From Konrad DENNERL
®
. . . . . . .Date: Tue, 11 Nov
2003 18:11:02 +0100
Subject: X-ray observation of Mars on November 20-21
Dear
Masatsugu,
first of all I would
like to congratulate you to the CMO Gallery, which is currently one of my most
favorite Web addresses. It is always a pleasure for me to have a look into this
nice collection of stunning amateur images from all around the world.
I have now finally got time for observing
Mars in X-rays. This time not with the
XMM-Newton will observe Mars soon after its
solar elongation will have decreased to 110 degrees (this happens on Nov 16),
during the following period: *** from Nov 20, 00:07 - Nov 21, 05:04 UT ***
This is a particularly long observation,
which will cover more than a full Mars rotation. Compared to the previous
observation of Mars with Chandra, the upcoming observation with XMM-Newton will
collect more X-ray photons and will have better spectral resolution, but less
spatial resolution. Mars will also be considerable smaller in angular diameter (12
arcsec compared to 20 arcsec
before), so that its disk will probably not be well resolved. The scientific
investigation will more concentrate on the X-ray halo which was indicated in
the Chandra data.
Despite these limitations, it might
nevertheless be good to have some simultaneous optical coverage. Although there
is a good chance that such images will be taken anyway by amateurs around the
world (according to the beautiful CMO Gallery, which contains practically for
every day stunning amateur images), I think that it might be good to inform
amateurs in advance that November 20-21 will be a particularly rewarding time
for taking images of Mars.
I myself will also try to take optical
images, although I have only a 112 mm
Coming back to the X-ray observations, we are
now in a period of enhanced solar activity. This is, on the one hand, a very
interesting situation for X-ray studies of Mars, but, on the other hand, also a
real threat: last week practically all X-ray observations with XMM-Newton had
to be cancelled because of the high radiation. I hope that this will not happen
on November 20-21; I will keep you informed.
Best
wishes,
® . . . . . . Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2003
11:30:01 +0100
Subject: X-ray observation of Mars on November 20-21
Dear
Masatsugu,
the Mars observation
with XMM-Newton is now over. I have just received the information that it was
possible to perform the observation. This was not so obvious before, because
the Sun did indeed become quite active. Last night I could see an auroral display, which is a very unusual event for
I enjoyed the beauty of the aurora, but was
at the same time very worried about the fate of the Mars X-ray observation.
In fact, the XMM-Newton observation
immediately after Mars had to be stopped because of high radiation.
I do not know yet how much the data quality
is affected by the solar activity, but it seems that an X-ray signal from Mars
was successfully detected.
Best
wishes,
®
. . . . . . Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 11:57:13 +0100
Subject: Re: X-ray observation of Mars on November 20
Dear
Masatsugu,
thank you for this
information. It is a pity that the Japanese islands were all covered by clouds
- the meteorological satellite image looks very impressive! Also large parts of
Best
wishes,
On
Friday 21 November 2003 20:34, you wrote:
>
Dear Konrad,
>
>
Congratulations! on the success of the XMM Newton in
your project on
>
20 November in spite of the dangerous Solar activity.
I suppose the
>
results will prove to be much more interesting than
expected because
>
of the thrilling situation.
>
>
Unfortunately we are sorry to inform you that there is no hope to
>
provide you with the ground-based observations from the Japanese
>
side. As shown in a meteorological satellite image
attached, the
>
Japanese islands were all covered by thick clouds on the evening of
>
the 20th day. The clouds over the southern
>
barely to be thin, but I heard from Isao MIYAZAKI,
>
midnight that, though he prepared, the planet Mars did
not appeared,
> (while it was extraordinarily humid with 28 degrees C!).
>
>
Just up until now we received an image from Van Der VELDEN,
>
>
>
Thank you again for your kind information, and we hope we shall look
>
forward to hearing from you about the results of the
XMM Newton
>
observation soon,
>
With best wishes,
>
>
Masatsugu
Konrad DENNERL (München,
Deutchland)
Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische
Physik,
An previous email from Konrad