Marswatch 1998-1999 Apparition Linking Amateur and Professional Mars Observing Communities.

Images - 1999 May 1-10
    (All times U. T. - Images not to scale. Click on image for more or larger scale views where available.)

Animation

Steve Massey, Siding Springs, Australia; 149.05° E, 31.27° S; E-mail: smassey@ozemail.com.au Astrovid 2000 CCD camera; 24-inch (61 cm) f/36 Cassegrain telescope at MSSSO with Wratten 23A filter.. Frame 1: 1999 May 02 10:00 U.T. Frame 2: 1999 May 01 10:25 U.T. Frame 3: 1999 May 01 12:15 U.T. Frame 4: 1999 May 01 13:25 U.T. Frame 5: 1999 May 01 14:45 U.T. Frame 6: 1999 May 01 15:50 U.T. Frame 7: 1999 April 28 17:07 U.T.

1

Nelson Falsarella, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, SP, BRAZIL; E-mail: nfalsarella@riopreto.com.br
International Mars Patrol, Rede de Astronomia Observacional, REA-Brazil
AVA ASTROVID 400 CCD Videocamera; 8-in (20cm) f/6.5 Newtonian, Eyepiece Projection with a CELESTRON ORTHO 5 mm.

Daniel M. Troiani, ALPO Mars Section Head, Chicago, Illinois, E-mail: dantroiani@earthlink.net

02:03-02:18; CM: 109°;  L_s: 132°; D_e: 19.1°
Filters: W#80a, W#47, W#25

Bob Bunge, Bowie, Maryland, E-mail: rbunge@radix.net
20-inch (50 cm) f/6.4 reflector, 270x/480x
03:00 UT

The steady seeing allowed an excellent look at the north polar cap - it was possible to actually see the shape and to see just how far Mars' northern pole is tilted towards Earth. Mare Boreum could be seen beside the polar cap; perhaps the darkest marking on the planet. On the south end, Solis Lacus was just over the limb, with a bright area just to the south. On the west side, a bright area was on the limb, perhaps the far eastern region of Chryse, with Nilokeras to the south. Two bright clouds were barely visible in about the right location of the Tharsis volcanos. Clouds over Nix Olympica were on the east side of the disk.

Donald C. Parker, Coral Gables, Florida
Lynxx PC camera, 16-in (41cm) f/6 Newtonian, Eyepiece Projection @ f/47.8

Integration Times:
   Blue (BG12 + IR Rejection)   11.25s
   Green (VG9 + IR Rejection)    4.50s
   Red (RG610 + IR Rejection)   0.34-0.38s
Images flat and dark corrected.
Seeing poor (3-4); post cold front. Transparency 5m, variable due to frequent fast cumulus clouds. Wind WNW 2-13 knots.
Tharsis orographics bright. Cloud over Cebrenia on northwest limb.

Frank J. Melillo, Holtsville, NY

Denis Fell, New Sweden, Alberta, Canada (113.16°W, 52.55°N), email:dfell@telusplanet.net
Astrovid 1000 CCD camera, 8-in (20cm) f/10 SCT, Negative projection f/30, Wratten #21 orange filter. Processed with Snappy and Micrografx Photomagic.

04:30-05:20 UT, CM: 148°.
Martian diameter 16.18", L_s: 132.22°; D_e: 19.48, Phase 1.000

Seeing Antoniadi III, high cirrostratus cloud causing lowered contrast.
Darkest feature Mare Sirenum, bright areas noted over Arcadia, Tharsis and Eridania North is up.

Mark Schmidt, Racine, Wisconsin; 88.02861° W 44.72889° N; E-mail: rasastro@wi.net
ST-5C CCD camera; 6-in (15 cm) f/9 Astro-Physics Starfire 152 Refractor; Projection at f/90.

 L_s: 132.1°; D_e: 19.1°; Diameter: 16.2”

05:38 U.T.; CM: 161.36°; Integration time: 0.90s; Seeing: #3 1/2 - #4/10; Transparency: 2 mag.

