Telescope Reviews: Mars Oppositions 1988, 2003, and 2012

Hi All,

I have been able to observe Mars a few times so far this season through my telescopes, but so far the seeing has not been stable enough to make detailed sketches.

So I went back through some of my old observing logbooks and came across some observations and sketches I made of Mars in 1988 which was a very favorable opposition. Although Mars was slightly closer in 2003 than it was in 1988 it was higher in the sky in 1988.

For example at my observing location Mars at opposition on September 18th 1988 reached an altitude 45° and a diameter of 23.58". By comparison Mars at opposition on August 28th, 2003 reached an altitude 31° and a diameter of 25.10". So I had many more nights of good seeing in 1988, and made 15 sketches over a five month period, from the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes of July to the snow and cold of November.

Here are links to some of my sketches and observing notes that I made in the summer and fall of 1988. These include:

July 26th, 1988: The South Polar Cap is prominent, as is Hellas. Mare Sirenum has a distinct green color to it, almost an olive green. Electris is lighter in color than the surrounding area, and is best brought out by a W58 green filter:

http://ejamison.net/mars072688.html

August 6th, 1988: The area around Solis Lacus well defined. Features along the northern and following limbs are very noticeable with W30 Magenta filter, but much less noticeable with a W23 Orange filter. Noted a faint melt ring around the Polar Cap, was brought out best with the W30 filter:

http://ejamison.net/mars080688.html

August 13th, 1988: The rift in the South Polar Cap is very noticeable, as is the surrounding melt ring. Also Meridiani Sinus, Margaritifer Sinus, Mare Erythraeum, Mare Acidalium, and Chryse are prominent:

http://ejamison.net/mars081388.html

August 20th, 1988: Syrtis Major, Mare Tyrrhenum, Hellespontus, Mare Australe, and Hellas well defined. The South Polar cap appears smaller since last observation:

http://ejamison.net/mars082088.html

September 3rd, 1988: The South Polar Cap appears smaller in size since my last observation, and is offset towards the preceding limb. Mare Cimmerium, Aeolis, Electris, Eridania, and Mare Chronium are prominent:

http://ejamison.net/mars090388.html

September 11th, 1988: The dark mare surface features have an olive green to brownish green color to them. Solis Lacus seems larger then the last time I observed it on August 6th, even accounting for the fact that Mars is now closer. Mare Erythraeum and Mare Sirenum are prominent:

http://ejamison.net/mars091188.html

September 17th, 1988: The South Polar Cap appears smaller in size since my last observation. Limb clouds are visible in the North Polar Region. Mare Erythraeum, Sinus Meridiani and Chryse are prominent:

http://ejamison.net/mars091788.html

October 2, 1988: The South Polar Cap appears quite small. Large limb cloud along the following edge is well defined in the W80A filter. Later this cloud disappeared and then noted limb haze along northern edge and preceding limb.

http://ejamison.net/mars100288.html

October 28, 1988: The South Polar Cap appears very small. Mare Sirenum and Mare Erythraeum prominent. Limb clouds are visible along the preceding and following limbs, as well as the north polar region:

http://ejamison.net/mars102888.html

November 18, 1988: The South Polar Cap appears very small. Mare Sirenum and Mare Tyrrhenum prominent. Limb clouds are visible along the preceding limb. North polar limb clouds or north polar hood clouds are visible in the North Polar Region.

http://ejamison.net/mars111888.html

Clear Skies,

Eric Jamison

Edited by ericj (03/19/12 02:43 PM)