparency due to fog.

Best wishes

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180430/MVl30Apr18.png

Maurice VALIMBERTI (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA)

¤····Subject: Re: Mars 30 April 2018 0227UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 1 May 2018 at 04:02 JST

Let's see if it's still there tomorrow, and whether it has moved if still present. Dust?
-- Roger

Roger VENABLE (Chester, GA )

¤····Subject: Re: Mars 30 April 2018 0227UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 1 May 2018 at 03:25 JST

Hi all,

Hmmm... could be an embarrassing point for me. I have checked the co-ordinates of the bright spot adjacent to the terminator and measure it at approximate Long 150 and lat +30. If this is correct, the spot is too far north and west to be Olympus Mons(which was the obvious first choice), which is approx Long 130 and Lat +19. The question is then, what is the spot? From the maps I have, I don't see anything of significance at that location? It is visible in the IR, R and G images.
Maybe I am making a mistake somewhere. Comments or input are welcomed.
Best regards, Clyde

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Re: Mars 30 April 2018 0227UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 1 May 2018 at 02:52 JST

Thanks, Roger

I have had a bit of a scan through the original R frames, but it is very difficult to pick up any individual frames that would be of sufficient quality to see the possible shadow of OM.

I attach the AS3! output file (before any wavelet processing) of 2500 frames stacked from 9064 aptured frames.

I have included Damian, Anthony and Chris (Martin is already included), just in case they may want to try and process the image with their more advanced capabilities and skills. The issue is whether we are able to confirm that the shadow of Olympus Mons(upper right, almost on the terminator) is detected in the R image(aligned and stacked AS3! Output file) attached. I appreciate any input or assistance.

Best regards, Clyde

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Re: Mars 30 April 2018 0227UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 1 May 2018 at 00:51 JST

Great shot, Clyde. It looks as though the shadow of O.M. is visible. The problem with this possibility is that processing with wavelets can artefactually enhance the area to the east of the bright spot. Please check your images, especially the red one, before wavelet processing, and see whether this shadow is present. (Shadows of the volcanos are rarely imaged from Terra Firma.)

- Roger

Roger VENABLE (Chester, GA )

¤····Subject: Jupiter image (April 1st.)

Received: 1 May 2018 at 03:11 JST

Hi all,

Here is an image from April 1st.

http://www.damianpeach.com/jup18/2018-04-01-0735_3-RGBdp.jpg

Best Wishes

Damian PEACH (Selsey, WS, the UK)

Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/

¤····Subject: Jupiter images on 29 April 2018

Received: 30 April 2018 at 22:39 JST

Jupiter images on 29 April 2018.

Tomio AKUTSU (Ibaraki, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars - April 26th

Received: 30 April 2018 at 02:44 JST

Hi Mr. Minami and All!, My session from April 26th, 09:17ut.

Efrain

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180426/EMr26Apr18.png

Efrain MORALES RIVERA (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico)

¤····Subject: Mars 30 April 2018 0227UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 30 April 2018 at 16:41 JST

Hi all,

Mars image set from this morning. Olympus Mons just appearing on the evening terminator.

What is maybe more interesting is that the south polar region is starting to catch a bit of sunlight. There also appears to be some structure at the northern edge of the SPH/SPC.

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180430/CFs30Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: April 2018 Mars Images

Received: 30 April 2018 at 10:51 JST

Gentlemen,

Attached are my Mars images from April. Seeing was very good on April 24.

Seeing was poor for all other sessions. Mars is at a very low elevation of 26 degrees at my location.

Capturing good images of Mars this season will be very challenging.

Regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180424/PGc24Apr18.png

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180423/PGc23Apr18.png

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180422/PGc22Apr18.png

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180421/PGc21Apr18.png

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180414/PGc14Apr18.png

Peter GORCZYNSKI (Oxford, CT, the USA)

¤····Subject: Mars 27 April 2018 0230UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 29 April 2018 at 00:04 JST

Hi all,

Quickly catching up on my captures from 27 April.

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180427/CFs27Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Mars Sketch 21 April 2018

Received: 28 April 2018 at 22:44 JST

Sirs:

Please find attached my sketch of 21 April 2018. I made the sketch so close to local sunrise that I didn't need to use a light. Seeing is often better at that time.

Details:

35cm SCT f/11 @326x   Filters: W23A & IL
                   S: 6/10 P   T: 5/6   Alt: 29°
   CM: 46.4°   Ls: 163°   De: -10.4°   Dia: 10.1"

Notes: Mare Erythraeum appears large and dark. Argyre bright to the south. Mare Acidalium appears dull on p. limb.

