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Mars Attacked!

Discussion in 'Observing Celestial Objects' started by Mak the Night, Jun 26, 2018.

Mars Attacked!

Started by Mak the Night on Jun 26, 2018 at 5:52 AM

12 Replies 2281 Views 1 Likes

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  1. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

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    Mak the Night, Jun 26, 2018
    #1
    I had a bit of a session last night with my 150mm Newtonian. I looked at Jupiter and the Moon, Schroter's Valley looked good. Saturn was my primary target as it is a day off opposition. I managed 225x with an AH 4mm ortho' combined with a GSO #11 filter. I did experiment with a Baader Yellow Longpass 495nm but the #11 won. Last opposition I thought I might try for 250x, but didn't. I didn't this morning either as the transparency wasn't too good. So, same eyepiece, same filter (my Lumicon #11 doesn't thread into the 4mm AH), same magnification ... but different telescope than last year.

    mars1.png

    It was such a pleasant night I decided to wait it out for Mars. By the time it was visible the Moon was too low to be an annoyance. I decided I'd have a shootout between the Baader Semi-Apo, TeleVue Planetary Bandmate and the Orion Mars filters. All apparently good on Mars.

    IMG_20180626_125809.jpg

    I could see the phase and white albedo features near both poles (as in Reggie's photo's) but I could also see faint surface features through the duststorm!

    AMAZONIS MENSA.jpg

    The dark features in this VPA screenshot roughly equate to what was hinted at through the eyepiece.

    ACIDALIA PLANITIA.jpg

    I increased the magnification to 250x (9mm Circle T ortho'/2.5x TeleVue Powermate) and proceeded with the filters. First up was the Semi-Apo, which seemed to seriously help with the blurry features beneath the dust storm. It gives Mars a bit of a yellow tint but it is quite subtle. Secondly I tried the Orion Mars, which does impart a heavier purplish tint, but some features were still visible. Although I thought the Semi-Apo was slightly better with the albedo features, the Orion did appear to bring out the darker features slightly better. Finally I threaded the TV filter into the Circle T. I bought this filter for the last Mars opposition, intending to use it with my SCT. I never did use it, so this is basically its first light. I have to say that the TV Bandmate gave the best view. The Martian colour was more natural and it gave the most distinct views of the dust covered surface features and the albedo features. Finally I took the magnification to 281x with a 3.2mm StarGuider. The phase was still distinct and the hinted at surface features were still there. I think the transparency improved as it reached transit. By then it was early dawn and I packed up.
     
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  2. Orion25

    Orion25 Well-Known Member

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    Orion25, Jun 26, 2018
    #2
    Great, thorough report, Mak. Maybe, the dust storm is winding down. I'll need to take another look at Mars now. My last observation a few nights ago revealed a nearly featureless bright, peach orb even with the Orion Mars filter.
     
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  3. Gabby76

    Gabby76 Well-Known Member

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    Gabby76, Jun 26, 2018
    #3
    A nice report Mak. Hopefully the cloud cover will go away here soon so I can get some viewing in.
     
  4. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

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    Mak the Night, Jun 26, 2018
    #4
    Thanks Reggie. A few people have said that they thought the dust storm didn't seem quite as bad now as it was earlier. I couldn't see a great deal, and it wasn't like the first time when I used the ST80, but there were hints of dark features if you concentrated observing for decent periods. I was also using the EQ5 and it is well polar aligned now thanks to the right angled gizmo below lol.

    IMG_20180508_120537.jpg

    So that helped as well.
     
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  5. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

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    Mak the Night, Jun 26, 2018
    #5
    Thanks. It's been gloriously warm here without a cloud in the sky. Until the sun goes down and there is a thin layer of cloud in the south! :mad:
     
  6. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

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    Dave In Vermont, Jun 26, 2018
    #6
    Reggie - you said the dust-storm appears to be winding down??

    I saw Mars last night around 11:00pm and it has brightened considerably. But I wasn't using a scope - yet. But do tell me more about this storm "winding down?"

    This is the latest out of Universe Today:

    The Martian Dust Storm Has Covered the Entire Planet.pdf

    Do be the bearer of glad tidings!



    marsattackslist.jpg.1abe6cdd5f00bf903c52fe85dcb55ea0.jpg ​
     

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  7. Orion25

    Orion25 Well-Known Member

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    Orion25, Jun 26, 2018
    #7
    I was going by Mak's report of seeing a few features using his filters last night. I'm going to take another look over the next few nights. I know the science reports on Mars aren't sounding too good about the storm right now, but maybe there's hope, at least filtered hope for the duration :p
    !
     
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  8. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

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    Dave In Vermont, Jun 26, 2018
    #8
    As will I, too.

    I'm hoping that thing blows itself out.
     
  9. Pleiades

    Pleiades Well-Known Member

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    Pleiades, Jun 26, 2018
    #9
    Awesome report on Mars viewing. Not having a "Mars filter", I will try to leverage the moon. I do have an 82A, that I may throw into the mix.


    On my last viewing of Mars, I was able to conduct the session in total darkness. Mars was quiet bright, and I was able to discern very little detail. I am wondering if the 98% moon might actually be of some use tonight in reducing the apparent glare and maybe helping me see a bit more detail. Is my logic flawed? I plan on getting up at 2:30 AM and giving this a shot. Cloud cover permitting. If I'm wrong about the moon, it'll be setting shortly after.

    Orion SkyQuest XT6
    82A Filter
    25mm BST, 15mm BST &Cel Omni, 9mm GSO Plossl
     
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  10. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

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    Dave In Vermont, Jun 26, 2018
    #10
    Many filters are known to work on Mars. Try whatever you have! And tell us how they worked for you. That's what works!
     
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  11. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

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    Mak the Night, Jun 26, 2018
    #11
    Thanks. Yellow and yellow-green filters are good on Mars, as well as blue and others. The Moon should be low in the west anyway. I observed Saturn with a towel over my head to stop lunar glare. It's an old trick but it works. The Vallis Schröteri looked pretty good this morning. You only have a limited terminator phase to see it at its best. Should still be good.
     
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  12. Pleiades

    Pleiades Well-Known Member

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    Pleiades, Jun 26, 2018
    #12
    ".....towel over my head to stop lunar glare. It's an old trick but it works."
    I learn the darnedest things on this sight. I'll be packing a couple of towels.

     
  13. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

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    Mak the Night, Jun 26, 2018
    #13
    It definitely works lol.
     
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