From
P Clay SHERROD
®
. . . . . . . .Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 03:28:49 -0500
Subject: ASO Mars -
August 25 (#1 of 2)
Good morning to all...
This is the first of two attachments, as we are having a
very slow ISP connection here on the mountain at this time.
This series of three Mars images of August 25 are taken
about one hour apart and show the prominent Solis Lacus area, as well as a very
nice fully-illuminated Olympus Mons; the peak of this
volcanic cone is actually seen in the middle of the three images. Several very thin and high bluish clouds are
noted, one very small one on the pr. side of the O. Mons.
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Mon, 25 Aug 2003 03:33:07 -0500
Subject: ASO Mars -
August 25, (#2 of 2)
Hello again...
This is the SECOND of two attachments, as we are having a
very slow ISP connection here on the mountain at this time.
This series of three Mars images of August 25 are taken
about one hour apart and show the prominent Solis Lacus area, as well as a very
nice fully-illuminated Olympus Mons; the peak of this
volcanic cone is actually seen in the middle of the three images. Several very thin and high bluish clouds are
noted, one very small one on the pr. side of the O. Mons.
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Tue, 26 Aug 2003 00:31:53 -0500
Subject: Re: mars image
24th August 2003
This is perhaps the best, most incredibly accurate image of
Mars that I have seen thus far. Truly beautiful and very revealing....thanks so
much.
-----
Original Message -----
From:
"Tan Wei Leong" <webmaster@tasos.org.sg>
Sent:
Monday, August 25, 2003 8:49 AM
Subject:
mars image 24th August 2003
>
Dear mars observers,
>
>
Attached is the mars image from 24th August 2003.
>
This is a stack of 580 manually selected frames out of 1800 frames.
>
Seeing 5-7/10 and transparency 8/10.
>
>
Best Regards
>
Wei Leong
® . . . . . . . .Sent:
Tuesday, August 26, 2003 5:09 PM
Subject: ALERT - Mars.....Bright Red
Flash in Southern Solis Lacus
ALERT:
there is
a remarkable RED flash on the southern perimeter, nearly centered in longitude,
of the dark Solis Lacus maria on the morning of August 26,
2003. This feature was imaged at ASO at 0656 UT, nearly centered on
the planet; differential color density analysis does reveal that this very
bright scintillation feature is strong in the red region.
One of our most detailed Mars images to date, showing some very
fine and thin blue clouds over the Tharsis plains (lower
right) and the large volcano Olympus Mons coming into
view with full solar illumination (lower right, bright circular feature). NOTE
the very bright REDDISH flash in the southern edge of Solis Lacus
(top, above center).
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Tue, 26 Aug 2003 03:28:39 -0500
Subject: Mars, Aug.
26 - Bright Flash in Solis Lacus
Good morning to all....
A brilliant reddish flash was recorded on these ASO images
from Aug. 26, centered on the planet at nearly 06:56 UT; the scintillating
bright red spot can be seen in all RGB images but is most prominent in Red and
the combined RGB image; it is located on the southern perimeter of the dark
Solis Lacus, just above center in the images.
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Wed, 27 Aug 2003 03:25:06 -0500
Subject: Mars on its Closest Day, ASO, Aug. 27
Mars at its closest approach,
diameter 25.1" arc; Magnitude -2.9 (!). Seeing
conditions very poor with turbulent air and high intermittent cirrus clouds;
heavy air with mosquitoes (actually heavy mosquitoes with a bit of air mixed
in.....). Note the very faint high blue clouds continuing over the Tharsis region (see ASO images from previous morning). The
very bright spot ("flare" of 8-26) is not seen in brilliance in this
image, but the southern perimeter of Solis Lacus is turned eastward from direct
view at this time; whatever the bright scintillating feature might be, it
requires direct sunlight for maximum reflectance and visibility at this time.
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Fri, 29 Aug 2003 03:15:17 -0500
Subject: ASO Mars,
August 29
Still presenting a beautifully detailed surface - and
continuing to do so throughout September, 2003 - Mars can now be seen in this
image to be developing some high blue clouds streaks in the high northern
latitudes (north is DOWN in ASO images...); you can see faint streaks of blue
clouds very near the North Polar Hood (bottom) as well as south of that against
the reddish plains of the Red Planet.
