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Post by virgo on Jan 26, 2012 10:36:43 GMT
After last night's meeting the rain cleared to reveal a transparent sparkling sky, all of the stars in Ursa Minor being visible so my LM was at least 5. By 00.30 Mars was already at a respectable altitude and was the brightest object in that part of the sky at around 0.0.mag Through the telescope the disk of the planet was extremely small and a high power was essential to make out any detail on the tiny disk,which was around 11 arc seconds. The most easily seen feature was the polar cap which contrasted well with the redish brown surrounding area. The seeing became less steady as the night progressed, and imaging more difficult. This image was taken at 02.30. Arriving cloud at 04.00 closed down the session. Attachments:
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Post by virgo on Jan 28, 2012 1:38:23 GMT
Another clear night, pic taken at 01.10. Attachments:
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Post by virgo on Jan 28, 2012 11:49:38 GMT
Final image of the night taken at 03.10 Attachments:
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pook
Member
Posts: 147
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Post by pook on Jan 29, 2012 12:43:36 GMT
Hi John, Got my first look at Mars this year on Frid night at Delamont, through big Ivan's Skywatcher. Polar cap was evident but your image brings it out well. Good shot. Pook
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Post by virgo on Jan 29, 2012 18:34:51 GMT
Thanks Philip, That shot was the best one out of about 3GBof avi. Regards, John.
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Post by brianb on Feb 1, 2012 10:53:50 GMT
Very nice, especially the 01:10 image ... we need a bit of steady air & it's well overdue!
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Post by virgo on Feb 2, 2012 17:43:32 GMT
Hello Brian, With the standard setup, telescope with an X4 barlow was quite useless due to the tiny disk presented by the planet, so I put an X2 barlow in the optical train giving an F ratio of about 70. The image was a nightmare to track and keep in focus. Regards, John.
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Post by virgo on Feb 17, 2012 14:03:35 GMT
Yeeha! 3 hours of clear sky last night! The sky cleared around 21.00 to reveal a brilliant sky with good transparency. The Southern sky was dominated by the brilliant planet Mars, now just a few weeks away from opposition. The planet currently resides in Leo. Attachments:
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Post by virgo on Feb 17, 2012 14:04:59 GMT
The effects of light pollution are clearly evident. Attachments:
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Post by virgo on Feb 17, 2012 14:09:57 GMT
The Martian northern spring is well advanced now, and the polar cap has shrunk considerably. The disk was clear and sharp in 250mm dobsonian at 225. A high power is always needed when viewing Mars due to the small disk, currently around 14 arc seconds. This webcam image was taken just before midnight as the cloud was appearing along the Northern horizon. Attachments:
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Post by virgo on Feb 21, 2012 15:51:31 GMT
The night of the 19th February started clear, but thin high cloud started arriving soon after dusk. This cloud obscured detail on the planetary disk and reduced the overall brightness. The sky was 100% obscured by 23.30. This pic taken at 21.35 Attachments:
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Post by virgo on Mar 6, 2012 11:39:03 GMT
This opposition is unfavourable, as the planet's disk never exceeds 14 arc seconds. The variable weather conditions make imaging challenging at best. This image was taken at 21.40 on 5th March. Cloud cover complete by 22.15 Attachments:
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Post by brianb on Mar 7, 2012 0:12:23 GMT
Yeah, I did get out yesterday evening but the cloud beat me before I got round to Mars. It's the bad seeing that's the real issue on the very rare occasion that the cloud does break.
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Post by virgo on Mar 7, 2012 11:11:01 GMT
Hello Brian, I am beginning to regard Mars as a hopeless case now. As you say even when sky was clear, the seeing was diabolical. Mars appeared as a tiny disk with a blue border on one side and a red on the other. Detail was smeared out by large shifts in focus with image movement.
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Post by virgo on Mar 19, 2012 10:35:37 GMT
Due to incessant cloud cover Mars was unavailable for observation during the last few weeks. Last night 18th March was clear and cold with a slight breeze. Seeing was generally unsteady with "boiling" and large shifts of focus. Despite this I was able to view the planet in great detail at a power of 343 during the brief steady periods using my 250mm F4.8 dobsonian equipped with Orion Optics professional grade mirrors. Attachments:
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