CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4150
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
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4150
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
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4150
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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Rick Woods
Postmaster
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 5684
Loc: Inner Solar System
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Terrific as usual, Carlos.
I see much the same detail in the blue image as in the red one - do you feel a blue clearing was in progress?
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
Dyslexics Untie!
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4150
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Rick,
Thank you for the compliment on my Mars observations. I was lucky to enjoy good seeing for the observations. The albedo features were not that difficult to see using the light blue (W80A) filter, but I can only make a statement concerning blue clearing (increased visibility of albedo features using a long wavelength filter (e.g. Violet (Wratten 47)) if I had used a Violet (W47) filter. I will monitor this in the future.
The best of luck in your own observations of Mars.
Carlos
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Chopin
Canis Insanus
Reged: 02/03/05
Posts: 3627
Loc: In the doghouse.
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Carlos, outstanding! A wealth of detail is noted in the mares. And the NPCap is quite stark. Nicely seen.
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JasonŽ
birdsbyjason.com
12" Hardin DSH-12│4˝" Custom newt│Garrett 15x85 HD WP│Pentax 8x40 PCF WP II│24Pan│13T6│3-6NZ│Faworski Abbes
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DesertRat
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/18/06
Posts: 665
Loc: Valley of the Sun
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Excellent work and beautiful drawings & report Carlos! You've captured the essence of Mars, the gradations of the markings is wonderful. Obviously you've got some experience behind you. I would love to see your report from the big scopes at Lick or Pic du Midi! Wishing you more great seeing. Thanks for posting!
Glenn
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Brandon 94mm f7, Televue TV102 f8.6; GM8
Baader Wedge & Filters, Coronado SM90/BF30
IM715; C11 & C14; G-11 Gemini
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RLTYS
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 2159
Loc: New York (Long Island)
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Carlos
Beautiful sketches, once again magnificent work.
Thanks for the views.
Rich (RLTYS)
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10" F4.8 Refl.
4" F5 Refr. (Genesis)
3" F4 Celestron FirstScope
50mm F12 Refr. (Tasco #6TE-5)
12x63 and 10x50 Binoculars.
"I want to do more then just look."
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dfell
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/25/05
Posts: 583
Loc: Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada
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Excellent observation, still waiting on some decent observing weather here.
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www.spacealberta.com
12" collapsible Dob
25" Round Table Platform
Ethos 13mm
original TV smoothside plossls
80mm f/15 Towa Refractor
PST
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t.r.
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 577
Loc: Upstate NY
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Yes, waiting for good not even great weather in the NE...and waiting, and waiting, and...   
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Present Stable:
Kmart 40mm(first scope @ age 8)
Jason 60mm
C80SS
Tak Sky90II
PST
C6XLT
AP130 "Gran Turismo"
C-11XLT
EQ-2,CG-4,ASGT-5,DenkII's,TV(zoom,plossls,Ethos),Pentax XW's,UO volcano set, ZAOII 4mm,BaaderZoom and other un-notables
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
Carl Sagan
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Erik Bakker
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/10/06
Posts: 534
Loc: Haren, The Netherlands, Europe
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Hi Carlos,
Beautiful observations and sketches of Mars. Thanks for sharing them.
