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One of Bob's favorite astronomical objects to observe is the planet Mars. Presented here are drawings of Mars that Bob is making during the 2005 opposition of Mars. Drawings from 2003 are also available. Bob has made most of these drawings with 4-inch, 20-inch and 12-inch telescopes. Bob made both of these telescopes (and others). Links below are to drawings of Mars.
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2005/12/18, 01:20 UT, CM=153 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 270x
Seeing 8 out of 10. Cool, partly cloudy, 32F. No wind. No sign of the south polar hood this evening, but some P limb brightening slightly north of the equator. Dark area to the north, near the north polar hood interesting.
2005/12/14, 01:20 UT, CM=200 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 270x
Seeing 8 out of 10. Very clear, cold, 21F. Very light wind. Ever shrinking disc! Light clouds on P limb, south polar hood appeared to rise slightly above the limb of the planet. North polar hood was apparent.
2005/12/08, 01:20 UT, CM=255 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x
Seeing 7 out of 10. Very cold, 27F, light wind, but some clouds to the south. Bright area on P limb, right at the equatorial area, very apparent, perhaps the most appear feature on the disk. Small bright spot at the south cap assumed to be the South Polar Hood. Some faint hints of the North Polar hood. Limited amounts of surface detail.
2005/12/01, 02:10 UT, CM=329 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x
Seeing 5 out of 10. Cold front just moved in today, breezy, chilly - mid 40's. Poor seeing. Surface markings difficult to make out and very faint. Faint north polar hood seen in white light.
2005/11/19, 02:50 UT, CM=88 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x
Seeing 7 out of 10. Very cool, 32degrees F. Very clear, somewhat frosty. All marking very faint, quite difficult to see. W25 (red) filter helped alot. But bright white cloud seen on the P side, extending slightly past the disk of the planet. Very faint North Polar Hood.
2005/11/06, 03:20 UT, CM=208 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x
Seeing 7 out of 10. Nice view of the light area around Chaos in the north. Very slight north polar hood. Just a slight hint of the South Polar Cap.
2005/11/03, 02:50 UT, CM=228 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x
Seeing 9 out of 10. A very, very nice view. Very steady seeing. Pretty much normal except, no south polar cap seen. North polar hood was smaller, but visible without a filter. Bright area on limb about where Hellas would be, appeared slight yellow with out a filter.
2005/10/29, 08:40 UT, CM=356 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260x
Seeing 5 out of 10. First obervation since 10/3. Remains of two hurricanes and a week of sickness prevented any observing. Poor seeing, very unsteady atmosphere. Cold, first frost of the year. Dust covering some of Margaritifer Sinus, curving to the south, up and over Sinus Meridiani. Very faint and difficult to see south polar cap. North polar hood fainter then three weeks ago, but with bright area in W47 (dark blue) filter.
2005/10/03, 08:30 UT, CM=226 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 8 out of 10. Cool, 55F, a few high clouds, very, very light fog in the area. Very nice white light view. The North Polar Hood was large, very easy to see - more easy to see then the South Polar Cap - with some detail, including a dark area and a southward extension. Area near the south east limb was bright in the W25 (red) filter. South Polar Cap was difficult to see, but also appeared to slightly rise above the southern limb of the planet. Much surface detail seen through the W47 (blue/purple) filter was clear and easily seen.
2005/09/28, 08:15 UT, CM=268 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 9 out of 10. Very cool, moderate to heavy dew. 55F. Still, no wind. Really nice view! Best view at 480x this season. Very small south polar cap. At 480x, a slight, white brightening was seen just west of the SPC. Wonderful view of Syrtis Major and many dark and lighter areas in it. Hellas was light, but surprisingly showed no floor detail, yet was not all that much brighter in the 47W (blue) or 25W (red) filters. Nodus Alcyonius, the small dark marking north and west of Syrtis Major was very visible. Dark markings just south of the North Polar Hood continue. In the 47W, the north east part of the NPH was brighter.
2005/09/23, 08:20 UT, CM=335 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 8 out of 10. Warm, 70F. Thin high clouds, partial ring around the Moon during ob. The Mid-Atlantic US is now officially in a moderate drought condition. Certainly been good for Mars observing! With Syrtis Major coming into view, we have a classic view of Mars. The Hellas region showed detail too complex to draw, with bright banding in the northern parts, and darker details and east/west stripes in the southern section. At this CM, the North Polar Hood is still bright, but not as large. Western section of the NPH was brighter in both 47W filter (blue) and light light. Following limb had some hint of brightening and possible cloud activity.
