Hi fellow astronomers,
I'm Rishabh Sagar, an amateur astronomer from India. I wanted to share an interesting journey of observation, learning, and surprise that took place on May 22, 2025, during a Mars imaging session.
🔭 Equipment Used:
Telescope: 130mm f/5 Newtonian Reflector (Helix 130650)
Eyepiece: TMB Planetary 4mm
Location: New Delhi, India
Time: 7:00–9:00 PM IST, May 22, 2025
Tools: Stellarium for simulation; Adobe Lightroom for post-processing, no stacking, no filtering, no motorized tracking.
🌌 The Observation
On that evening, I noticed a faint "object" very close to Mars through the eyepiece — it appeared separated just slightly, like a satellite or moon. Given the timing and orientation, I initially believed I had captured something very rare — possibly Phobos, one of Mars’ moons.
Excited, I:
- Captured the sight through sketches and memory.
- Cross-checked the coordinates and timing in Stellarium.
- Started contacting astronomers and organizations like ALPO, ISRO, NASA, etc.
✉️ The Investigation
After detailed communication and expert feedback from Roger Venable (ALPO Mars Section), the event was reclassified. Here’s what actually happened:
❗ It wasn’t Phobos — it was a rare appulse of Mars and the star TYC 1402-56-1.
That is: the star and Mars came very close in the sky (from Earth's point of view).
🏆 Why I’m Sharing
This event became extra special when I realized:
- No one else in the world seems to have publicly captured or reported this appulse.
- I may be the first to document the Mars–TYC 1402-56-1 appulse (May 22, 2025) with visuals and time logs.
- My report is now archived in the ALPO Mars section, along with our discussion.
📷 Lessons for Fellow Observers
- Always verify and question your assumptions — I went from thinking I saw a Martian moon to identifying a stellar appulse.
- Reach out to experienced groups (like ALPO) — the feedback I got was incredibly helpful.
- Even humble equipment like a 130mm reflector can capture remarkable moments with a sharp eye and patience.
I’m grateful to ALPO for helping clarify the identification.
Thanks for reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Has anyone else ever observed a similar close appulse involving Mars or another planet?
Clear skies!
Clear skies,
Rishabh Sagar
Citizen Scientist | Amateur Astronomer | 130mm Reflector | New Delhi, India
First Public Capture of Mars–TYC 1402-56-1 Appulse
Edited by Rishabh Sagar, 14 June 2025 - 11:52 PM.