Best regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180421/MRs21Apr18.png

Michael ROSOLINA (WV USA)

Twin Sugars Observatory

¤····Subject: Mars 28 April 2018 0230UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 28 April 2018 at 18:33 JST

Hi all,

Mars this morning. Interesting how the different planets seem to respond to atmospheric seeing conditions. I was up 4.00am for my second session of the night to catch Saturn and Mars. The first session was just after midnight for Jupiter. Saturn was so badly affected by the atrocious seeing that I don’t think I will get anything significant out, and I was tempted to close up and go back to bed. However, despite these conditions, I was able to squeeze the attached image set out for Mars. It seems that Mars handles the bad seeing better than Saturn, unless there was a sudden improvement in conditions(possible).

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180428/CFs28Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Re: 25 April 2018 0110UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 28 April 2018 at 02:57 JST

Yes, Clyde, I think that it is the SPC that has become visible in the last week, as the SPH thins.

I first noticed it in Damian's remarkable image of April 17th, in which its appearance is unambiguous.
-- Roger

Roger VENABLE (Chester, GA )

¤····Subject: Mars 25 April 2018 0110UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 28 April 2018 at 02:46 JST

Hi all,

Mars image set from 25 April.

The Gale crater “antenna” is clearly seen.

The bright western slopes of Elysium are also quite bright.

I am wondering if it is the SPC visible in the R and IR images

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180425/CFs25Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: [SOLARACTIVITY] The Sun on April 25th, 14:56ut. Sunspot AR2706

Received: 28 April 2018 at 00:01 JST

The Sun on April 25th, 14:56ut. Sunspot AR2706 Sunspot is rapidly decaying.

Efrain MORALES RIVERA (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico)

¤····Subject: Mars images (April 1st.)

Received: 27 April 2018 at 06:22 JST

Hi all

Average seeing. Elysium is orographic cloud is very bright. Also note the deeply coloured reddish patch in the southern hemisphere.

http://www.damianpeach.com/mars2018/m2018_04_01dp.jpg

Best Wishes

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180401/DPc01Apr18.png

Damian PEACH (Selsey, WS, the UK)

Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/

¤····Subject: Mars images

Received: 26 April 2018 at 20:57 JST

Dear Sirs,
Please find attached a Mars image set from the 25th April 2018.

Best regards,
http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180425/MJs25Apr18.png

Mark JUSTICE (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA)

¤····Subject: Jupiter images on 18~22 April 2018

Received: 26 April 2018 at 20:40 JST

Jupiter images on 18 April 2018

Jupiter images on 19 April 2018

Jupiter images on 20 April 2018

Jupiter images on 21 April 2018

Jupiter images on 22 April 2018

Tomio AKUTSU (Ibaraki, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars - April images

Received: 25 April 2018 at 02:20 JST

Hi Mr. Minami and All!,

Here are some images taken in various dates from april and my latest on Jupiter.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180419/EMr19Apr18.png

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180416/EMr16Apr18.png

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180405/EMr05Apr18.png

Efrain MORALES RIVERA (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico)

¤····Subject: Mars 24 April 2018 0237UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 25 April 2018 at 00:41 JST

Hi all,

Mars image set from this morning.

Interesting to note the very dark red colouring of the Ausonia/Borbyses region.

Regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180424/CFs24Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Jupiter good seeing (March 31st.)

Received: 24 April 2018 at 03:55 JST

Hi all,

Good seeing on the 31st allowed for the best result so far this apparition. A nicely detailed view of Oval BA and the turbulent revived sector of STB following it.

http://www.damianpeach.com/jup18/2018-03-31-0736_1-RGBdp.jpg

Best Wishes

Damian PEACH (Selsey, WS, the UK)

Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/

¤····Subject: Mars 2018/04/21-Kumamori

Received: 23 April 2018 at 22:41 JST

Mars images on 21 April 2018.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180421/Km21Apr18.png

Teruaki KUMAMORI (Osaka, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars 23 April 2018 0246UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 23 April 2018 at 20:21 JST

Hi all,

Mars this morning. I note a couple of brighter spots in Hellas.

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180423/CFs23Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Jupiter images 20th April 2018

Received: 23 April 2018 at 02:00 JST

Seeing mediocre for this set but some interesting views of the STrD, which is trying to bypass the GRS. The RS itself look to round some dark material in IR and it must have something to do with it.

Best wishes
Christophe

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)
Planetary astronomy and imaging

¤····Subject: Jupiter images, 18th April 2018

Received: 23 April 2018 at 01:57 JST

hi all,

Finally a correct night on Jupiter. BA is visible on these images.