2005/09/21, 08:15 UT, CM=333 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260
Seeing 7 out of 10. Cool, 66F, quite clear, very bright Moon not far from Mars. Seeing wasn't the best, had to wait long periods for the moment finer detail. Bright area over Hellas was very bright in a 25W (red) filter. It was quite striking. North Polar Hood was also bright with a 47W filter.
2005/09/19, 08:30 UT, CM=355 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 9 out of 10. Cool, 63F, quite clear, no clouds, slight hint of haze around an almost full Moon. Very bright, could almost draw without the aid of a flashlight. An extremely good view, very steady seeing, an amazing amount of detail on the surface. South polar cap was bright and very easy to see, even with the small size. More detail then I've seen this year in Sinus Meridani and Sabaeus. Hellas on the preceding (P) terminator appeared bright and even bulged a bit into the shadow. The North Polar Hood (NHP) was clearly white and very easy to see in white light. It was also complex with at least one area that appeared brighter in white and red light then the rest of the NPH.
2005/09/12, 08:20 UT, CM=58 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 8 out of 10. Very cool (55F), heavy dew. No wind, pretty good transparency. Perhaps best view and most detailed drawing of the Solis Lacus region in 2005. Apparent North Polar Hood, seen in both 25W (red) and 47W (blue) filters. Following limb brightness best seen in white light and with the 47W filter.
2005/09/09, 05:20 UT, CM=42 Tuckahoe State Park MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 5 out of 10. At Tuckahoe State Park. Found three faint Arp galaxies, did some slumming of bright objects and looked at IC 1296 near M-57 for the first time in several years tonight. Seeing started bad, only got better 30 before this ob. Plenty of detail in Mare Erythraeum. Niliacus Lacus to the north was faint, but there. Possible north polar hood visible in both 25W (red) and 47W (blue) filters, but larger in red, sort of backwards of what you'd expect. Perhaps more dust there then water vapor.
2005/09/08, 08:30 UT, CM=98 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 9 out of 10. Very cool, 55F. Moderate to heavy dew. Extremely clear and very good transparency. During moments of very stable seeing, much detail was seen... approaching the level of too much to draw, specially around Solis Lacus and the Aonius Sinus regions. While faint, the dark marking in the southern hemisphere were very detailed with the 25W (red) filter. While the center of Solis Lacus was the darkest area on the planet, Mare Sirnum on the following limb was a close 2nd. A number of faint markings in the north, in an area usually pretty devoid of detail. Slight brightening in the far north, more visible in red then in the 47W (blue) filter. South Polar cap was very small, but quite bright.
2005/09/04, 07:20 UT, CM=118 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260x
Seeing 5 out of 10. Cool, 65F, slight breeze, dry, partly cloud - not hazy. Poor seeing, difficult observation. Detail almost completely washed out except in 25W (red) filter. Even then, much loss of detail and bright limb glare. But Solas Lacus was viewed a darkest area, near the terminator, merging with Mare Sirenum towards the following limb. In moments of better seeing, a slight darkening was seen in the north, near Olympus Mons.
2005/09/02, 08:15 UT, CM=150 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 8 out of 10. Cool, 64F, damp, 88% RH. Good amount of dew. Small south polar cap. Good detail the Mare Chronium area. Mare Sirenum was dark with plenty of detail and texture. North Polar Cap was difficult to make out and was only slightly visible with a 47W(blue) filter. Faint, but visible dark area not far from terminator in about the right place for Olympus Mons.
2005/08/29, 07:45 UT, CM=181 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 9 out of 10. Cool, calm, 65F. Slight haze, moderate dew. Very good and steady seeing. The south polar cap (SPC) has shrunk to the point that it's pretty difficult to see. This morning, through, a bright area appeared to the west - P - side of the SPC, perhaps fog or clouds. Best seen in white light, just a bit brighter with a 47W (blue) filter. Eridania area to the north of the SPC showed a number of dark markings. Plenty of detail in the Mare Sirenum area. Very light dark area to the north west, near the terminator, about where Olympus Mons is. Nice faint marking in the far north in the Propontis Complex.
2005/08/24, 08:30 UT, CM=239 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260x
Seeing 4 out of 10. Cool, 64F, heavy dew. High thin clouds. No wind. Moon near Mars. Poor seeing conditions. Syrtis Major on the following limb and quite dark. No apparent north polar hood, but there was a bright area north of Syrtis Major on the following limb as seen with a 25W (red) filter. Marking near the north limb could be Utopia. Mare Cimmerium/Mare Tyrrhenum showed limited detail. Nice dark markings near the Aussona region to the south and close to the terminator. Area around south polar cap showed no markings and appeared clear for the first time this season.
