BillFerris
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/17/04
Posts: 3587
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Hi Preston,
For keeping up with the latest happenings on the Red Planet, I'd recommend the marsobservers Yahoo group, where many of the best Mars observers make regular contributions of visual reports and images.
Regards,
Bill in Flagstaff
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Grand Canyon Adventure
Lowering the Threshold
18" Obsession
4.5" Meade 4500
10x50 Swift Audubon
Cosmic Voyage
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LivingNDixie
TSP Chowhound
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 17757
Loc: Trussville, AL
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Thanks Bill!
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Preston
Meade 10in LX200R GPS UHTC
blog (updated 02/15/2013)
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Special Ed
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 6339
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Quote:
Michael, do you have a link to this image/report of dust clouds?
Robert, there is quite a bit of discussion and image links on the Yahoo Marsobservers site . Not everyone agrees that there is a dust storm, not even a localized one. Hellas can appear bright when it's on the limb and most of these images are with Hellas on or near the limb.
My last observation (21 July) Hellas appeared bright in red light and dust appears bright in red light but I'm certainly no expert. The discussion has shifted to the Mts of Mitchel so perhaps the dust cloud (if it is dust) is not growing.
Hellas as moved off the limb with the rotation of Mars for US east coast observers--that's why it's so nice to have observers scattered around the globe.
I've been following your progress imaging Mars here on CN and at the CMO, too. 
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Michael Rosolina
Celestron CGE Pro 1400 f/11 SCT
1980 Orange Tube C8 f/10 SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
50mm f/10 Galileoscope
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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LivingNDixie
TSP Chowhound
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 17757
Loc: Trussville, AL
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Thats reassuring, I really hope we don't get a dust storm.
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Preston
Meade 10in LX200R GPS UHTC
blog (updated 02/15/2013)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Quote:
Michael, do you have a link to this image/report of dust clouds?
Robert, there is quite a bit of discussion and image links on the Yahoo Marsobservers site . Not everyone agrees that there is a dust storm, not even a localized one. Hellas can appear bright when it's on the limb and most of these images are with Hellas on or near the limb.
My last observation (21 July) Hellas appeared bright in red light and dust appears bright in red light but I'm certainly no expert. The discussion has shifted to the Mts of Mitchel so perhaps the dust cloud (if it is dust) is not growing.
Hellas as moved off the limb with the rotation of Mars for US east coast observers--that's why it's so nice to have observers scattered around the globe.
I've been following your progress imaging Mars here on CN and at the CMO, too.
Thanks Michael, that's one of the sites I have yet to check out, I'll have to join that one.
Excellent sketch on the "Mars!" thread and good info about what's going on near Hellas too!!
Hellas is swinging around here this week, forecast is for clear but very hot weather, hopefully I can get some high res shots of Hellas during some fleeting moments of steady seeing.
The changes in the SPC are incredibly fascinating  , Novus Mons (the same thing as the Mountains of Mitchel ??) is breaking away fully from the SPC. I really want to get a good shot at a focal length of 9,000mm + with the C11, but it will depend on the conditions.
The dot next to the SPC is Novus Mons:
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Here is Hellas from this morning, July 27th UT, in awful seeing.
Novus Mons is above Hellas on the SPC.
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markf
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/13/04
Posts: 1936
Loc: Houston, TX
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Horrible seeing Robert? As if! That must be the Lumenera, then?
Mark
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Celestron C6N on a CG5-GT
Orion 80mm Refractor (guidescope)
ToUCam Pro II
Canon 40D
http://www.carsandfish.com/astroweb
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Here is Hellas from this morning, July 27th UT, in awful seeing.
Novus Mons is above Hellas on the SPC.
The bright area in NW Hellas has been bright since 1988 and is often confused as a dust cloud. However, to further confuse us Earthlings it is in that place that many of the large dust storms begin. Tricky Mars. Most likely if a dust cloud occurs in that general area it will be just north of that region and move south.
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Ron B[ee]
Tyro
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 4720
Loc: CA
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Quote:
The bright area in NW Hellas has been bright since 1988 and is often confused as a dust cloud. However, to further confuse us Earthlings it is in that place that many of the large dust storms begin. Tricky Mars. Most likely if a dust cloud occurs in that general area it will be just north of that region and move south.
I'm so glad you're here at CN forums to help us through the "tricky Mars"! There's much we all can learn from you  .
Ron B[ee]
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5-inch Tele Vue NP127 APO 
4-inch Tele Vue TV-102 APO 
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Quote:
The bright area in NW Hellas has been bright since 1988 and is often confused as a dust cloud. However, to further confuse us Earthlings it is in that place that many of the large dust storms begin. Tricky Mars. Most likely if a dust cloud occurs in that general area it will be just north of that region and move south.
I'm so glad you're here at CN forums to help us through the "tricky Mars"! There's much we all can learn from you .
Ron B[ee]
Remember, we learn from each other. An "expert" is a former drip under pressure.
