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Post by Martin Mc kenna on Sept 20, 2005 20:30:04 GMT
Hi all Thought i would share with you a sketch of Mars i done last night which i have scanned from my log book. Done at the eyepiece at 03.30LT at 262X using the 8" F/10 SCT. Not a great sketch but i thought i would share it anyway. The planet looked amazing last night and i have to admit to being shocked by the planets large disk which has grown very large since i last observed it a month ago! Even at 77X the planet was large and showed a wealth of detail. The seeing was about 6 but with periodic moments of excellent conditions. I really would like to see the Martian volcanoes!!! Anyway why not have a go yourself? its a great way to train your eyes for detail. Clear skies!
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Post by johnmc9929 on Sept 20, 2005 22:22:45 GMT
Great image Martin! I would be interested in hearing if you noticed any sign of a blue haze which has shrouded the north pole area over the past week or so. This was nicely imaged by John Kirchhoff in America who has adjusted the colour of his image to as near that seen through the eyepiece as possible. This seems to be causing some excitement at present. Thanks to John for allowing me to use his image.
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Post by Martin Mc kenna on Sept 20, 2005 22:26:07 GMT
Thanks John and thanks for sharing those amazing images!
I did see a large white area in the north last night which i assumed was a polar hood? but now that i know i will keep an eye out for this blue feature..what could it be?
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Post by Aaron on Sept 21, 2005 11:33:09 GMT
Shed any light??? From BBC website New images of Mars suggest the Red Planet's surface is more active than previously thought, the US space agency (Nasa) reports. Photographs from Nasa's orbiting spacecraft Mars Global Surveyor show recently formed craters and gullies. The agency's scientists also say that deposits of frozen carbon dioxide near the planet's south pole have shrunk for three summers in a row. They say this is evidence to suggest climate change is in progress. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4266474.stmAaron
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Post by Martin Mc kenna on Sept 26, 2005 15:18:39 GMT
John i observed the blue North Polar Hood 2 nights ago in average seeing conditons with the 8". SW said a 10" or larger was needed but that is not the case. Has anyone else seen it? The hood is a vivid blue and extendeds a generous distance in longtitude.
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Post by markdj on Sept 26, 2005 16:13:02 GMT
When did the Polar Cap change to become a Polar Hood ? I have never heard of a Polar Hood till space weather mentioned it on their site. Is this a new trendy way of saying polar cap?
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Post by Martin Mc kenna on Sept 26, 2005 16:22:50 GMT
Hi Mark. The hoods are the icy clouds which form above the caps during winter time. At this time the northern hemisphere of Mars is in winter and thats why we seem them. It has been the offical terminology for a long time. To me they look more like glowing Noctilucent clouds. Heres another not very good Mars sketch from 2 nights ago scanned from the log book. I wish i could sketch better. Guess i just need more practise! Clear Skies!
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