23A & IR Rejection Filter: Murnaghan Instruments Filters.
Processing: CCDSoft-Image Processing Software; Skypro-Image Processing Software

Notes: Persistant high thin clouds in sky area around Mars.

Tomio Akutsu, Japan; E-mail: is6t-akt@asahi-net.or.jp
32cm F/6.5 Reflector Telers2 KAF0400E CCD

Dr Thomas J. Richards, FRAS, Melbourne Vic, Australia, E-mail: Tom@qsr.com.au
ST-7 CCD camera; 180mm AstroPhysics refractor.

Scale 0.35 arcmin/pixel; Composite of 9 images; Location: Woodridge.

Tan Wei Leong, Singapore (1.3° N 101.8° E), E-mail: weileong@magix.com.sg
ST-7E CCD camera; 5.6" (14 cm) f/7 Astro-physics APO refractor at F/59 with 5x barlow and IR rejection filter.

Seeing: 7-8/10; Transparency: 7-8/10.

Tan Wei Leong, Singapore (1.3° N 101.8° E), E-mail: weileong@magix.com.sg
ST-7E CCD camera; 5.6" (14 cm) f/7 Astro-physics APO refractor at F/59 with 5x barlow and IR rejection filter.

Prominent Morning Limb Haze (MLH) extending over Chryse - Xanthe, also extending across Mare Acidalium down to near the NPC which is small but bright surrounded by a dark collar. Oxia Palus visible, possible cloud over Argyre I, Ismenius Lacus/Protonilus faintly seen.Hellas bright on the evening limb, Blue Syrtis cloud?

Victor G. Tejfel, Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Physics, Fessenkov Astrophysical Institute, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan; E-mail: tejf@hotmail.com
ST-6V CCD camera; 24-in (60 cm) Cassegrain.

Lorenzo Comolli, Gruppo Astronomico Tradatese, Tradate (VA), Italy. Email: comolli@dido.net
ST-4 camera; 8-inch (20 cm) Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope; Projection at f/27.

21:30 U.T.; CM: 34°
Average of 20 images; Elaborated with Qmips32 v1.8.

Eric Roel, Mexico; E-mail: bucero@df1.telmex.netmx
Starlight Xpress interline ccd camera; 10" f/20 TEC Maksutov telescope; Negative Projection with a red filter.

CM: 104°. A dichroic filter with a passband of 610-720 nm. was used with an integration of 0.188 second.

2

António Cidadão, Oeiras, Portugal
ST-5C camera 10-in (25cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain

Seeing conditions: 8/10.

A hint of Rima Tenuis is seen in red images (one arrowed). Solis Lacus prominent, as well as the albedo marking that corresponds to the Vallis Marineris region. Clouds are seen over Amazonis, Arcadia, Nix Olympica, Tempe, Baltia, Syria, Mare Erythraeum, Cryse and Niliacus Lacus. Haze near the South Pole region? Ice (+ cloud?) near the North polar cap remains visible.

Mark Schmidt, Racine, Wisconsin; 88.02861° W 44.72889° N; E-mail: rasastro@wi.net
ST-5C CCD camera; 6-in (15 cm) f/9 Astro-Physics Starfire 152 Refractor; Projection at f/90.

 L_s: 132.6°; D_e: 19.3°; Diameter: 16.2”

02:20 U.T. (left);	CM: 104.31°;	Integration time: 0.90s	Seeing: #4/10; Transparency: 3 mag.
05:07 U.T. (right);	CM: 116.74°;	Integration time: 0.85s	Seeing: #5/10; Transparency: 3 mag.
05:07 U.T. (right);	CM: 138.18°;	Integration time: 0.80s	Seeing: #5/10; Transparency: 3 mag.

23A & IR Rejection Filter: Murnaghan Instruments Filters.
Processing: CCDSoft-Image Processing Software; Skypro-Image Processing Software

Bob Bunge, Bowie, Maryland, E-mail: rbunge@radix.net
20-inch (50 cm) f/6.4 reflector, 480x
03:15 UT
Seeing: 9 out of 10.

