From
David R KLASSEN
® . . . . . . .Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2003 16:43:16 -0400
From: David Klassen
<klassen@rowan.edu>
To: marswatch@cobain.rowan.edu
Subject: MarsWatch
2003 October Newsletter
O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O->
O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O-> O->
THE INTERNATIONAL MARSWATCH ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
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Volume 6; Issue 4
Oct 8, 2003
Circulation: 1056
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Greetings Mars Observers!
My appologies for the missing September issue;
new building, new office, new class textbook, new house, and observing run
prep. Enough excuses --- onto Mars!
(1) October Ephemerides
(2) Observations and Possible Dust Activity
(3) Mars Explorer Rovers
(4) Mars Express
(5) Mars Odyssey
(6) Mars Global Surveyor
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October Ephemerides
The following table was generated using JPL's online ephemerides site. Times are all Local Daylight Time for
mid-latitude sites. For Local Standard
Time, just subtract an hour. Dates and
times are given for Mars rise (r), transit (t), and set (s). The C, N, A and * in
the second column stand for civil, nautical and astronomical twilight and day light,
respectively. Ob-lon
is the longitude on Mars facing the observer (also called CM); Ob-lat is the
corresponding latitude.
Date_(ZONE)_HR:MN R.A._(ICRF/J2000.0)_DEC APmag Ang-dia Ob-lon Ob-lat Cnst
2003-Oct-01 02:39 t
22 15 38.19 -15 40 43.9
-2.11 20.670 63.75 -20.24
Aqr
2003-Oct-01 07:47 s
22 15 38.28 -15 39 29.1
-2.10 20.626 138.80 -20.26 Aqr
2003-Oct-01 21:27 *r 22 15 43.88 -15 36
14.5 -2.09 20.513 338.57 -20.31 Aqr
2003-Oct-02 02:36 t
22 15 44.49 -15 35 02.8
-2.08 20.471 53.86 -20.33
Aqr
2003-Oct-02 07:44 s
22 15 45.25 -15 33 44.5
-2.07 20.427 128.90 -20.35 Aqr
2003-Oct-02 21:23 *r 22 15 52.58 -15 30
20.7 -2.05 20.314 328.42 -20.40 Aqr
2003-Oct-03 02:32 t
22 15 53.86 -15 29 05.4
-2.05 20.272 43.71 -20.42
Aqr
2003-Oct-03 07:40 s
22 15 55.29 -15 27 43.6
-2.04 20.228 118.75 -20.44 Aqr
2003-Oct-03 21:19 *r 22 16 04.33 -15 24
10.5 -2.02 20.114 318.26 -20.49 Aqr
2003-Oct-04 02:28 t
22 16 06.28 -15 22 51.8
-2.02 20.073 33.54 -20.51
Aqr
2003-Oct-04 07:37 s
22 16 08.37 -15 21 26.3
-2.01 20.029 108.82 -20.53 Aqr
2003-Oct-04 21:15 *r 22 16 19.09 -15 17
44.5 -1.99 19.915 308.09 -20.59 Aqr
2003-Oct-05 02:24 t
22 16 21.69 -15 16 22.3
-1.99 19.874 23.37 -20.61
Aqr
2003-Oct-05 07:34 s
22 16 24.45 -15 14 53.2
-1.98 19.830 98.89 -20.63
Aqr
2003-Oct-05 21:11 *r 22 16 36.82 -15 11
02.9 -1.96 19.716 297.90 -20.68 Aqr
2003-Oct-06 02:21 t
22 16 40.08 -15 09 37.1
-1.96 19.675 13.42 -20.71
Aqr
2003-Oct-06 07:31 s
22 16 43.48 -15 08 04.8
-1.95 19.631 88.93 -20.73
Aqr
2003-Oct-06 21:07 *r 22 16 57.48 -15 04
06.2 -1.93 19.518 287.70 -20.78 Aqr
2003-Oct-07 02:17 t
22 17 01.38 -15 02 37.1
-1.93 19.476 3.21 -20.81