I have tested the Astronomik 642 BP on these, but the IR 742 is still giving sharper views certainly due to Jupiter's atmosphere reaction to the presence/absence of visible red wavelength.

Best regards
Christophe

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)
Planetary astronomy and imaging

¤····Subject: Trump’s short-sighted mistreatment of Japan

Received: 20 April 2018 at 10:01 JST

https://www.ft.com/content/3dd4773a-42f6-11e8-93cf-67ac3a6482fd?segmentId=7ac5b61e-8d73-f906-98c6-68ac3b9ee271

Trump's short-sighted mistreatment of Japan

Failure to support an indispensable ally will have consequences

Potter yesterday

Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan, with his wife Akie at Mar-a-Lago with Donald Trump, US president, and Melania, first lady ? AFP

If Donald Trump's intention was to inflict maximum humiliation on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he could not have done a better job than his after-dinner tweet from Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday.

Having dined with Mr Abe, the US president fired off a tweet reversing last week's announcement that he was considering rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement (he had pulled the US out of TPP, with fanfare, on his first day in office).

"While Japan and South Korea would like us to go back into TPP, I don't like the deal for the United States ?.?.?.? Bilateral deals are far more efficient, profitable and better for OUR workers," Mr Trump wrote.

Mr Abe had presented himself as a Trump whisperer who could explain the benefits of the pact and maybe even convince the US to sign back up. Mr Trump's turnabout is just the latest wound he has inflicted on Mr Abe.

Japan is the only major ally that has not been granted an exemption from US steel and aluminium tariffs that were ostensibly aimed at China. Another example was Mr Trump's sudden decision to meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, which caught Tokyo by surprise and left Mr Abe scrambling to remind Washington of Japan's proximity to Pyongyang and its missiles.

In a public appearance with Mr Abe on Tuesday, Mr Trump repeatedly heaped praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he described as "a very special person to me". His affection for Mr Abe was much more restrained.

This undiplomatic treatment from Japan's most important ally could not come at a worse time for Mr Abe, who is polling at his lowest level since coming to office and struggling to shake off a string of domestic political scandals. Even some luminaries within his own party have suggested he may have to step down this year if his poll numbers do not improve.

The damage will be offset somewhat by Mr Trump's promise to press Pyongyang on its abduction of Japanese citizens, a highly emotional issue in Japan. But there will be few people left in Japan who still believe Mr Abe's boast of special influence over the American president.

Partly as a result of disillusionment with the US, Japan is cautiously cultivating better relations with America's strategic rivals. Mr Abe's visit to Florida comes immediately after China's foreign minister toured Japan, the first such visit in almost a decade. Mr Abe is also scheduled to call on Russian P

resident Vladimir Putin next month.

Japan has been conspicuously absent from the roster of countries condemning Moscow for the Salisbury poisoning of a former Russian spy and for the chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Tokyo is well aware that Beijing would like to drive a wedge into the US-Japan alliance and will be careful not to fall into that trap. But the more Mr Trump seems obsessed with the trade battles of the 1980s the harder it is for Japan to resist a hedging strategy that pulls it closer into China's orbit.

Mr Abe remains a China hawk but, if his domestic position erodes further, he could be out of office by the end of the year. His replacement may be more inclined to cozy up to Beijing.

For Japan, Russia and China are not alternatives to the US. But the more Tokyo hedges the less likely it will be to stand behind Washington in its future disagreements with those countries.

It is possible that Mr Trump is oblivious to the damage he is doing to the relationship with one of the staunchest US allies, and to America's standing in the Pacific. If so, one of his advisers needs to stand up and explain the danger, in very plain terms.

Sent from my iPhone

Bill SHEEHAN (Flagstaff, AZ)

¤····Subject: Mars 21st April 2018 UT

Received: 22 April 2018 at 15:55 JST

Hello
Attached is an image set of Mars taken on the 21st April 2018 UT as marked.

Seeing was quite good but transparency was very poor due to fog which seemed to lower contrast significantly.

Best wishes
http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180421/MVl21Apr18.png

Maurice VALIMBERTI (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA)

¤····Subject: Jupiter images (March 29th.)

Received: 22 April 2018 at 06:55 JST

Hi all,

Poor seeing on the 29th.

http://www.damianpeach.com/jup18/2018-03-29-0835_2-RGBdp.jpg

Best Wishes

Damian PEACH (Selsey, WS, the UK)

Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/

¤····Subject: Mars images (March 29th.)