Strikingly nice view of the north polar cap and surrounding areas. Clear connection between Mare Boreum/Mare Acidalium and Nilokeras. Various darker/lighter areas in Nilokeras. In the south, Solis Lacus was clearly visible - a much different view from when I last saw in 1988, when we were facing the south polar cap. A bright area was seen just following Solis Lacus. A bright area on the following side is either clouds over Nix Olympica or morning clouds.

Daniel M. Troiani, ALPO Mars Section Head, Chicago, Illinois, E-mail: dantroiani@earthlink.net
17 1/2" f/4.8 Newtonian, 478x. UT

03:40-03:57; CM: 193°;  L_s: 128°; D_e: 18°
Filters: W#80a, W#47, W#25
Seeing: 8/10;  Transparency: 5/6
Blue Clearing (0-3): 3

Solis Lacus was not very dark. Very bright cloud in Chryse. Very strong "Blue Clearing".

Hernan Acosta, Valencia, Venezuela (10° 11.0' N, 68° 00.0' W)
4.5-inch Newtonian, 9mm Kellner, 2x Barlow
04:00 UT; CM 129°

Ron Zachary, Rochester Hills, Michigan, (83.05° W, 42.38° N), E-mail: rzachary@compuserve.com
Starlight Xpress MX5c; 14-inch (35 cm) f/11 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope; Positive Projection at f/44.

06:57:34 U.T.; CM: 172°; Integration time: 0.13s
Seeing: 8.5/10; Transparency: 6/6.

David M. Moore, Phoenix, Arizona;
E-mail: davidpaulamoore@email.msn.com

Greg Smye-Rumsby, Bromley, Kent, England
89mm Maksutov Questar duplex, eyepiece projection using 2x barlow and 8mm eyepiece. No filters. Recorded onto 35mm Kodachrome 200 negative film.

08:50 UT (All 7 images were taken within ten minutes starting at 10.50 BST)
Seeing: moderate. Transparency: good.

After processing, the negatives were scanned at high resolution. Processed in Adobe Photoshop using the calculation filters in RGB. The raw images of each disc of Mars were processed channel by channel to eliminate as far as possible atmospheric refraction. Each channel was then blurred slightly using motion blur but at different angles. This allowed some smoothing without loosing too much definition. No attempt has been made either to enhance the detail by unsharp masking or by using the various light level filters available.

Nelson Falsarella, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, SP, BRAZIL; E-mail: nfalsarella@riopreto.com.br
International Mars Patrol, Rede de Astronomia Observacional, REA-Brazil
AVA ASTROVID 400 CCD Videocamera; 8-in (20cm) f/6.5 Newtonian, Eyepiece Projection with a MEADE Series 3000 Plossl 5 mm.

3

Hernan Acosta, Valencia, Venezuela (10° 11.0' N, 68° 00.0' W)
4.5-inch Newtonian, 9mm Kellner, 2x Barlow
00:00 UT; CM 61°

Donald C. Parker, Coral Gables, Florida
Lynxx PC camera, 16-in (41cm) f/6 Newtonian, Eyepiece Projection @ f/47.8

Integration Times:
   Blue (BG12 + IR Rejection)     8.00s
   Green (VG9 + IR Rejection)    3.38s
   Red (RG610 + IR Rejection)   0.31s
Images flat and dark corrected.
Seeing fair (5); post cold front. Transparency 5+m. Wind W 0-3 knots.
Tharsis orographics bright. Clouds over Arcadia and Tempe. Brilliant cloud over Xanthe on pm limb. Cloud over Cebrenia on northwest limb. Morning limb cloud -- ? Elysium.

Nelson Falsarella, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, SP, BRAZIL; E-mail: nfalsarella@riopreto.com.br
International Mars Patrol, Rede de Astronomia Observacional, REA-Brazil
AVA ASTROVID 400 CCD Videocamera; 8-in (20cm) f/6.5 Newtonian, Eyepiece Projection with a Meade 5 mm Plossl.

Brian Colville, Maple Ridge Observatory, Cambray, ON Canada (79.15W, 44.28N), email:maple@quicklinks.on.ca
Pixcel 237 CCD Camera, Med Resolution - 2x2 binning, 14.8u 12-in (30cm) f/10 SCT at efr: f/40.