Aqr
2003-Oct-07 07:28 s
22 17 05.43 -15 01 01.3
-1.92 19.432 78.97 -20.83
Aqr
2003-Oct-07 21:03 *r 22 17 21.03 -14 56
54.7 -1.90 19.320 277.48 -20.89 Aqr
2003-Oct-08 02:14 t
22 17 25.56 -14 55 22.2
-1.89 19.278 353.24 -20.91 Aqr
2003-Oct-08 07:24 s
22 17 30.22 -14 53 43.6
-1.89 19.235 68.75 -20.93
Aqr
2003-Oct-08 20:59 *r 22 17 47.41 -14 49
28.9 -1.87 19.123 267.25 -20.99 Aqr
2003-Oct-09 02:10 t
22 17 52.56 -14 47 53.2
-1.86 19.081 343.00 -21.01 Aqr
2003-Oct-09 07:21 s
22 17 57.86 -14 46 11.4
-1.86 19.038 58.76 -21.03
Aqr
2003-Oct-09 20:55 *r 22 18 16.58 -14 41
49.0 -1.84 18.926 257.01 -21.09 Aqr
2003-Oct-10 02:07 t
22 18 22.36 -14 40 10.0
-1.83 18.885 333.00 -21.12 Aqr
2003-Oct-10 07:19 s
22 18 28.28 -14 38 24.9
-1.83 18.841 49.00 -21.14
Aqr
2003-Oct-10 20:51 *r 22 18 48.49 -14 33
55.5 -1.81 18.731 246.75 -21.20 Aqr
2003-Oct-11 02:03 t
22 18 54.88 -14 32 13.5
-1.80 18.690 322.75 -21.22 Aqr
2003-Oct-11 07:16 s
22 19 01.41 -14 30 25.2
-1.80 18.646 38.98 -21.25
Aqr
2003-Oct-11 20:47 *r 22 19 23.10 -14 25
48.7 -1.78 18.537 236.49 -21.31 Aqr
2003-Oct-12 02:00 t
22 19 30.09 -14 24 03.5
-1.77 18.495 312.72 -21.33 Aqr
2003-Oct-12 07:13 s
22 19 37.22 -14 22 12.3
-1.77 18.452 28.95 -21.35
Aqr
2003-Oct-12 20:43 *r 22 20 00.35 -14 17
28.8 -1.75 18.343 226.21 -21.41 Aqr
2003-Oct-13 01:57 t
22 20 07.95 -14 15 40.4
-1.74 18.302 302.68 -21.44 Aqr
2003-Oct-13 07:10 s
22 20 15.65 -14 13 46.6
-1.73 18.259 18.91 -21.46
Aqr
2003-Oct-13 20:40 *r 22 20 40.22 -14 08
56.0 -1.72 18.151 216.16 -21.52 Aqr
2003-Oct-14 01:53 t
22 20 48.37 -14 07 05.1
-1.71 18.110 292.38 -21.55 Aqr
2003-Oct-14 07:07 s
22 20 56.67 -14 05 08.3
-1.70 18.068 8.85 -21.57
Aqr
2003-Oct-14 20:36 *r 22 21 22.62 -14 00
11.0 -1.69 17.961 205.85 -21.63 Aqr
2003-Oct-15 01:50 t
22 21 31.35 -13 58 17.1
-1.68 17.920 282.32 -21.66 Aqr
2003-Oct-15 07:05 s
22 21 40.24 -13 56 17.3
-1.67 17.878 359.03 -21.68 Aqr
2003-Oct-15 20:32 *r 22 22 07.52 -13 51 14.0
-1.66 17.771 195.54 -21.75 Aqr
2003-Oct-16 01:47 t
22 22 16.83 -13 49 17.0 -1.65
17.731 272.24 -21.77 Aqr
2003-Oct-16 07:02 s
22 22 26.27 -13 47 14.6 -1.64
17.689 348.95 -21.80 Aqr
2003-Oct-16 20:28 *r 22 22 54.87 -13 42 05.1
-1.63 17.584 185.21 -21.86 Aqr
2003-Oct-17 01:44 t
22 23 04.76 -13 40 05.2
-1.62 17.544 262.16 -21.88 Aqr
2003-Oct-17 06:59 s
22 23 14.74 -13 38 00.2
-1.61 17.502 338.86 -21.91 Aqr
2003-Oct-17 20:25 *r 22 23 44.66 -13 32
44.2 -1.60 17.397 175.11 -21.97 Aqr
2003-Oct-18 01:41 t
22 23 55.08 -13 30 41.7
-1.59 17.358 252.06 -21.99 Aqr
2003-Oct-18 06:57 s
22 24 05.63 -13 28 33.9
-1.58 17.316 329.00 -22.02 Aqr
2003-Oct-18 20:21 *r 22 24 36.78 -13 23
12.4 -1.57 17.213 164.76 -22.08 Aqr
2003-Oct-19 01:38 t
22 24 47.77 -13 21 06.9
-1.56 17.173 241.94 -22.11 Aqr
2003-Oct-19 06:54 s
22 24 58.83 -13 18 56.7
-1.55 17.132 318.89 -22.13 Aqr
2003-Oct-19 20:18 *r 22 25 31.26 -13 13
29.0 -1.54 17.030 154.64 -22.20 Aqr
2003-Oct-20 01:35 t
22 25 42.76 -13 11 21.1
-1.53 16.991 231.82 -22.22 Aqr
2003-Oct-20 06:52 s
