2001 Mars Observation Reports -- #24--

OAA MARS SECTION

CMO Mars Observations

Based on the article published in CMO #261 (25 June 2002)

Masatsugu MINAMI, Director of the OAA Mars Section

ars has gone from the lower western sky (it will be at conjunction on 12 August), but Yukio MORITA chased it until 26 May (018°Ls) as follows:

　 MORITA, Yukio (Mo) Hatsuka-ichi, Hiroshima, Japan

3 Sets of CCD Images (19, 25, 26 May 2002)

f/50x25cm speculum equipped with an ST-5C

Mo's images on 19 May (015°Ls) were taken at LCM=295°W, on 25 May at LCM=242°W and on 26 May at LCM=229°W. The disc diameter was only 3.8 arcsecs, and the central latitude was 7°N - 8°N. The images however don't produce any implication in any light. We are sure Mo will start again from the late November when the diameter draws to 4 arcsecs, The season will proceed to 100°Ls and the npc will be visible since the central latitude=22°N.

e Further Received several selected drawings from Richard McKIM (RMk), Director of the BAA Mars Section.

McKIM, Richard J (RMk) Peterborough, UK

43 Sets of Drawings (22⁺, 24⁺, 29/30 May; 4, 9, 21, 22, 27, 28, 30 June;

1, 3, 4, 6*, 29, 31 July; 10, 13, 29, August; 25, 29 September;

6, 31 October; 13, 19, 26 November; 1, 8, 29 December 2001;

2, 19 January; 14, 28 February 2002)

255, 410×41cm Dall-Kirkham,

140, 350×30cm spec⁺,

130, 250×20cm refractor*

*Petrin Observatory, Prague, Czech Republic

RMk's A4 sheets (1 - 33 as we tentatively numbered) show the drawings as well as the intensity estimates which are dated as follows. These are precious (as well as N BIVER's drawings) because they show the aspects of the 2001 dust storm observed from the ill-conditioned Europe:

01) 22 May 2001(165°Ls)LCM=031°W,

02) 24 May (167°Ls) LCM=021°W, 026°W,

03) 29/30 May (169°Ls)LCM=303°W, 314°W,

04) 4 June (173°Ls)LCM=265°W,

05) 9 June (176°Ls)LCM=218°W,

06) 21 June (181°Ls)LCM=087°W,

07)22 June (182°Ls)LCM=066°W, 072°W,

08) 27 June (185°Ls)LCM=018°W,

09) 28 June (186°Ls)LCM=356°W, 014°W,

10) 30 June (187°Ls)LCM=338°W,

11+12) 1 July (187°Ls)LCM=325°W, 335°W,

13) 3 July (189°Ls)LCM=310°W,

14) 4 July (189°Ls)LCM=301°W,

15) 6 July (191°Ls)LCM=266°W,

16) 29 July (204°Ls)LCM=089°W, 31 July (205°Ls)LCM=048°W,

17) 10 August (211°Ls)LCM=302°W,

18) 13 August (213°Ls)LCM=276°W, 282°W,

19) 29 August (217°Ls)LCM=219°W,

20) 25 September (240°Ls)LCM=212°W,

21) 29 September (242°Ls)LCM=169°W,

22) 6 October (241°Ls)LCM=098°W,

23) 31 October (263°Ls)LCM=221°W,

24) 13 November (271°Ls)LCM=088°W,

25) 19 November (275°Ls)LCM=019°W,

26) 26 November (280°Ls)LCM=298°W, 308°W,

27) 1 December (283°Ls)LCM=275°W, 288°W,

28) 8 December (287°Ls)LCM=181°W,

29) 29 December 2001 (301°Ls)LCM=336°W,

30) 2 January 2002 (302°Ls)LCM=298°W, 309°W,

31) 19 January (312°Ls)LCM=127°W,

32) 14 February (327°Ls)LCM=246°W,

33) 28 February 2002 (333°Ls)LCM=104°W, 129°W

[1), 2) by the use of a 30cm spec; 3)~14) a 41cm DK Cass;16)~33) and 15) a 20cm Refr (Petrin Observatory, Czech)].

Syrtis Mj on 4) was generally at int 6.5 while its western part was 7. M Tyrrhenum also 7. On 6), Solis L and Auroræ S were 6.5. The central part of the spc was int 0. S Meridiani was 6.5 on 8), 5 on 9), 5.5 on 10) and 5 on 11). Syrtis Mj was also 5. On 13) M Serpentis still looked 5.5. S Sabæus was fainter on 14). The observations were only made around 20:50~21:30 GMT perhaps because of the low altitude of the planet, and no further information of the area of S Meridiani wherefore it could be obscured. RMk went away to Praha from 5 July to 28 July on journey, and therefore didn't observe explicitly the oblique white frost or fog following the spc on the morning side. We hope the blank could not give just an impression as if the dust storm was onset at Hellas and implied no other drama. Suddenly on 16) and 17), it is certain the disk shows the global dust storm; the dusty Syrtis Mj was int 3, without its shape any longer on 17).

The observation 18) on 13 August at LCM=276°W is important adding another hint to the observations of the strange dark patch at M Cimmerium as to which there is a summary in #250 p3109 from 1 July to 12 August. The spot was at 3.75. The drawing 22) on 6 October also shows the dark patch as described in #250 p3145, and fills the blank before 14 October by Don PARKER (DPk). It also shows a dusty stream between Auroræ S and the new marking. However the observation on 24) 13 November shows no more than a dusky area. The drawing 25) on 19 November shows rather normal configuration around S Meridiani (5.5) and Margaritifer S. The dust storm looks nearly cleared except a high-altitude haze. The last but one on 28 February (333°Ls) was made when the angular diameter = 4.8" at LCM=104°W: the area of Dædalia was seen dark.

RMk’s drawings corresponding to 4), 6), 13) and 17) are found on p120 of the June issue of J BAA 112 (2002).

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