Well, we are getting ready to leave out of San Diego for the long flight home. Leaving 3:15 p.m. local and arrive 01:30 a.m. Florida time. Neat. Have to drive 135 miles with the bears and deer roaming the roads. If this doesn't do us in nothing will. Airlines stopped being fun years ago and now it is drudgery.
Keep watching the Red Planet then you too can become crazy. 
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LivingNDixie
TSP Chowhound
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 17757
Loc: Trussville, AL
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
The bright area in NW Hellas has been bright since 1988 and is often confused as a dust cloud. However, to further confuse us Earthlings it is in that place that many of the large dust storms begin. Tricky Mars. Most likely if a dust cloud occurs in that general area it will be just north of that region and move south.
I'm so glad you're here at CN forums to help us through the "tricky Mars"! There's much we all can learn from you .
Ron B[ee]
Remember, we learn from each other. An "expert" is a former drip under pressure.
Well, we are getting ready to leave out of San Diego for the long flight home. Leaving 3:15 p.m. local and arrive 01:30 a.m. Florida time. Neat. Have to drive 135 miles with the bears and deer roaming the roads. If this doesn't do us in nothing will. Airlines stopped being fun years ago and now it is drudgery.
Keep watching the Red Planet then you too can become crazy.
Taking a vacation? Hope you have a safe trip! Yeah I'm not big on airlines either...
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Preston
Meade 10in LX200R GPS UHTC
blog (updated 02/15/2013)
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Ron B[ee]
Tyro
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 4720
Loc: CA
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Quote:
An "expert" is a former drip under pressure.
LOL. 
Quote:
Have to drive 135 miles with the bears and deer roaming the roads. If this doesn't do us in nothing will.
Have a safe trip home and watch out for 'em crock crossing the road  .
Ron B[ee]
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5-inch Tele Vue NP127 APO
4-inch Tele Vue TV-102 APO
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Pirx
sage
Reged: 05/11/05
Posts: 374
Loc: Calgary, AB, Canada
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Oh no, anything but dust storms. I am preparing for Mars observation this year (I missed the 2003 apparition) and I will be very upset if that happens this year 
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Pirx
Modified Orion XT10i
SkyWatcher 80ED on AZ3
Antares 20x80 binoculars
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Special Ed
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 6339
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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That's a fine image, Robert. I wasn't able to detect the Mts. of Mitchel visually until Mars was relatively huge in 2003. This time around, those of us with only 8" of aperture may have to rely on images like yours to see this feature before it disappears.
I agree, the SPC is a fascinating feature and I hope you can zoom in on it (a la Ed Grafton) and record it as it goes through its changes.
The brightening in NW Hellas is apparent in your image too, although DustyMars says this is not unusual. Even though Dusty discounts his expertise, I feel that we are fortunate to have people like Dusty and Carlos with their knowledge and years of experience contributing to this forum and helping us interpret our images and observations.
Good luck with your next set of images.
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Michael Rosolina
Celestron CGE Pro 1400 f/11 SCT
1980 Orange Tube C8 f/10 SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
50mm f/10 Galileoscope
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Thanks Michael, here are the images at original size (I flipped them as I'm eager to see Mars as a fully illuminated disk for the first time ).
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/534914-marsjuly27th.jpg
I'm working on an animation of Mars and the SPC, will post it after I get a few more images in the next weeks.
The image scale with the Lumenera is 30% smaller than with the ToUcam, and I've been thinking of getting a 4x PowerMate to replace my 3x barlow.
Though as Mars gets closer, the need for such magnification will get less and less.
All of you seasoned veterans are a tremendous asset to those of us experiencing our first Mars apparition
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LivingNDixie
TSP Chowhound
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 17757
Loc: Trussville, AL
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Robert,
It looks like you might have gotten some rotation in the last two, maybe? Could be my eyes playing tricks on me too
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Preston
Meade 10in LX200R GPS UHTC
blog (updated 02/15/2013)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Probably the seeing conditions, I only capture for three minutes which is supposed to be short enough to avoid rotational issues.
You have to remember Mars is still a tiny target, and gettting detail on the SPC is not all that easy, at least for me as it's my first season imaging Mars.
This one has some rotation in it though
http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/data/525/3988marsanimation.gif
A few more images and I'll have enough to make an animation of one full rotation of Mars.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Oh no, anything but dust storms. I am preparing for Mars observation this year (I missed the 2003 apparition) and I will be very upset if that happens this year
Pirx, we're in the same boat, I've enjoyed observing early Mars, but I sure hope I get to see the features in all their glory - sans dust 
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Ron B[ee]
Tyro
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 4720
Loc: CA
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Quote:
This one has some rotation in it though
http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/data/525/3988marsanimation.gif
That is so super-cool Robert  ! I anxiously anticipate to see the complete animation .
Ron B[ee]
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5-inch Tele Vue NP127 APO
4-inch Tele Vue TV-102 APO
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