long_arms Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Hello, I have loved the views through my 200p of jupiter and recently saturn.I just looked outside and realised in an hour or so I think I could point my scope in mars' direction. However looking at the apparent diameter of the planet it is only 0.04"! This time last year it was 0.14" ish I think. Its not going to reach that in 2013 whatsoever. My question is quite simply, at 0.04" and after sunset...any point in observing and imaging? Have a look at my flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90652641@N04/) this is what I get with my 200p and stock barlow. Is mars going to just look like a star? Thanks, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshane Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 In a word, no. You might just get the tiniest hint of some sort of detail but I doubt it. Better to wait until back around again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 It will not look much bigger than the GRS so you will not see too much detail !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long_arms Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 Darn, thankfully there is not a shortage of things to see before mars is back around! If I can ever be bothered to set it up at this time I may have a peek for the sake of it anyway. It will not look much bigger than the GRS so you will not see too much detail !!Wow that really puts 0.04" into perspective aha!!Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnakeyJ Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Hi Dan,Some really nice images in the flickr album and good to see what can be produced with the same equipment I'm using (something to aim for anyway!).I think the next good oppurtunity for mars is 5 years hence:Dec. 24, 2007 – 88.2 million km (54.8 million miles)Jan. 29, 2010 – 99.3 million km (61.7 million miles)Mar. 03, 2012 – 100.7 million km (62.6 million miles)Apr. 08, 2014 – 92.4 million km (57.4 million miles)May. 22, 2016 – 75.3 million km (46.8 million miles)Jul. 27. 2018 – 57.6 million km (35.8 million miles)Oct. 13, 2020 – 62.1 million km (38.6 million miles) Source Universetoday.comOtherwise I think the options are limited to a 5x or stacked barlow or buying a nice big long refractor. Still got to be worth a go and will look forward to seeing some images! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long_arms Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 Thanks very much!Those stats are awesome, 2018 should be a good year then!Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnakeyJ Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Yeah, fingers crossed then that 2018 doesn't prove to be the wettest/cloudiest on record! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cantab Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Any opposition's a good time relatively speaking though. Indeed the 2018 opposition actually looks awful for us in Britain as Mars will only rise about 12 degrees above the horizon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnakeyJ Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Any opposition's a good time relatively speaking though. Indeed the 2018 opposition actually looks awful for us in Britain as Mars will only rise about 12 degrees above the horizon!Thanks Catab, I was going to look at this is Stellarium tonight but now I'm just too depressed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilove1995 Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 I have yet to view Mars in my 4inch mak but probably best I keep my expectations low when I finally get the chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Champagnerocker Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Any opposition's a good time relatively speaking though. Indeed the 2018 opposition actually looks awful for us in Britain as Mars will only rise about 12 degrees above the horizon!The closest oppositions are always in the summer so if you really want to get a good view of Mars then going into the southern hemisphere is the best option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Spock Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Mars is currently 4" not 0.04" - even Hubble couldn't see any detail at 0.04" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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