65 replies to this topic

[rgk901]

sometimes Mars is turned in the not so interesting direction

this was from a day or two ago excellent seeing beautiful shots and showing Mars facing us in the 'blah' direction ..

not much to see visually unless seeing is excellent in a larger scope with great contrast

https://www.cloudyni.../#entry13945015

[CHASLX200]

Saw plenty of action already tonite on a low mars with my 12.5" Zambuto. Lots of ice and some other detail.  8 seeing as Jup looks nuts at 600x. Most of the time Mars is a tiny disk and if your seeing is not hot then it is not much to brag about.

Edited by CHASLX200, 01 February 2025 - 07:36 PM.

[daveb2022]

I just use filters. I have some of those typical colored filters I use rarely, but have had better success using a TV Mars II filter. The last couple nights, I've found stacking a Baader contrast booster with the moon and sky glow filter produced very good results. I also have to admit that what I think is "good" might be horrible in another persons eye.  On nights where I can get a clean shot of Jupiter's GRS, chances are I can push the magnification more on Mars w/o as much image degradation as when observing Jupiter.

 

In my 101mm APO, I have been able to see some surface detail during the last week or so at 154x even with the planet being so small. But my 8" dob or 925 SCT generally do much better by producing a larger disc. I feel lucky that I have average to good seeing more often than not, but highly steady skies are rare most of the time. I've still been able to make out a bit of surface detail during times of good or average seeing.

 

Don't laugh at my crude attempts to sketch.

 

Edited by daveb2022, 01 February 2025 - 09:57 PM.

[rgk901]

Your problem is your eye. The trick to seeing detail on mars is the same trick as is used on all astronomy, by amateurs and professionals alike. Instead of your lousy eye, image with a camera.

MUCH better. <smile>

As far as what to buy, this camera will be fine. $300, ie dirt cheap. I shot the image of Mars at the end of this with something even less capable, a 130mm refractor, and very poor skills. Not kidding. Really, not kidding. Click on it for a better version, and details.

https://www.zwoastro...t/zwo-asi678mc/

literally saw it like this a couple weeks ago except polar cap was 3x size and the shading didn't have the contrast turned up

*nice pic!

Edited by rgk901, 02 February 2025 - 11:15 AM.

[C. Evangelista]

 Whats the trick on Mars. Before I die I want to see something on Mars. Tell me what to buy.

Just try the Baader Neodymium filter. Significant enhancement of contrast and detail recognition, reduction of stray light, without loss of sharpness:

 

https://www.baader-p...low-filter.html

[Dave Mitsky]

Saturday night was my best view of Mars by far during the current apparition.  I used the Naylor Observatory's 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain at 259x with a CCM30 magenta color filter.  The NPC was easy to make out, and the dark albedo features of Mare Sirenum, Mare Cimmerium, Mare Tyrrhenum, and Utopia were visible.  Mars was a mere 13.6 arc seconds in angular size at the time that I was observing it.

I've attached a screen shot from Stellarium.

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by Dave Mitsky, 03 February 2025 - 02:58 PM.

[quilty]

Your problem is your eye. The trick to seeing detail on mars is the same trick as is used on all astronomy, by amateurs and professionals alike. Instead of your lousy eye, image with a camera.

MUCH better. <smile>

As far as what to buy, this camera will be fine. $300, ie dirt cheap. I shot the image of Mars at the end of this with something even less capable, a 130mm refractor, and very poor skills. Not kidding. Really, not kidding. Click on it for a better version, and details.

https://www.zwoastro...t/zwo-asi678mc/

Is this an actual pic? My icecap is much larger

But not much more. Tonight I'll try green and blue filters

Edited by quilty, 03 February 2025 - 06:13 AM.

[mikemarotta]

Mars has not been rewarding this year. Last night, the sky was very good because we had heavy rain on Thursday to wash out the sky.

Mars is a disk but always shimmering, never steady. At 132X when Syrtis Major is visible, the dark features are discernable, but never defined.

 

Last night, my telescope was an Explore Scientific 102mm f/6.47 achromatic doublet. 