22 25 54.37 -13 09 08.1
-1.52 16.950 309.01 -22.25 Aqr
2003-Oct-20 20:14 *r 22 26 27.97 -13 03
35.1 -1.51 16.849 144.26 -22.31 Aqr
2003-Oct-21 01:32 t
22 26 40.01 -13 01 24.3
-1.50 16.810 221.69 -22.34 Aqr
2003-Oct-21 06:50 s
22 26 52.17 -12 59 08.6
-1.49 16.769 299.11 -22.36 Aqr
2003-Oct-21 20:10 *r 22 27 26.91 -12 53
30.5 -1.48 16.669 133.88 -22.43 Aqr
2003-Oct-22 01:29 t
22 27 39.49 -12 51 16.9
-1.47 16.631 211.54 -22.45 Aqr
2003-Oct-22 06:47 s
22 27 52.15 -12 48 58.9
-1.46 16.590 288.97 -22.48 Aqr
2003-Oct-22 20:07 *r 22 28 28.08 -12 43
14.9 -1.45 16.492 123.72 -22.54 Aqr
2003-Oct-23 01:26 t
22 28 41.15 -12 40 59.0
-1.44 16.453 201.39 -22.56 Aqr
2003-Oct-23 06:45 s
22 28 54.33 -12 38 38.3
-1.44 16.413 279.05 -22.59 Aqr
2003-Oct-23 20:03 *r 22 29 31.35 -12 32
49.4 -1.42 16.316 113.32 -22.65 Aqr
2003-Oct-24 01:23 t
22 29 44.94 -12 30 30.8
-1.41 16.278 191.22 -22.68 Aqr
2003-Oct-24 06:43 s
22 29 58.65 -12 28 07.4
-1.41 16.238 269.13 -22.71 Aqr
2003-Oct-24 20:00 *r 22 30 36.76 -12 22
13.3 -1.39 16.142 103.14 -22.77 Aqr
2003-Oct-25 01:20 t
22 30 50.83 -12 19 52.4
-1.38 16.104 181.04 -22.79 Aqr
2003-Oct-25 06:41 s
22 31 05.05 -12 17 26.4 -1.38 16.065 259.19 -22.82 Aqr
2003-Oct-25 19:56 *r 22 31 44.19 -12 11
27.7 -1.36 15.970
92.71 -22.88 Aqr
2003-Oct-26 01:17 t
22 31 58.77 -12 09 04.0
-1.35 15.933 170.86 -22.91 Aqr
2003-Oct-26 06:38 s
22 32 13.45 -12 06 35.9
-1.35 15.894 249.00 -22.93 Aqr
2003-Oct-26 19:53 *r 22 32 53.69 -12 00
31.8 -1.33 15.800
82.52 -23.00 Aqr
2003-Oct-27 01:15 t
22 33 08.76 -11 58 05.4
-1.33 15.763 160.90 -23.02 Aqr
2003-Oct-27 06:36 s
22 33 23.90 -11 55 35.1
-1.32 15.725 239.04 -23.05 Aqr
2003-Oct-27 19:50 *r 22 34 05.15 -11 49
26.2 -1.30 15.632
72.31 -23.11 Aqr
2003-Oct-28 01:12 t
22 34 20.67 -11 46 57.7
-1.30 15.595 150.69 -23.13 Aqr
2003-Oct-28 06:34 s
22 34 36.30 -11 44 24.9
-1.29 15.557 229.08 -23.16 Aqr
2003-Oct-28 19:46 *r 22 35 18.48 -11 38
11.7 -1.27 15.466
61.85 -23.22 Aqr
2003-Oct-29 01:09 t
22 35 34.49 -11 35 40.6
-1.27 15.430 140.48 -23.25 Aqr
2003-Oct-29 06:32 s
22 35 50.59 -11 33 05.2
-1.26 15.392 219.10 -23.27 Aqr
2003-Oct-29 19:43 *r 22 36 33.73 -11 26
47.5 -1.25 15.302
51.63 -23.33 Aqr
2003-Oct-30 01:07 t
22 36 50.21 -11 24 13.8
-1.24 15.266 130.49 -23.36 Aqr
2003-Oct-30 06:30 s
22 37 06.74 -11 21 36.5
-1.23 15.229 209.11 -23.39 Aqr
2003-Oct-30 19:40 *r 22 37 50.80 -11 15
14.3 -1.22 15.140
41.39 -23.45 Aqr
2003-Oct-31 01:04 t
22 38 07.69 -11 12 38.6
-1.21 15.104 120.25 -23.47 Aqr
2003-Oct-31 06:28 s
22 38 24.68 -11 09 58.8
-1.20 15.067 199.12 -23.50 Aqr
2003-Oct-31 19:36 *r 22 39 09.58 -11 03
32.8 -1.19 14.980
30.90 -23.56 Aqr
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Observations and Possible
Dust Activity
Thanks go out to Steve Noonan, Rowan computer science major,
for giving the MarsWatch 2003 images pages a major
overhaul! The image pages are now served
up on-the-fly and built automagically by a nice PHP script
(no, I don't know what PHP means, either).
