Small Mars, 9 Jan

[Cosmic Geoff]

Here is an image of Mars I made on 9 Jan this year, with a C8 SE, and ASI120MC camera.  The images are rather small (around 7" dia).  Mars is now much higher in the sky than at opposition, so it seemed worth taking a few farewell images as it diminishes in size. Captured with Sharpcap.

I did not use the ADC - the images are corrected for AD in the processing in Registax.  This is from a run of 3000 images.  I have included a x3 Photoshop zoom of the same image to indicate the size of Mars at opposition on the same scale.  I was quite pleased to record some surface detail, corresponding with the position of Syrtis Major.  If I'd had more time, I could have tried some images using a Barlow lens. I have just discovered that I can unscrew the lens section from a Skywatcher x2 Barlow and screw it onto the 1.25" nosepiece of the ASI120MC, which will give a more modest zoom (I think).

[Sunshine]

Yes, Mars is nice and high now, unfortunately really small also, nice shots!

[Stargazer33]

Definitely some albedo detail showing in the smaller images.

As far as post processing out AD; Damian Peach says in his article that although you can improve the effects of AD in post processing it does not remove everything that a good ADC will remove at the time of imaging - if correctly set up.

[sloz1664]

Nice images with some fine detail. I am woefully short on planetary imaging and will make a serious attempt this year.

Steve

[Pete Presland]

good to see Mars still showing detail, despite being so far away now.