CarlosEH
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Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4142
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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I was able to observe Mars once again on October 14, 2009 using my 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain. The red planet displayed a good amount of detail for the relatively small apparent diameter (7.1 arc-seconds). The North Polar Cap (NPC) was prominent. Several albedo features were noted as indicated in the figure with labels.
Date (U.T.): October 14, 2009
Time (U.T.): 08:15
CM: 73.3*
Ls 353.7*, De =14*, Ds -2.6*, phase 88%
Diameter: 7.1 arc-seconds
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 348x
Filters (Wratten): 23, 30, 80A
Seeing (1-10): 7, Antoniadi (I-V): II
Notes:
08:15 U.T. (Wratten 23A and 30): A curvilinear wedge of albedo features was noted over the southern half of the disk towards the south polar limb. Mare Erythraeum was the most prominent albedo feature (3/10) towards the southern limb with Margaritifer Sinus (4/10) at it's north-preceding border and Aurorae Sinus (4/10) over the north-following border. Solis Lacus was visible as a dark (3/10), elongated albedo feature towards the south-following limb. Mare Acidalium was visible as a dark (3/10) wedge towards the north-preceding limb with Nilacus Lacus 4-5/10) over it's southern portion. Mare Boreum was visible as a dark to dusky collar towards the northern limn. The North Polar Cap (NPC) was brilliant (10/10) over the northern limb. An Evening Limb Haze (ELH) was visible over the preceding limb, a Morning Limb Haze (MLH) over the following limb, and a Southern Limb Haze (SLH).
The best of luck in your own observations of Mars.
Carlos
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CarlosEH
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Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4142
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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08:15 U.T. (Wratten 80A): An Evening Limb Haze (ELH) was visible over the preceding limb, a Morning Limb Haze (MLH) over the following limb, and a Southern Limb Haze (SLH). Light cloud activity was noted over the northern half of Chryse/Xanthe as well as Tempe.
Carlos
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
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Posts: 4142
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Albedo features are noted over the Martian disk. Have fun observing Mars!
Carlos
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4142
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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I made my Mars observations using a new photo-editing software for the Macintosh computer, Pixelmator. This is an impressive program that is a fraction of the cost of Photoshop (always the industry leader). This is an excellent low-cost alternative for someone who needs a photo-editing program for the Mac.
http://www.pixelmator.com/
Carlos
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JayKSC
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/01/05
Posts: 985
Loc: Florida
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This is a great illustration, Carlos - I'm impressed with the amount of detail you've been able to identify and draw. Then, observing Mars at 348x stuns me, too! I'm used to thinking of "high power" as somewhere near 200x with the refractors I'm used to using.
- Jay
South Florida
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Refractor manic. 
My Sketches
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Sol Robbins
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/01/03
Posts: 1609
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Great observations Carlos. Especially the bright albedo features like Tharsis, Arcadia/Amazonis.
Seems like the program lends itself to portaying these subtleties rather well.
Thanks,
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S.R.
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4142
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Jay and Sol,
Thank you for the compliments on my Mars observations. I was impressed with the amount of detail visible over Mars at the current apparent diameter (7.1"). I enjoyed a steady atmosphere (7/10) and was able to see the recorded albedo features easily (especially using the Magenta (W30) filter). The cloud features were easier to detect using the Wratten 80A (light blue) filter. I actually looked at Mars at a magnification of over 600x (~70x aperture) and was able to see the albedo features recorded but the planet was steadier at the lower magnification. Mars can handle a higher magnification than the other planets (higher surface brightness, but I would still try to keep the magnification below 40x the aperture of your instrument.
The new program, Pixelmator, is an excellent one that appears to provide the majority of functions of Photoshop (obviously not all) which should provide anyone with more than they need for most processing. At this time it is only for the Macintosh but Windows has many capable programs available (e.g. Gimp, Paint Shop Pro, etc.).
Carlos
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Tommy5
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/28/04
Posts: 1823
Loc: Chicagoland
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Excellant Mars observation and sketches, you haved captured quite a bit of detail for such a small orb, mars benifits from colored filters more than any other planet and i always use them to tease out the last bit of detail. Thanks for posting.