01:44 UT; Integration time: 0.10 sec.; Calibration: Dark, Flat; Processing: Unsharp Mask via MaximCCD.
Seeing: good, 7/10, Martian diameter 16.18", CM: 87°, Phase: .9961
Filters: IR Passing 830nm, 100nm FWHM.

Maurizio Di Sciullo, Coconut Creek, Florida; E-mail: NimbusSky@worldnet.att.net
Starlight Xpress HX-516 CCD camera; 10" (25 cm) Excelsior Optics E-258 f/8 Newtonian, Eyepiece Projection @ f/47

Integration Times:
   400 - 510 nm:   0.20s
   490 - 590 nm:   0.14s
   610 - 720 nm:   0.20s
All images acquired with 700 - 1200+ nm block filter inline with eyepiece projection unit, True Technologies Dichroic Filters + IR block
No dark frame, flat fielding or bias correction applied. Camera operated in "Binned" (low-res) mode. All images are single frames, no co-addition or averaging performed, except for composite color image.

Seeing: Mediocre-Fair; 4-5/10. Wind: north at 3-6 knots, low humidity (~ 60%).

Significant activity in 400 - 510 nm band. Heavy evening haze over Xanthe Terra, south to Margaritifer Sinus. Northern extent of haze appears to be southern limit of Mare Acidalium, or approximately Chryse Planitia area, at roughly same parallel as Viking 1 landing site. Haze is triangular in shape, coming to a point at an area between Ascraeus Mons, and Hebes Chasma. Spot cloud observed at this location, north of Valles Marineris and Syria. Second area of pronounced limb haze showing over Aonia, arcing to eastern Mare Sirenum.

400 - 510 nm band also showing cloud bank over Tempe Terra / Acidalia region, along with another bright cloud over extreme northern Acidalia. Persistent cloud or detached ice cap still present at perimeter of Olympia Planitia, at extreme northern latitude. Other spot clouds showing over Alba Patera, a pair over Ascraeus Mons, and a faint spot over caldera of Olympus Mons. Shield of volcano showing as "bull's eye" just west of meridian, demarcated by slight circular darkening in 400 - 590 nm range, punctuated by central bright spot in mentioned bands. Final faint hint of morning haze present over Orcus Patera.

Odd cloud, dusky blue-green in color observed near 52 north latitude, 202 longitude, just north-west of Propontis Complex, and due north of Elysium Mons. Not likely to be a processing artifact, as careful attention was paid to correct color balance. Suggest opinion from more seasoned Mars observers (D. Parker, C. Hernandez, et. al.).

No bright features in 600 - 720 nm band to indicate any current dust activity. I apologize for slightly oblong images, as I discovered after observing, that eyepiece lock screw was severely over-tightened, distorting eyepiece barrel.

Mark Schmidt, Racine, Wisconsin; 88.02861° W 44.72889° N; E-mail: rasastro@wi.net
ST-5C CCD camera; 6-in (15cm) f/9 Astro-Physics Starfire 152 Refractor, Projection at f/90.

 L_s: 133.1°; D_e: 19.4°; Diameter: 16.2” 03:57 U.T.; CM: 119.25°; Integration time: 1.2s
Seeing: #2-#3/10; Transparency: 1 1/2 mag.
High thin clouds are covering the entire sky on this forecasted “clear” night.

Filters: 23A and IR Rejection Filter, Murnaghan Instruments Filters. Processing: CCDSoft-Image Processing Software; Skypro-Image Processing Software

Ramiro Hernandez, Saltillo, Mexico, E-mail: rhernand@campus.sal.itesm.mx
8mm GE camcorder and Snappy frame grabber; 8-inch (20 cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain Meade

5:21 UT

Victor G. Tejfel, Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Physics, Fessenkov Astrophysical Institute, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan; E-mail: tejf@hotmail.com
ST-6V CCD camera; 24-in (60 cm) Cassegrain.

4

Ron Zachary, Rochester Hills, Michigan, (83.05° W, 42.38° N), E-mail: rzachary@compuserve.com
Starlight Xpress MX5c; 14-inch (35 cm) f/11 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope; Positive Projection at f/44. Color separations performed using MaxIm DL software.

