Mars - 04 Dec

[brianb]

Last night started off very disappointing with much cloud & intermittent showers, then it cleared but the seeing was rotten & the Moon was awfully bright .... then, funnily enough, around 6:00 am the seeing improved to reasonable. Not good, just reasonable; not a lot of boiling but some jet stream smearing of the view.

Turned scope to Mars, was rewarded with the best view I've had since 2005, and finally managed to get an image of Mars I'm almost proud of.

2009 Dec 04, 0630 UT. CM 285 deg. CPC 1100, 2x barlow, Astronomik type 2c colour seperation filters, Imaging Source DMK41 camera.

Changed the 2x barlow for 4x but approaching frontal cloud prevented me from capturing any more than the red channel, and deteriorating seeing meant it wasn't as good as the 2x version.

Hellas is really bright & because of the tilt of Mars' north pole towards us appears on the limb, looking like an extra polar ice cap. The prominent dark marking is of course Syrtis Major.

[Space Cowboy]

That's a great image, bravo!

[dweller25]

Great image.

I was out at the same time and that is exactly how I saw it - except it was upside down in the Newt.

[DarkerSky]

Wonderful image! Your perserverance is rewarded ... I was out too last night - but finished by 1am because of shower-threatening clouds. Seeing was awful - could make out the NPC and dark collar around it, and some markings further south, but just couldn't get a steady enough image to see any decent detail.

[legion48]

That's a real cracker Brian.

[Clayton]

Very nice image, with great detail

[beamish]

A great image Brian !! certainly one to be proud of.

Karlo

[resonator77]

that is one fine image

I could not get that much clarity with my 8"

did you use RGB Brian?

any light pollution reducing filter?

[moocher]

Congrats Brian thats a great result!!!!

Alan:)

[brianb]

did you use RGB Brian?

any light pollution reducing filter?

Yes, it's a mono camera. Shot AVIs seperately through red, green & blue colour seperation filters (Astronomik type 2c) & combined the resulting images. These filters have built in infra red & ultra violet blocking.

No need for light pollution reducing filters when imaging moon or planets ... I've even imaged Mars in full daylight, with the Sun shining onto the side of the scope tube. Even visually, light pollution isn't an issue with very bright objects, though the spectral response of some LP filters is said to be useful for enhancing detail on Mars. Personally I prefer an ordinary orange or light red filter ... and with less than 6" of aperture, I think it would be better to do without.

[Dangerous-Dave]

Like it! Good work.

[Glasspusher]

Splendid image, you have inspired me!!

Well done.

John

[neil phillips]

If your gonna catch a feature, thats the one

I tried a few nights back got one shot off then clouds. It showed the syrtis. But wasnt as good as yours. Nice shot Brian

[brianb]

Thanks guys!

[Scott Tilley]

Super image, would be grateful of something half as good as this:headbang:

Scott

[johnh]

Gosh Mars is so tough so well done in getting a cracking image - planetary imaging is all about patience and time spent so congrats. John.

[kev]

Well done on that image. I was hoping to get out last night but the wether... then today its been clear up to sunset and then... its rained again. Bummer!

[skiorh]

Wow, that is really a good one - I haven't been too lucky with Mars this year so far..

[Milliways]

Lots of detail there mate, you must be chuffed! thanks for sharing

[russ]

That's a real beauty Brian.....well done!

[arad85]

Missed this when it was posted - great image

[Dazraz]

Great picture thanks !

[JCJC]

Really great image under difficult conditions, well done.

Jordan.

[Taff]

Great capture Brian' nice and clear with you.Mark