From
Carlos E HERNANDEZ
@. . . . . . Masami-san, The current Mars
apparition is proving to be an exciting one. As the planet becomes larger in
apparent size we are now noting much more detail. I have attached my latest set of Mars
observations for your records. I hope that you like them and prove
useful in your analysis of the current apparition. The best of luck to you, Dr.
Minami, your fellow coordinators and the rest of the OAA Mars Section.
Regards
>Date (UT): February 11,
2001
>Time (UT): 11:00 (left image), 11:30
(right image)
>CM: 034.2 (left image), 041.5 (right
image)
>Ls: 115.8, De: 9.7N, Ds:
22.2N
>Diameter (arc-seconds):
6.8
>Telescope: 8-inch (20-cm) f/10 Sch/Cass
>Mag.: 406x,
472x
>Filters: Wratten 23A, 30, 38A,
64
>Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V):
III-II
>Transparency (1-6):
5
>Violet (W47, or blue (W38A)) Clearing
(1-3): 1-2
Notes:
11:00
UT A drawing of Mars
obtained through a red (Wratten (W) 23A) filter. The North Polar Cap (NPC)
appears brilliant (10/10) over the north polar limb surrounded by a shaded
(6/10) collar consisting of Ortygia, Baltia, and Mare Boreum. Mare Acidalium
appears prominent (3-4/10) on the CM separated from an equally dark (3-4/10)
Niliacus Lacus by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) Achillis Pons ( the haze or
cloud appears to extend towards the west over Tempe). Nilokeras appears to be
partially visible (5/10) extending from Niliacus Lacus. Mare Erythraeum appears
dark to dusky (3-4/10) on the CM. A thin very bright 8/10) haze appears over Eos
at it's northern border. Margaritifer Sinus and Aurorae Sinus both appear dark
(3/10) as well. The following half of Sinus Meridiani is visible along the
preceding (evening) limb separated from Margaritifer Sinus by a very bright
(8/10) haze over Deucalionis Regio-Aram. Solis Lacus (and Nectar) are visible
towards the following limb beneath an extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze
(MLH). Eden, Cydonia, Chryse-Xanthe and Tharsis appear bright (7/10). An
extremely bright (9/10) haze is visible along the southern limb with an equally
bright cloud connecting to it over Argyre.
11:30
UT A drawing of Mars
obtained through magenta (W30), blue (W38A), and blue-green (W64) filters. The
North Polar Cap (NPC) also appears brilliant (10/10) at these wavelengths. A
very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) cloud or haze is visible extending
between the Tempe-Achillis Pons region (also noted slightly less prominently in
red (W23A) light). An extremely bright (9/10) triangular-shaped cloud over the
Moab-Eden-Cydonia region of Mars. It's following tip (or "beak") appears to
connect to a very bright (8/10) strip of haze obscuring the Chryse-Xanthe region
which then connects to an extremely bright (9/10) triangular-shaped cloud over
Tharsis. An extremely bright (9/10) haze was visible over the southern limb.
Portions of Mare Acidalium and Mare Erythraeum were partially visible (Violet
(or blue) clearing at 1-2/3).
(13
February 2001 email)
Carlos E HERNANDEZ (Miami FL USA)