The job of maintaining those pages has been
made significantly easier --- basically, I just have to move the images from
the ftp directory to the web directory! This should also speed up the
turn-around time between submission and posting.
Images from the end of September and early October still
show the South Polar Cap quite well. The
only indications of ice clouds (bright in blue) appear on the limb and
terminator with some indications still of a north polar hood. There also appear to be some clouds located
over the high volcanic peaks in Tharsis. Based on preliminary looks at infrared
imaging from the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (images to appear on the site
as
soon as
my students finish the processing) show the clouds around Tharsis
to be composed mainly of water ice while the SPC is almost entirely composed of
carbon dioxide. Further analysis will be
necessary to substantiate
these
initial interpretations.
An image from 5 October seems to show a strong Red
brightening west of the
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Mars Explorer Rovers
No new reports have crossed my inbox recently so I believe
this is a
case of
"no news is good news". Both
craft are on their way and have
checked-out AOK
on all their preliminary instrument tests.
The various MER teams have been conducting readiness tests
focusing
on the
"Impact to Egress" phase of the mission. That is, from when
they
bounce-down to when the packages open and the rovers begin
their
roving. The teams have been having to work some strange hours
and
shifts! Since the rovers are solar
powered, the teams have to
work
during Mars daylight hours (which could be the middle of the
night in
California/JPL time). Also, the Mars day
(or Sol) is about
39 minutes longer than an Earth day --- this means that the
shifts
these
folks have to work shift in Earth time by 39 minutes. The
MER operations teams have to live on Mars time! I'm willing to bet
that
this does not mean they get to have an extra 39 minutes of
sleep per
day...
You can get more information at the offical
MER web site
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/ .
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Mars Express
As of mid-September, Mars Express is working fine and about
halfway
to its
destination. The initial tests are all
out of the way and
the
Cruise Phase payload instrument checkouts will be taking place
this
month. The Beagle probe will also have
such a checkout which
will be
later this month and early November.
See the offical web site at http://sci.esa.int/marsexpress/ for more information and updates and
http://www.beagle2.com/ for for
information on the Beagle probe.
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Mars Odyssey
The latest Themis images are quite
interesting. There is an image
of two
craters (http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20031006a.html
) that
have
very different erosional histories, some ancient lava
flows
just
east of Pavonis Mons (http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20030929a.html
),
and
finally, a color image from the eastern edge of Acidalia
(http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20031003a.html
). They note that the
colors
have been "enhanced" and thus do not represent anything near
what we
would call "true color", but the differences in the image
are
still striking.
You can get more information at the official Odyssey web
site
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/ .
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Mars Global Surveyor
The mission is still going strong! The Mars Orbiter Camera has obtained
over
134,000 images of the planet and now they are doing something very
interesting ---
letting the public suggest imaging targets!
The first
can be
seen at http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/09/12/index.html
and is
the caldera of Pavoinis Mons. If you want to participate and
make
your own suggestions, you can get all the details at
http://www.msss.com/plan/intro/ .
The TES team continues their data gathering, and present a
daily
maps at http://tes.asu.edu/daily.html . They are also computing
a daily
atmospheric dust abundance map which you can see at
http://tes.asu.edu . It will be interesting to compare their
results
with the brightenings being seen in the MarsWatch images!
More information and links to images can be found at
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marswatch WWW
site --- http://elvis.rowan.edu/marswatch
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions,
comments, concerns, and contributions to:
David
R. Klassen voice: 856-256-4391
Department
of Physics & Astronomy fax:
856-256-4478
David KLASSEN (Dept of
Physics & Astronomy,
http://elvis.rowan.edu/~klassen