05:33:53 U.T.; CM: 134°; Integration time: 0.05s
Seeing: 7-8/10; Transparency: 5/6.

Stefan Buda & Bratislav Curcic, Melbourne, Australia (5km from the city centre).
Homemade CB211 clone CCD with a mechanical shutter; 10-in. (25.4 cm) f/16 Dall-Kirkham (homemade) + 3X Barlow (effective f/50). No filters.

The seeing was weird 4th of May in Melbourne. It started as absolutely atrocious and we almost packed up the scope. Luckily, we've had a 'last peek' and miraculously the seeing improved from about Pickering 2 or 3 to a solid 7 (fleetingly). As usual, patience was the ticket and we walked away with quite a few good images couple of hours later. Transparency was again low (< 4), as is more or less expected around here.

J. Porto, Azores

5

Bob Bunge, Bowie, Maryland, E-mail: rbunge@radix.net
4.25" (10.8 cm) f/10 reflector, 225x.
02:15 UT
Seeing: 9.5 out of 10. Very steady seeing between large groups of clouds.

Much detail seen around Solis Lacus, including small projections coming off Tithonius Lacus. Noctis Lacus just seen. In the north, the Nilokeras region showed much detail, with a brighter, white-pink area between Nilokeras and Mare Boreum. Chryse was on the limb.

Donald C. Parker, Coral Gables, Florida
Lynxx PC camera, 16-in (41cm) f/6 Newtonian, Eyepiece Projection @ f/47.8

Integration Times:
   Blue (BG12 + IR Rejection)   10.25s
   Green (VG9 + IR Rejection)    3.78s
   Red (RG610 + IR Rejection)   0.33s
Images flat and dark corrected.
Seeing good (8). Transparency 4.5m, occasional clouds. Wind ENE 1-12 knots., gusts.
Tharsis orographics not bright except for Pavonis Mons. Clouds over Arcadia and Tempe; Haze over Xanthe. Brilliant evening limb clouds over Chryse. Tractus Albus noted.

Victor G. Tejfel, Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Physics, Fessenkov Astrophysical Institute, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan; E-mail: tejf@hotmail.com
ST-6V CCD camera; 24-in (60 cm) Cassegrain.

Mario Frassati, Crescentino (VC), Italy
8-in (20 cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain, 300x.

22:55 UT, CM: 19.6°.
Martian diameter 16.2", Phase 0.99 Seeing: 2

6

Denis Fell, New Sweden, Alberta, Canada (113.16°W, 52.55°N), email:dfell@telusplanet.net
Astrovid 1000 CCD camera, 8-in (20cm) f/10 SCT, Negative projection f/30, Wratten #21 orange filter. Processed with Snappy and Micrografx Photomagic.

04:45 UT, CM: 105°.
Martian diameter 16.13", L_s: 134.63°; D_e: 20.21, Phase 0.992

Seeing Antoniadi III.
Darkest feature Solis Lacus, Aurorae Sinus, bright areas noted over Tharsis and Chryse. North is up.

Eric Roel, Mexico; E-mail: bucero@df1.telmex.netmx
Starlight Xpress framestore interline ccd camera; 10" f/20 TEC Maksutov telescope; Negative Projection (2X barlow) with a red filter.

CM: 104°. A dichroic filter with a passband of 610-720 nm. was used with an integration of 0.188 second.

David Rose, Oxfordshire, UK
ST-7 CCD camera, 10-in (25cm) f/10 SCT, Negative projection: X2 Meade series 4000 barlow.
Wratten #21 orange filter. Processed with Snappy and Micrografx Photomagic.

True technology IR block filter + 25A
All single images, no co-addition. Unsharp mask using CCDsoft.