Received: 22 April 2018 at 04:46 JST

Hi all,

Working through a backlog of data. Very poor seeing on the 29th. Syrtis Major/Elysium on view.

http://www.damianpeach.com/mars2018/m2018_03_29dp.jpg

Best Wishes

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180329/DPc29Mar18.png

Damian PEACH (Selsey, WS, the UK)

Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/

¤····Subject: Mars 21 April 2018 0310UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 21 April 2018 at 16:53 JST

Hi all,

Mars this morning. Despite the irritating edge artefact that is most prominent in IR and R wavelengths, it is fascinating and rewarding to monitor the daily changes taking place on Mars, not least of all in the Hellas basin, where there has been notable changes in the last few days.

The late afternoon cloud is more prominent today.

If I get regular conditions like this(not guaranteed!), there should be no difficulty in detecting any significant dust activity in the coming months. We wait patiently with expectation!

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180421/CFs21Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Mars 20 April 2018 0150UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 20 April 2018 at 23:12 JST

Hi all,

Mars image set from this morning, with Mars now at 10”.

I note the bright orange region at the NW(lower right) corner of Hellas, as well as possible mixed cloud in the south(top) of Hellas, which contrasts with the pure blue-white of the other clouds.

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180420/CFs20Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Mars 19 April 2018 0151UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 20 April 2018 at 02:24 JST

Hi all,

Mars this morning. Quite a bit of structure in the southern clouds. I also note some late afternoon cloud between Syrtis Major and M Tyrrenhum.

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180419/CFs19Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Mars good seeing (April 17th.)

Received: 20 April 2018 at 02:00 JST

Hi all,

Good seeing for a time on the 17th. A lovely view of the eye of Mars (Solis Lacus.) Lots of clouds across the planet.

http://www.damianpeach.com/mars2018/m2018_04_17dp.jpg

Best Wishes

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180417/DPc17Apr18.png

Damian PEACH (Selsey, WS, the UK)

Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/

¤····Subject: Mars 2018/04/18-Kumamori

Received: 19 April 2018 at 19:00 JST

Mars images on 18 April 2018.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180418/Km18Apr18.png

Teruaki KUMAMORI (Osaka, JAPAN)

¤····Subject: Mars images

Received: 19 April 2018 at 09:47 JST

Dear Sirs,
Please find attached a Mars image set from the 17th April 2018.

Best regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180417/MJs17Apr18.png

Mark JUSTICE (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA)

¤····Subject: Mars 18 April 2018 0100UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 18 April 2018 at 19:37 JST

Hi all,

Mars this morning.

Hellas appears to be clearing, with some remaining cloud or ice towards the S/SE region.

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180418/CFs18Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Mars Sketch 14 April 2018

Received: 16 April 2018 at 20:26 JST

Sirs,

Please accept the attached sketch -- my first of the current apparition.

I was fortunate to have good seeing -- Mars stays pretty low for me at my latitude of 38°N.

Here are the details:

35cm SCT f/11 @326x IL S: 7-8/10 P T: 4/6

CM: 105° Ls: 159° De: -9.1° Dia: 9.5" Alt: 28°

Best regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180414/MRs14Apr18.png

Michael ROSOLINA (WV USA)

Twin Sugars Observatory

¤····Subject: Mars images

Received: 16 April 2018 at 14:44 JST

Dear Sirs,
Please find attached a Mars image set from the 7th April 2018.

Best regards,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180407/MJs07Apr18.png

Mark JUSTICE (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA)

¤····Subject: Mars 16 April 2018 0235UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 16 April 2018 at 12:49 JST

Hi all,

Conditions were very poor this morning and I just managed to catch one, cloud affected, set of R, G, B and IR data before the clouds closed over totally.

The R data was very poor, so I combined the R and IR data to produce a R(IR)GB image, so it is not a “true” RGB.

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180416/CFs16Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Mars 15 April 2018 0032UT RGB and IR C Foster

Received: 16 April 2018 at 02:24 JST

Hi all,

Despite Meteoblue projecting very poor seeing conditions, I was up a bit earlier to try and catch the polar storm on Saturn, so Mars was at a lower altitude for these captures.

Some cloud and two dark spots appear to be in Hellas, although it also appears that there is a section of the basin that is clear of ice/cloud

Best regards, Clyde

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180415/CFs15Apr18.png

Clyde FOSTER (Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA)

¤····Subject: Mars images on 13 April 2018

Received: 15 April 2018 at 22:02 JST

Mars images on 13 April 2018.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2018/180413/Ak13Apr18.png

Tomio AKUTSU (Ibaraki, JAPAN)

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