Small Mars, 17 Jan

[Cosmic Geoff]

I had another go at imaging the shrinking Mars, this time without and with a x2 Barlow lens.  The results are better with the Barlow, which is what one is led to expect.   For whatever reason (probably bad seeing and/or low planets) when I tried a Barlow previously it just made the blur bigger.  Equipment: C8 SE, ASI120MC, x2 Skywatcher kit Barlow element screwed directly into 1.25" barrel of the ZWO camera.   This does seem to give x2 in practice.  I did not use an ADC on the grounds that I shouldn't need one with Mars at an altitude of over 40 degrees.

3000 image video captured with Sharpcap. Processed in Registax6.  I found that the Sharpcap exposure histogram did not appear to work on such a small image, so had to estimate the exposure.   Yes, optical ADC correction would be better, but the dispersion seemed very small.  Blowing up the image x2 in Registax showed a small colour fringe, which I took out with a single point of correction.

The images show some surface detail though the contrast is low (if you are using a flatscreen try viewing from below: ?)  Mare Sirenum, with Mare Acidalium just discernible foreshortened at upper right. 

[Pete Presland]

Some nice details visible there.

[TheMan]

17th of Jan? Nice!

[Chris]

Way better than what I've been getting Geoff, well done  

[Kokatha man]

A very good effort in the current circumstances! ?

[tooth_dr]

Very decent results there. 

[orion25]

Nice job, Geoff. I keep saying I'm going to rest from imaging Mars but the shrinking red planet is an irresistible target so present in the southern sky, lol!

Reggie