LtE in CMO #279

From Donald C PARKER


® . . . . . . . .Date: Tue, 09 Sept 2003 22:19:01 +0000

Subject: Mars Images

 

Hi All,

     Here are some Mars images from 7 Sept. Despite poor seeing, the "Mountains of Mitchel" have separated from the SPC and have split. No dust.

     Best,

   MARS IMAGES  7 September, 2003

 

D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian

           ST9XE CCD Camera  Eyepiece Projection @ f/55.4

                       Integration Times:

 RED (RG610 Red Filter, 610-1100nm: NO IR Rejection)   0.13s-0.25s 1  image

 GREEN (CFW8C, 531nm central; BWHM 86nm)   0.42-0.57s 6-8 images

 BLUE (CFW8C, 450nm central, BWHM 116nm)   1.60-2.00s 5-8 images

             Images bias, flat and dark corrected.

 

Seeing poor (4 Pickering).  Transparency 2-3.5 m, frequent high clouds, haze. Wind WSW 2-5 kts. Altitude =47-48 degrees. Light dew.

 

No dust clouds. Novus Mons separated from SPC and divided into "Mountains of Mitchel." Antarctic cloud/haze west of SPC. Evening limb arc. NP Hood thin, weak. Faint AM limb clouds. Dark streaks on the floor of Hellas. Violet Clearing = 1+ visually.

 

® . . . . . . . .Date: Fri, 12 Sept 2003 02:04:21 +0000

Subject: Mars Images

 

Hi All,

     Here are some Mars images from 8 Sept. Note change in the albedo features on the floor of Hellas.

     Best,

   MARS IMAGES 8 September, 2003

 

D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian

           ST9XE CCD Camera  Eyepiece Projection @ f/55.4

                       Integration Times:

 RED (RG610 Red Filter, 610-1100nm: NO IR Rejection)   0.15s-0.16s 2-3  images

 GREEN (CFW8C, 531nm central; BWHM 86nm)   0.45s8-11 images

 BLUE (CFW8C, 450nm central, BWHM 116nm)   1.45-1.70s 8-10 images

             Images bias, flat and dark corrected.

 

Seeing variable (4-8 Pickering).  Transparency 4 m,  haze. Wind WSW1-9 kts. Altitude =35-48 degrees. No dew.

 

"Mountains of Mitchel" separated. Some S. Polar hazes. NP Hood remains tenuous but cloud band noted SE of hood. Non-rotating AM limb clouds.  Note: Floor of Hellas has changed; normal albedo features (Zea Lacus, Peneus, etc.) no longer visible -- replaced by dark streaks.

 

® . . . . . . . .Date: Mon, 15 Sept 2003 01:00:11 +0000

Subject: Mars Images

 

Hi All,

     I have sent revised versions of my 8 September images -- reprocessed for better color balance and also to bring out clouds, polar hood, etc. Note some delicate clouds over Iapygia crossing southeast Syrtis Major.

     Thanks to Sean Walker for showing me new processing techniques!

     Best,

    

® . . . . . . . .Date: Tue, 16 Sept 2003 02:06:45 +0000

Subject: Mars Images

 

Hi All,

     Here are some Mars images from 15 Sept. Morning clouds fairly prominent.

     Best,

   MARS IMAGES 15 September, 2003

 

D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian

           ST9XE CCD Camera  Eyepiece Projection @ f/55.4

                       Integration Times: RRGB Images

 RED (RG610 Red Filter, 610-1100nm: NO IR Rejection)   0.14s 1  image

 GREEN (CFW8C, 531nm central; BWHM 86nm)   0.50s 7-12 images

 BLUE (CFW8C, 450nm central, BWHM 116nm)   1.90-2.00s 6-1 images

             Images bias,flat and dark corrected.

 

Seeing variable (6 initially but deteriorated to 2 late).  Transparency 4 m, frequent clouds. Wind ENE 5-13 kts. Altitude = 42-47 degrees. No dew.