Note that the very high reflective "flash" or spot
reported earlier continues in the Solis Lacus maria, southern perimeter; this is better seen on the
0633 U.T. image August 28, 2003; note the very prominent blue clouds streak
traversing E-W over the southern regions of the North Polar areas; the later
image reveals this to end abruptly.
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Fri, 29 Aug 2003 09:28:36 -0500
Subject: Mars and the Arkansas Governor
Good morning....on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning,
Clay and Patsy Sherrod were pleased to host the Governor Mike Huckabee (left in photograph) and First Lady Janet Huckabee of
Because of poor seeing conditions (....doesn't it always
happen this way....?) Mars was not as impressive as it could have been, but we
obtained images for them to return to
In addition to Mars, the Governor et al were treated to an
actual astrometric measurement and imaging of comet
C/2001 K5 (Linear) for submission to the Harvard MPC, CCD imaging of the Ring (Messier
57) and Dumbbell (M-27) nebulae, and a tour of the sky via the robotic Meade
16" telescope at the observatory.
We learned that the Governor and First Lady are avid skywatchers and are shopping for a Meade LX 90 for the
Governor's upcoming birthday.
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Sun, 31 Aug 2003 19:10:30 -0500
Subject: Re: Mars,
august 30-31 2003
Very nice images Christophe....
I am reeling from the incredibly rapid shrinking of the SPC
over the past week.....the image you provided surely demonstrates the
remarkable recession of it, just since our bad weather moved in on August
29....
-----
Original Message -----
From:
"Christophe Pellier"
<chrispellier@infonie.fr>
Sent:
Sunday, August 31, 2003 6:41 PM
Subject:
Mars, august 30-31 2003
>
Hi all, here are what could remain as my best images of Mars. Again, last
>
night the seeing evolved from very poor to good very
rapidly around 0 H
UT,
>
and this time no haze was around ;-)
>
The evening mist to the east of Syrtis Major is quite
prominent.
>
>
http://astrosurf.com/pellier/2003-08-31-CPI
>
>
Best wishes,
>
Christophe
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Mon, 1 Sept 2003 10:07:16 -0500
Subject: ASO Mars Images
Good morning to all...
Thanks to those who have inquired about not being able to
access our Mars image library at this time and our apologies about the
problems. We are having some technical difficulties with the ASO site which are
being worked on at this time.
Although the data for each image is coming up we are having
trouble with the image files and this will be rectified within the week; I will
notify you when the images are once again accessible.
In the meantime, those on the ASO Mars list who receive
regular attachments will continue receiving our daily observations, weather
permitting (!)...
Thanks to all and keep those observations of the Red Planet
coming.
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Thu, 4 Sept 2003 01:53:26 -0500
Subject: ASO Mars - Fine night, Sept. 4
Mars in one of our finest images this apparition, exhibiting
some fine detail in very damp but steady skies; some thin clouds seen north of
Sinus M. and Sinus S.; note the interesting segmented portion of the SPC as it
is now rapidly receding.
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Fri, 5 Sept 2003 05:09:59 -0500
Subject: Mars and South Polar Cap, Sept 5
Mars under very unsteady skies; however note the bright area
(cloud) on the eastern edge (upper right limb), south of the equator. Very nice
detachment now exhibited in the SPC and some cloud activity throughout
equatorial areas.
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Sat, 6 Sept 2003 08:20:13 -0500
Subject: ASO Mars,
Sept. 6
An image of Mars this morning with very unsteady air due to
passage of cold front dropping temps over 38 degrees in a few hours. A bright
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Sun, 7 Sept 2003 02:36:28 -0500
Fubject:
ASO Mars,
Sept. 7....Polar Cap clouds
A very interesting view of Mars and the SPC, with an
incredibly beautiful green-blue shearing cloud cutting E-W across the south
polar cap; this can be seen clearly in both the RGB and Green image insets.
Note also the high blue clouds on the eastern (fol.) terminator at right.
Poor seeing, but nice detail emerging nonetheless; most of
the SPC is now sublimated with the rift evident from the Mountains of Mitchell;
® . . . . . . . .Date:
Mon, 8 Sept 2003 02:03:01 -0500
Subject: ASO Mars -
Sept. 8, 2003
Mars under very good conditions
and stable air; high haze capping steadiness of image.
Note the very bright northern regions of
Dr Clay SHERROD (
Harvard/MPC
H43 (
Harvard/MPC
H41 (Petit