7

Donald C. Parker, Coral Gables, Florida
Lynxx PC camera, 16-in (41cm) f/6 Newtonian, Eyepiece Projection @ f/47.8

Integration Times:
   Blue (BG12 + IR Rejection)   11.25s
   Green (VG9 + IR Rejection)    4.38s
   Red (RG610 + IR Rejection)   0.40s
Images flat and dark corrected.
Seeing fair, variable (6-7). Transparency 4.0m, occasional clouds. Wind ESE 1-12 knots, gusty. No Dew.
Strong violet clearing, also noted visually with Wratten 47 filter = 3+ in south; 2+ in north. Tractus Albus noted. Clouds over Chryse-Xanthe and Tharsis. Prominent north polar cap rift. Hydrae S. prominent; Hydapses detected.

Ramiro Hernandez, Saltillo, Mexico, E-mail: rhernand@campus.sal.itesm.mx
Sony Handycam and Snappy frame grabber; 8-inch (20 cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain Meade

05:00 UT

Tim Parker, Los Angeles, California
Starlight Xpress HX516, binned 2x2; 8" (20 cm) f/6 Springfield Newtonian; Eyepiece projection.

David M. Moore, Phoenix, Arizona;
E-mail: davidpaulamoore@email.msn.com

Tomio Akutsu, Japan; E-mail: is6t-akt@asahi-net.or.jp
32cm F/6.5 Reflector Telers2 KAF0400E CCD

Victor G. Tejfel, Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Physics, Fessenkov Astrophysical Institute, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan; E-mail: tejf@hotmail.com
ST-6V CCD camera; 24-in (60 cm) Cassegrain.

Ricardo Nunes, Lisbon, Portugal, E-mail: mop23816@mail.telepac.pt
Black & White QuickCam with adaptations, 4.5 inch Equatorial Reflector

Each image is the average of about 20 individual frames.

The color composites were made using a unfiltered image (infrared filtered removed) and one taken through the infrared blocking filter that comes with the QuickCam. The first image is coded as Red and and the second as Green/Blue. When assembled in such a way in Photoshop they provide, once the color balance has been adjusted, a convincent color image. But some caution should be necessary on the interpretation of results.

Due to the equipment used the images need a lot of processing to bring out details. Also the camera's dinamic range is small (6 bits) leading to the presence of some noise in the final images. These constraints mean that small features in the images are to some extent camera and processing artefacts.

António Cidadão, Oeiras, Portugal
ST-5C camera 10-in (25cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain

Seeing conditions: 8/10.

Haze over Hellas. Blue Syrtis Cloud. Clouds over Cryse, Tempe, Achillis Pons and Ganges.

8

António Cidadão, Oeiras, Portugal
ST-5C camera 10-in (25cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain

Seeing conditions: 8/10.

Haze over Hellas. Blue Syrtis Cloud. Clouds over Cryse, Tempe, Achillis Pons and Ganges.

Nelson Falsarella, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, SP, BRAZIL; E-mail: nfalsarella@riopreto.com.br
International Mars Patrol, Rede de Astronomia Observacional, REA-Brazil
AVA ASTROVID 400 CCD Videocamera; 8-in (20cm) f/6.5 Newtonian, Eyepiece Projection with a MEADE Series 3000 Plossl 5mm.

Brian Colville, Maple Ridge Observatory, Cambray, ON Canada (79.15W, 44.28N), email:maple@quicklinks.on.ca
Pixcel 237 CCD Camera, Med Resolution - 2x2 binning, 14.8u 12-in (30cm) f/10 SCT at efr: f/40.

02:25 UT; Integration time: 0.17 sec.; Calibration: Dark, Flat; Processing: Unsharp Mask via MaximCCD.
Seeing: fair, 5/10, Martian diameter 16.08", CM: 53°, Phase: .9902
Filters: IR Passing 830nm, 100nm FWHM.

Donald C. Parker, Coral Gables, Florida
Lynxx PC camera, 16-in (41cm) f/6 Newtonian, Eyepiece Projection @ f/47.8

Integration Times:
   Blue (BG12 + IR Rejection)   9.25s
   Green (VG9 + IR Rejection)    3.88s
   Red (RG610 + IR Rejection)   0.36s
Images flat and dark corrected.
Seeing good (8). Transparency 4.5m. Wind SE 0-5 knots, increasing late. Slight Dew.
Strong violet clearing. Tractus Albus again noted. Clouds over Chryse-Xanthe and Tharsis. Bright clouds on morning limb. Prominent north polar cap rift. Hydrae S. prominent; Hydaspses possible on the red light image taken at 03:08 UT.