The oculars were a 14mm Meade 5000 82-degree (47X), a 7 mm Nagler Type 1 (94X), and an AstroTech 5.5 mm Premium Flat (132X).

 

Always worth trying...

 

Clear skies,

Mike M.

 

 

[C. Evangelista]

Successful observation of Mars these days is mainly a matter of seeing and good optics.

I.e. last night at seeing Pickering 8-9, I used magnifications up to 312x with my LZOS 130/780, and I could detect a plethora of details including some ice structures of the south polar region.

With and without using the Baader Neodymium filter.

The nights before, at bad to mediocre seeing, there was only mud....  

[payner]

The last Mars apparition was much better for me. This apparition I have had limited number of occasions to observe (schedule) and, when I have, the angular size is much reduced, especially for visual observation.

[bobzeq25]

Is this an actual pic? My icecap is much larger

But not much more. Tonight I'll try green and blue filters

Yes, from 2020. As I said, mediocre planetary imager. 130mm scope. 290MC camera. My thing is DSOs.

Edited by bobzeq25, 03 February 2025 - 10:55 AM.

[daveb2022]

Yes, from 2020. As I said, mediocre planetary imager. 130mm scope. 290MC camera. My thing is DSOs.

Interesting. This was what I saw on Jan 23rd.

 

[CowTipton]

I am no beginner but never a hardcore enthusiast. In 40 years I have never seen Mars as anything more than a feature-less orange blob. I've had countless scopes. Ten inch SCT - just a blob. Eight inch Dob - Yawn. Six inch Mak - Same crap different day. Four inch APO - waste of money. Last night, with a 96mm FCD1 doublet refractor, I easily observed a shadow transit on Jupiter and caught fleeting glimpses of the offending moon. Next I swung over to Mars. Poke out my eyes man - Yawn again!  Whats the trick on Mars. Before I die I want to see something on Mars. Tell me what to buy.

 

 

The Baader Contrast Booster filter really helped me see a lot more detail on Mars.

It went from a shady orange with a hint of something at the pole, to well-defined dark and lighter regions and a very recognizable polar cap.

 

Of course it all depends on the day as well.  Seeing has to be decent, and Mars is hopefully not in the middle of a dust storm.

[mikeDnight]

I am no beginner but never a hardcore enthusiast. In 40 years I have never seen Mars as anything more than a feature-less orange blob. I've had countless scopes. Ten inch SCT - just a blob. Eight inch Dob - Yawn. Six inch Mak - Same crap different day. Four inch APO - waste of money. Last night, with a 96mm FCD1 doublet refractor, I easily observed a shadow transit on Jupiter and caught fleeting glimpses of the offending moon. Next I swung over to Mars. Poke out my eyes man - Yawn again!  Whats the trick on Mars. Before I die I want to see something on Mars. Tell me what to buy.

 

Below are some sketches from past apparitions made using different telescopes having different apertures.

 

 Try sketching it!  A pencil and small sketchbook is a powerful aid to seeing subtle detail, and don't look only for dark markings, look for brighter regions and spots. The polar cap is often the most noticeable feature, and once you find that it can lead you into seeing the more subtle albedo features.  Of course Mars has regions that are more detailed than others, so it can depend on what face is on view as to whether you'll see more easily discernable detail or not.

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

[alg460]

Hi all. OP here.  The day after I started this post, I woke up with almost complete loss of hearing in one ear. My hearing is very soft and what I do hear sounds like a blown speaker. Primary care doctor finds nothing obvious wrong. Waiting to get ENT doctor appt. Probably in for quite an ordeal. Worst part is I feel slightly dizzy and cannot tell where sounds are coming from. Needless to say I am quite depressed. Its rare that I get clear nights here in RI but wouldn't you know it I'm getting a streak of them now. Have not been out at all. I have not read all of the responses here but I will soon. Thanks.

[stevew]

Sorry to hear that.

Hopefully it's just something minor.

Mars will be there for you once you recover.

By the way I saw plenty of details including the Polar Cap last week with my 80mm ED.

Hope you fell better soon.