LtE in CMO #277

From P Clay SHERROD



® . . . . . . . .Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 03:17:23 -0500

Subject: ASO Mars, reddish cloud features Aug. 10

 

Please find attached our only image of Mars from Aug. 10 as clouds moved in; note the reddish cloud features that appear in the Zephyria region and northward into the Elysium plains.  Also possible yellow dust clouds developing again within Mare Tyrrhenum.

 

® . . . . . . . .Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 03:41:49 -0500

Subject: ASO Mars/reddish clouds, August 11

 

Mars on Aug. 11 prior to heavy clouds; very nice detail including more of the reddish clouds in the Zephyria regions and northward.

 

® . . . . . . . .Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 04:44:51 -0500

Subject: Mars, Aug. 12 - Increasing NP hood

 

Three images of Mars from this morning; not particularly good seeing with fog, but some very nice detail emerging, particularly in the 0727 UT image. The north polar hood is becoming dramatically brighter and increasing in coverage, just within the past few days.

 

® . . . . . . . Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 03:58:28 -0500

Subject: ASO Mars on 14 August, Olympus Mons, terminator clouds

 

A rather interesting image tonight through very dense fog; the RED image (B & W) shows the towering Olympus Mons on visible against the dark western terminator, clearly protruding upward against darkness. In addition, note on the full color image the bright blue-white clouds on the western terminator.

 

® . . . . . . . .Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 3:07 PM

Subject: ALERT: Very bright Tharsis region cloud

 

A very bright and fairly large cloud is centered near Long. 138 deg., Lat. 90 degrees this morning.  We have imaged this cloud very well and will distribute this shortly; however, any observers at locations where this can be imaged at this time, should attempt to do so; at present it is far west of the CM so time will be short.  The cloud seems to be associated with the Phoenicis Lacus feature and is quite irregular in shape.  Color is blue-white.

 

® . . . . . . . Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 02:59:25 -0500

Subject: Bright blue cloud over Tharsis

 

A very bright and beautiful blue cloud(s) has appeared over the Tharsis region, notably at about the location of the feature Phoenicis Lacus; it is shown very well as the bluish feature in the attached ASO image taken this morning (August 15, 05:27 UT).  Note the pronounced brightness of this feature in BLUE light (left), compared to its relatively obscure nature in RED (center).

 

® . . . . . . . Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 03:18:10 -0500

Subject: Mars, August 15, Blue clouds, excellent seeing

 

Perhaps our steadiest image yet, showing the nice bright blue cloud over the western terminator and the Tharsis volcanoes quite well.

 

® . . . . . . . Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 04:28:20 -0500

Subject: ASO - Mars under steady skies, Aug. 15

 

Two more images from this morning (Aug. 15) under very steady skies showing some very fine low contrast detail and cloud features .....

 

® . . . . . . . Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 02:37:33 -0500

Subject: ASO, August 16 - cloud over Araxes

 

Two images from this morning, with the later of the two being packed with nice low contrast detail; the bright blue cloud over Araxes continues and NOTE the low white/blue clouds hovering just south of the north polar hood, perhaps breakaway clouds from the polar haze.

 

 

® . . . . . . . Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 03:57:34 -0500

Subject: ASO Mars, final image, Aug. 16

 

Our final Mars for August 16 with seeing conditions deteriorating; nonetheless much nice low contrast detail visible in the northern hemisphere as well as throughout the dark southern Maria....

 

 

® . . . . . . . Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 08:45:54 -0500

Subject: Mars headlines - circa 1900

 

This should make us all appreciate this current apparition just a bit more!

Enjoy!

 

® . . . . . . . Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 03:16:57 -0500

Subject: Mars and Bright Cloud, Aug. 18

 

Fairly poor conditions tonight with unsteady air; nonetheless our bright cloud continues in intensity and appears to be encompassing volcanic peaks (05:28 UT image) perhaps at their base perimeters.  Seen more obliquely (latter two images) the cloud can definitely be seen to have a northward and slightly westward skew from shearing.

 

 

® . . . . . . . Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 11:53:09 -0500

Subject: Re: mars image 20th August 2003

 

Absolutely beautiful....I think that we are now seeing what little residual water ice that is left on the SPC in this and others' images.  The sudden demarcation of these SPC features suggests that the temperatures reached upon Mars approach to the sun have now sublimated most of the carbon dioxide ice;  this is also supported by the fact that there is a considerable veil of blue haze over the south cap, seen along terminators in the southern hemisphere and above the north polar hood....

 

These blue haze areas very likely can be water moisture that is now beginning to slowly evaporate from the exposure to solar radiation, hitherto blocked from the dry ice capping.  Images from many people are now beginning to show considerable high level blue clouds and lower cloud development throughout mountainous regions.

 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Tan Wei Leong" <webmaster@tasos.org.sg>

Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:20 AM

Subject: mars image 20th August 2003

 

> Dear everyone,

>

> Attached is my mars images from 20th August 2003, this is my first mars

> image since my US trip. The skies had been cloudy and it finally cleared

up.

>

> Wei Leong

>

 

® . . . . . . . Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2003 03:28:03 -0500

Subject: ASO Mars on 23 August / Solis Lacus in steady skies

 

Mars (August 23), two images taken about one hour apart, showing the Solis Lacus region.  Very steady seeing with incoming lightening and thunderstorms;  note inset in special enhanced green imagery, showing considerable terrain below the thinning polar South Polar Cap (SPC); small cloud in round Solis Lacus maria has now moved slightly eastward (toward fol. limb) since previous day. Very vague and small cloud over Mare Sirenum is still seen and appears to be stationary.

 

®. . . . . . . . .Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2003 03:09:54 -0500

Subject: ASO Mars, August 24

 

Mars in fairly steady skies and very heavy air, for a brief moment before thick clouds. Note the re-emergence of some detail within the North Polar Region/NP Hood. There is a distinct location of intense luminescence, perhaps the re-emergence of the northern cap as Mars' northern hemisphere approaches winter. Some very small clouds within the northern regions of Solis Lacus, these being the only features to be revealed in the blue light image. Some very thin high blue clouds are revealed on the Pr. terminator (left)

 

For those not having an image attached, they can be found for this and any date by going to the ASO homepage

http://www.arksky.org/

and clicking on "Planetary Patrol" and accessing any date (always remember to enter UT dates!).

 

A direct link to this page and image is found at (careful on the line wrap!!)

http://www.arksky.org/cgi-bin/asoimglog.pl?selobject=Mars&selmonthb=8&seldayb=24&selyearb=2003&selmonthe=8&seldaye=24&selyeare=2003

 


Dr Clay SHERROD (Arkansas Sky Observatory, AR, USA)

10 Observatory Hill Drive, Petit Jean

Harvard/MPC H43 (Conway)

Harvard/MPC H41 (Petit Jean Mountain)

drclay@arksky.org 


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