 

NP Hood prominent but fragmented near CM=240. Localized AM clouds over Ausonia Borealis, Hellas, and Syrtis Major. No Elysium clouds.

 

® . . . . . . . .Date: Wed, 17 Sept 2003 21:55:21 +0000

Subject: Mars Images

 

Hi All,

     Here are some Mars images from 16 September. Increasing localized clouds on evening limb over Ausonia-Tyrrhenum-Libya.

     Best,

   MARS IMAGES 16 September, 2003

 

D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian

           ST9XE CCD Camera  Eyepiece Projection @ f/55.4

                       Integration Times: RRGB Images

 RED (RG610 Red Filter, 610-1100nm: NO IR Rejection)   0.13-0.17s 1-3  images

 GREEN (CFW8C, 531nm central; BWHM 86nm)   0.50-0.63s 6-10 images

 BLUE (CFW8C, 450nm central, BWHM 116nm)   2.00-2.50s 6-10 images

             Images bias,flat and dark corrected.

 

Seeing generally poor (4 Pickering), with occasional good moments.  Transparency 4 m, haze. Wind N 0-7 kts. Altitude = 43-48 degrees. No dew.

 

Significant localized clouds (appear to rotate with planet) on AM limb over Ausonia, Tyrrhenum M., Libya. Western North Polar Hood dull. Delicate hazes over eastern Cimmerium M. Bright tiny orographic cloud over Arsia Mons on PM limb. Elysium cloud free. Violet Clearing = 0-1.

 

® . . . . . . . .Date: Sat, 20 Sept 2003 03:23:07 +0000

Subject: Mars Images

 

Hi All,

     I have attached some Mars images from 19 Sept. Small orographic cloud over Arsia Mons. Also have attached some belated images from 10 Sept.

     Best,

   MARS IMAGES 19 September, 2003

 

D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian

           ST9XE CCD Camera  Eyepiece Projection @ f/55.4

                       Integration Times: RRGB Images

 RED (RG610 Red Filter, 610-1100nm: NO IR Rejection)   0.13-0.17s 2-3  images

 GREEN (CFW8C, 531nm central; BWHM 86nm)   0.50-0.60s 8 images

 BLUE (CFW8C, 450nm central, BWHM 116nm)   2.00s 9-12 images

             Images bias, flat and dark corrected.

 

Seeing fair and variable (4-7 Pickering).  Transparency 0-4.5 m, frequent clouds. Wind SE 1-8 kts. Altitude = 40-48 degrees. No dew.

 

Orographic cloud over Arsia Mons, brightened as approached PM limb. Scattered patchy clouds over Tharsis and Amazonis. Haze over western Sirenum M. Localized clouds in Hesperia and Ausonia. No violet clearing visually with Wratten 47 or on CCD images.

 

MARS IMAGES 10 September, 2003

 

D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian

           ST9XE CCD Camera  Eyepiece Projection @ f/55.4

                       Integration Times: RRGB Images

 RED (RG610 Red Filter, 610-1100nm: NO IR Rejection)   0.16-0.17s 2-4  images

 GREEN (CFW8C, 531nm central; BWHM 86nm)   0.50s 7-9 images

 BLUE (CFW8C, 450nm central, BWHM 116nm)   2.00s 6-11 images

             Images bias,flat and dark corrected.

 

Seeing generally poor (3 Pickering) initially but improved (7) late.  Transparency 4 m, frequent clouds. Wind NE 6-12 kts. Altitude = 47-48 degrees. No dew.

 

Violet Clearing = 1+ visually and on CCD blue images. Cloud band SE of NP Hood on 8 Sept now barely detectable. AM limb clouds -- non-rotating. Note: Floor of Hellas has changed; normal albedo features (Zea Lacus, Peneus, etc.)  no longer visible -- replaced by dark streaks.

 

Don PARKER (Miami, FL, USA)

park3232@bellsouth.net

 Back to the LtE Home Page

 Jump to the LtE Archives

 

 Back to the CMO Home Page