2005/08/21, 08:45 UT, CM=271 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 5 out of 10. Warm, humid, hazy, high thin clouds, passing stratus clouds. 75F. Seeing conditions made for difficult observation and reduced detail seen over the past couple of weeks. Over all, dark features were washed out and more difficult to see. Very little atmosphere action; no apparent north polar hood or other clouds, even with 47W (blue) filter. Hellas did appear a bit brighter in white and red (25W) light and no detail was seen inside Hellas.
2005/08/18, 08:50 UT, CM=301 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 8 out of 10. Cool, 66F, 88% RH. Pretty heavy dew. Seeing very steady, lots of detail this morning. No sign of a north polar hood. Sytris Mayor just past terminator with plenty of detail. Nice hints of detail in Hellas. Hellas did not appear bright. Small bright area on P side of south polar cap near the Mare Astrale area.
2005/08/14, 09:30 UT, CM=351 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260/480x
Seeing 6 out of 10. Warm, humid. 73F, humidity = 94. Very hazy, very light fog. No wind. A very complex Mars this morning. Slight north polar hood appeared white and was slightly brighter with a 47W (blue) filter. Markings around the NPH were easy to see with darker areas appearing around the Mare Acidalium region. The Chryse area appeared bright in white light, but not with the 47W. The vast dark areas of the southern hemisphere showed hints of grand detail. Sinus Sabaeus is not yet showing it's classical sharp hooks yet, but is dark and has a good amount of detail. It also appears to be almost connected to the dark markings to the south. A bright area in the south P edge, against the terminator appeared, in white light, to extend slightly above the terminator. This area (Hellas?) was only slightly apparent with the 47W. Nice detail surrounding the south polar cap.
2005/08/12, 09:15 UT, CM=10 Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 260x
Seeing 8 out of 10. Very warm, humid. 77F, 94% RH., no wind. Got out TJ, 20-inch f/6.4 dobson stopped down to 17-inches. Secondary dewed right after removing secondary cover, but the view was still just fine! Lots of detail. Bluish north polar hood was elongated and did not appear above the limb of the planet. Niliacus Lacus nicely seen for being so close to the northern limb of the planet. Lots of detail in Sinus Meridiani and Mare Erthraeum. Mare Australe dark and made for a nice collar around the south polar cap. SPC is small, very bright and very oval, perhaps even seperated from the south limb.
2005/08/03, 09:00 UT, CM=92 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x
Seeing 6 out of 10. Warm, 77F, no wind, humid. Not very transparent. Solis L.! Good amount of detail in moments of steady seeing. Bright area in the north, perhaps Argyre or perhaps clouds over Olympus Mons. Image is too dim and small to use color filters, but this didn't look like North Polar Hood.
2005/07/24, 09:00 UT, CM=211 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x
Seeing 6 out of 10. Cool, some wind. Twightlight well underway. Not very crisp seeing this morning and only rare moments of stable view. South Polar Cap (SPC) is samll, bright, but white, specially compared to bright Hellas on the limb that had a slight red or yellow tinge. Hellas, again, on the limb was bright. Ever so slight hints of detail in Mare Cimmenum. Slight hints of dark areas around SPC also visible.
2005/07/21, 08:35 UT, CM=211 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x
Seeing 10 out of 10. About as perfect as I've seen it in a very long time. No wind, hot and humid, classic "still" mid-atlantic summer morning. 72 degree and 83% humidity at Andrews an hour ago. Mars is now at 10.5 arc seconds and showing plenty of detail. Small polar cap with uneven dark collar around it. Dark areas on following side easiest, small dark area close to P side seen with trouble. Mare Cimmerium most easly seen dark feature, with some detail (amazing at 10 seconds in a 4-inch!), specially to the following side. Dark connecting area - Hesperia - to Mare Tyrrhenum was pretty easy.
2005/06/18, 08:30 UT, CM=171 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x
Seeing 6 out of 10. Up to eight arcseconds. Very brief moments of fine seeing. Warm, no wind, a few thin clouds in the sky. Polar cap was bright and easy to see. Hints of a collar around the cap. Dark area projecting from P. side should be Mare Sirenum, but no detail seen to confirm.
2005/05/05, 09:40 UT, CM=196 Bowie MD, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x
Seeing 5 out of 10. A mere six arc seconds in diameter! Low on the horizon, early in the morning. In very, very brief moments of ok seeing, could make out brightening to the south. Possible slight greying to the south.
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