Greg R. Wilson, Los Angeles, California
Starlight Xpress HX516 CCD, 8" (20 cm) Schmidt-Cassegrain, Eyepiece Projection: 15 mm Plossl EP projection, Red Filter.

Anders Hansson, Stockholm, Sweden, E-mail: anhn@telia.com
Starlight Xpress HX 516, 5-inch (127 mm) f/8 Apochromatic refractor with 2X Barlow Projection.

20:45 U.T.
Integration Time: 0.040 s (single exposure)
Seeing: fair.

9

Ramiro Hernandez, Saltillo, Mexico, E-mail: rhernand@campus.sal.itesm.mx
Sony Handycam and Snappy frame grabber; 8-inch (20 cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain Meade

04:46 UT

Tan Wei Leong, Singapore (1.3° N 101.8° E), E-mail: weileong@magix.com.sg
ST-7E CCD camera; 5" (128mm) f/8 Takahashi FS128 APO refractor to F/64 with 5x barlow and IR rejection filter.

Integration Time: 0.25s; Average of 25 images.
Seeing (6-7/10). Transparency (7-8/10)

All major albedo marking appear normal (Syrtis Major etc.) Hellas bright on the evening limb extending into a South Polar Haze (SPH) across Ausonia - Eridania. Rather faint evening limb haze visible extending across Memnonia to Amazonis. NPC small, surrounded by a dark collar, arctic cloud or haze visible over Northern Lemuria. Elysium bright, Hyblaeus dark, Cerberus- Trivium very faint.

Marco Eckstein, Roedental, Germany, E-mail: starlight@coburg.baynet.de
Hitachi Hi8 Videocamera; 8-inch (20 cm) Schmidt-Cass. (LX-10); Eyepiece Projection with a 10mm Plossl (200x).
20:20 UT; CM 306°

Seeing: normal (4-5)
Hellas a bit fainter as in the last weeks - very small polar cap - no dust activity - few clouds east of Syrtis Major (Elysium) - no "Syrtis Blue Cloud" visible.

Rudolf A. Hillebrecht, Bad Gandersheim, Germany
SBIG ST-5 camera, SBIG filterwheel; 7-inch f/9 Starfire Refractor, Eypiece Projection @ f/50

20:56 UT (CM: 316°, left)
21:27 UT (CM: 323°, center left)
22:06 UT (CM: 333°, center right)
22:45 UT (CM: 342°, right)

Integration Times:
   Blue (+ IR Rejection)    1.50 s
   Green (+ IR Rejection)  0.60 s
   Red (+ IR Rejection)     0.20 s
Images are flat corrected.

Seeing rather good (7/10). All RGB images are result of adding several images of each color. Processing with MaxEnt in MaximDL.
These images belong to the best resolved of Mars I have ever done. Very bright cloud over Hellas. Limb clouds over Elysium area. During the nearly two hour imaging the Syrtis Blue Cloud developed. Parallel the overall haziness of the atmosphere seemed to rise in images three and four. Distinct concentrations of clouds over Mare Acidalium and Chryse. First traces of the South Polar Hood in image four over Mare Serpentis? Small and sharp North Polar Cap (NPC) remnant. Note ice clouds separated from NPC in images one and two. Violet clearing evident.

Friedrich Sussmann, St. Radegund, Austria, (15.50 E, 47.15 N), E-mail: friedrich.sussmann@iic.wifi.at
LCCD11 Camera (KAF 400 Chip); Homemade Newton 12"(300mm) F:2270mm with Sonnar Projectiv F:14000mm Projection with a 10mm Plossl (200x).

20:20-22:39 UT; Composite of 4 frames

Integration times:
  Red Image:    0.125s
  Green Image: 0.500s
  Blue Image:   1.000s

Seeing: 5/10
RGB and IR stop Filter.