Clear and steady skies,
Erik
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Visual astronomer, main instruments:
Fully mounted Questar 7 P-BB
Celestron C 102F f/8.8 fluorite
Vixen FL 70S f/8 fluorite
Celestron C 55F f/8 fluorite
Sets of Zeiss, TeleVue and Brandon eyepieces
Zeiss 7x50 Marine B/GA
Zeiss TM german equatorial
Gitzo 224 with Manfrotto 501 fluid head
Unitron alt-az mount
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Dean Norris
sage
Reged: 11/05/08
Posts: 431
Loc: Santa Cruz, Ca
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Carlos, Great sketches once again. Last night was the first time this season that I've been able to observe Mars at a decent height above the horizon. At 307X I was able ( in moments of steady seeing ) to see the North Polar Cap as well as some dark maria bordering the cap. On the opposite pole I saw some more dark maria as well. On a night when I have more time I'll do some sketching. It's still pretty small but detail can be seen now. I saw it once in August but couldn't see any markings at that time. Thanks for posting your great work. Dean
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1971 10" Cave Newtonian F/6
MoonLite CR Focuser Telrad Finder 8x50 finder
TV 40mm, 32, 20, 7.4, Meade 6mm, UO 5mm, Meade 2x Barlow
7x50 Binoculars
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payner
sage
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 435
Loc: Bluegrass Region, Kentucky
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Carlos: Your observing skills and ability to render that into superb sketches is extraordinary. Thank you for sharing all this information with here, and I look forward to seeing/learning more as the opposition draws nearer. If I might ask, what type Maksutov-Cassegrain are you using?
Regards,
Randy
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Santel MK91 Deluxe Rumak
Takahashi FS-128
Takahashi FS-152
Takahashi TSC-225
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4150
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Thank you all very much for the kind compliments on my Mars observations. I was impressed to see a good amount of detail over the Martian disk at it's current apparent diameter (7.1"). The Tharsis bulge was visible over the center of the visible disk. Detecting the albedo features required good optics, patience, and a steady atmosphere. I wish you all the best of luck observing Mars.
I would love to observe Mars through a quality instrument such as the 36-inch (0.9-meter) Lick Refractor (such as William Sheehan did in the 2003 (along with Tony Misch and Laurie Hatch; http://mthamilton.ucolick.org/public/TwoWeeksOnMars/ ) or the impressive 42-inch (~1-meter) Cassegrain reflector atop Pic du Midi ( http://www.britastro.org/mars/images/dirmcki2.jpg (an excellent observation of Mars made by BAA Mars Section Director Richard McKim using the 1-meter reflector). I would have to be fortunate to experience good seeing while using such a reflector.
Randy- My instrument is based upon the Santel MK-91 as you own. This is the finest instrument that I have ever owned for observing the Moon and planets as evidenced by my posted observations. I hope that you enjoy your fine assortment of instruments.
Carlos
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gustymars
newbie
Reged: 08/30/09
Posts: 1
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Nine job Carlos. Sitting up in bed this morning recovering from total knee replacement (Oct 7th). It hurts bro! But, I will be able to climb that 8-foot ladder soon to watch Barsoom. Happy birthday to me today. I thought it was my 39th but someone reminded me that was 30 years ago 
Old Jeff
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payner
sage
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 435
Loc: Bluegrass Region, Kentucky
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Wow, Carlos, thanks for those links. The details in those drawings made through professional instruments are incredible. However, I'll contend for the aperture you used for your drawings the results are no less impressive.
Yes, for planetary work I agree, the Santel MK-91D can't be bested by anything in a comparable aperture range, at least based on my experience.
Regards,
Randy
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Santel MK91 Deluxe Rumak
Takahashi FS-128
Takahashi FS-152
Takahashi TSC-225
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4150
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Jeff and Randy,
Thank you both for your compliments on my Mars observations. Mars can look very impressive through large aperture instruments (as Jeff well knows), but a moderate aperture instrument like ours (Santel MK91) will provide wonderful views of the red planet as well.
Jeff- Happy Birthday to a great Mars observer and friend. I hope that your knee replacement recovers quickly.
Carlos
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tigerroach
sage
Reged: 08/13/08
Posts: 465
Loc: Houston, TX
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Man I wish I could sketch like that! Beautiful!
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Brian
TeleVue TV-102, Gibralter alt-az mount
Webster 14.5" f/4.3 truss dob *under construction*
Canon 10x30 & 15x50 IS binocs
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4150
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Brian,
Thank you for the compliment on my Mars observation. I am fortunate to have some drawing skills. The best of luck in your own observations.
Carlos
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 Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 4309
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Carlos,
I was browsing the back page and ran across this beauty of yours. I'm glad I didn't miss seeing this well executed and nicely presented observation.
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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