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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy
Reged: 09/19/08
Posts: 950
Loc: Utah
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Carlos,
Terrific observation and sketches of Mars! So much detail there. Now that I've seen Pixelmator and its results I am going to order this.
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Jay in Utah
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Location: Lat: 40.514N Long: -112.032W
Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.
— Ptolemy, c.150 AD
My Blog
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cildarith
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 2357
Loc: San Diego, CA
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Nicely done, Carlos! 
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Eric
6" f/6 Parks Newtonian
10x50 Bushnell Binocs
CN Sketch Gallery||MinDat Mineral Gallery
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asteroid7
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/19/04
Posts: 4238
Loc: CT
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beautiful sketches
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Clear Nights "Make My Day"
4.5" f/7 APM (TMB) APO Refractor CG5 GoTo with Orion extension tube
8" Celestron CPC (two)
Eyepieces:
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Jef De Wit
super member
Reged: 03/06/09
Posts: 125
Loc: Hove, Belgium
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Carlos
Your nice sketches make me want to observe Mars myself. I've never observed the planet with my 12" dobson. But I think it will not be for today. For the moment it's raining in Belgium 
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Clear skies, Jef De Wit
7x50 bino, Meade ETX-70 & Orion Optics UK 12" Dobson
"Bright skies aren't empty skies" (James Mallaney)
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Jeremy Perez
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Reged: 08/12/04
Posts: 1930
Loc: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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Wonderful sketches and details, Carlos! I really like the fine application of brush strokes and coloration you were able to apply with Pixelmator. I don't recall hearing about that app before. I'm really looking forward to digging into Mars this apparition, and this is very inspiring.
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Orion SVP 6LT (6" f/8 Newt) || Orion XT8 (8" f/5.9 Dob) || 15x70 Oberwerk Binoculars || Coronado PST
The Belt Of Venus || Sketch Gallery || Sketching Resources || Astro-Photo Gallery
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jayscheuerle
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Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 4075
Loc: S. Philadelphia, PA
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Wow, Carlos, I didn't think it would be possible to see that much detail on Mars! Very nicely done.  - j
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Fight indignorance!
The Green Goblin - 12" of dobsonian excellence!
The PortaBowl-a $100 4.5" f/8 ball-scope YOU can build!
Eero2-a 6" f/5 ball-scope you probably can't. 
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ladip63
member
Reged: 10/17/07
Posts: 56
Loc: the dark skies of Texas
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Great sketches of Mars Carlos. Only one thing you left out Spirit and Opportunity. LOL;)
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Celestron 9.25 CPC Telescope
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ladip63/
Edited by ladip63 (10/16/09 05:05 PM)
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markseibold
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/19/08
Posts: 1086
Loc: Portland Oregon
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Carlos
Beautiful Sketchwork as always 
And your documentation is always professional and for others to learn from. You have inspired me to look at Mars again but in an old 10.1 Dobsonian, I can only strain my eyes to imagine what your fine Maksutov Cassegrain instrument can do. The details you are rendering with Mars at only 7 arc seconds are amazing. I think I need to relocate to Florida! Portland's wet and cloudy winters won't do it.
I look forward to seeing your next sketches,
Thanks for sharing these,
Mark
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4142
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Thank you all for your kind compliments on my Mars observations. Mars is not an easy object to observe but patience and a steady atmosphere allow the observer to detect faint detail. It will be easier to detect detail over Mars as the planet increases in apparent diameter.
Pixelmator appears to be a solid photo-editing program. I recommend this program to anyone that needs such a program.
The best of luck in your own observations of Mars.
Carlos
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frank5817
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Reged: 06/13/06
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Loc: Illinois
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Carlos,
These are fantasic Mars sketches, as good as sketching gets in fact.  
Frank
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my gallery
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4142
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Frank,
Thank you for the compliment on my Mars observations. I always enjoy observing the red planet. It does present a challenge at a small apparent diameter, but if one is patient and the atmosphere cooperates you can detect a good amount of detail. The best of luck in your own observations.
Carlos
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