Jörg Meyer, Schoolobservatory Gudensberg, Germany, E-mail: joerg.meyer@planet-interkom.de

21:55 U.T.; CM: 330°

10

Mark Schmidt, Racine, Wisconsin; 88.02861° W 44.72889° N; E-mail: rasastro@wi.net
ST-5C CCD camera; 6-in (15 cm) f/9 Astro-Physics Starfire 152 Refractor; Projection at f/90.

 L_s: 136.5°; D_e: 20.4°; Diameter: 16.0”

Left to Right:

Time (U.T.)	C. M.	Integration time	Seeing	Transparency:	-------------------  F i l t e r s ---------------------
01:40	24.47°	0.40s	#3-4/10	1-1/2 mag.	23A & IR Rejection
02:37	38.36°	0.39s	#3-4/10	4 mag.	23A & IR Rejection
03:30	52.00°	0.37s	#3/10	4 mag.	23A & IR Rejection
03:57	57.85°	2.10s	#4/10	4 mag.	Near IR 800 - 1100nm, IR Passing/Visible Rejection

Filters: Murnaghan Instruments Filters.
Processing: CCDSoft-Image Processing Software; Skypro-Image Processing Software

Bob Bunge, Bowie, Maryland, E-mail: rbunge@radix.net
20-inch (50 cm) f/6.4 reflector, 200/270x
2:30 UT
Seeing 7 out of 10.

Mare Acidalium (north) and Mare Erthraeum areas are clearly visible. Some detail seen in the Nilokeras extension of Acidalium and the white pink area seen on May 5 has turned more white-blue. Chryse doesn't appear to very bright - it's pretty much the normal pink color of the rest of the planet. Just starting to see Sinus Meridiani. The Oxus extension of Margaritifer Sinus is clearly visible

Hernan Acosta, Valencia, Venezuela (10° 11.0' N, 68° 00.0' W)
4.5-inch Newtonian, 9mm Kellner, 2x Barlow
03:18 UT; CM 48°

Brad Hoehne,  Columbus, Ohio, E-mail: HoehneB@chi.osu.edu
13.1" (33.3 cm) F/4.5 Dobsonian stopped down to 12.5" (31 cm) f/4.7, 6mm Pentax (500x); Red filter.
03:45 UT

Excellent seeing tonight- the best so far this apparition. All scopes I looked through tonight showed significantly more detail than any other night. Much detail visible, almost too much to draw. Observed faint line in the north polar cap, which I later learned was Rima Tenuis. Multiple fingers jutting northward from the southern hemisphere. Oxus quite prominent and "bumpy".

Ramiro Hernandez, Saltillo, Mexico, E-mail: rhernand@campus.sal.itesm.mx
Sony Handycam and Snappy frame grabber; 8-inch (20 cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain Meade

03:46 UT (left), CM=55°;
04:10 UT (middle), CM=61°;
04:21 UT (right), CM=64°.

Brad Hoehne, Columbus, Ohio, E-mail: HoehneB@chi.osu.edu
13.1" (33.3 cm) F/4.5 Dobsonian stopped down to 12.5" (31 cm) f/4.7, 6mm Pentax (500x); Red filter.
04:40 UT

See above drawing.

Mario Frassati, Crescentino (VC), Italy
8-in (20 cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain, 300x.

20:35 UT, CM: 305°.
Martian diameter 16", Phase 0.99 Seeing: 3

António Cidadão, Oeiras, Portugal
ST-5C camera 10-in (25cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain

Seeing conditions: 9/10.

Haze over Hellas (Zea Lacus visible in R images). Blue Syrtis Cloud. Rima Tenuis visible in R image (arrowed). Clouds over Utopia, Libya, Chryse, Tempe, Achillis Pons and Mare Erythraeum. South Polar Hood visible (?).

Please notice that besides RGB and LRGB images, I started to use R(G)B images. In these, the G channel is synthesized by averaging R and B frames.

Mario Frassati, Crescentino (VC), Italy
8-in (20 cm) f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain, 300x.

22:10 UT, CM: 324.6°.
Martian diameter 16", Phase 0.99 Seeing: 3

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