Director's Report
Director's Reports

Final updating on 24 July 2001  

To Index
  A number of the CMO observers are now on the watch for a further developing of the dust cloud visible from Hesperia to Hellas. Especially a bright dust streak meanders from the northern inlet of Hesperia swirling up to the eastern part of Hellas. A germ of dust was observed faintly to the south of Syrtis Minor on 24 June, and this developed brighter and broader to the south on 25 June and resonated to another dust streak inside Hellas on 26 June. The junction was observed brightened on 27 June. On 28 June another bright germ was observed at the eastern coast of Syrtis Major.

    At present the main island of Japan is suffering from the rainy days, but the rainy season ended in Okinawa, one of the southernmost islands, earlier and they are now enjoying the clear sky and the fine seeing in Okinawa. On 25 June, HIGA and ISHADOH at Naha, Okinawa became aware of a broad faint band starting from the northern inlet of Hesperia to its south. On 26 June KUMAMORI at Sakai, Osaka and MORITA at Hatsuka-ichi, Hiroshima succeeded in shooting by the ccd instruments the dust cloud. The preceding dust streak looked to have a linkage with a dusty area inside Hellas. On 27 June, KUMAMORI, AKUTSU and MORITA produced good images of the region and showed how far the dust prevailed. HIGA also continued to point his telescope to the surface by the use of a Video Camera. ISHADOH also watched the cloud every night and produced several drawings of the dust. We hear also MURAKAMI, ISHBASHI, NAKAGAMI and some others also observed the event. The started season was Ls=184 degrees, and slightly earlier than the case of the occurrence of the so-called great dust storms, and hence it may not so develop further, but may work as a precedent of the coming great dust season. Further Reports shall follow.

(M MINAMI on 28 June 2001)

Index