Subject: Edom Brightening

Dear Masatsugu:
I am pleased to report that after two uneventful nights of observing our team here in the Florida Keys detected significant brightness fluctuations over Edom between 06:40 and 07:30 UT on 7 June, 2001 UTD. Our observing team consisted of Tippy and Patty D'Auria; David Moore; Rick Fienberg, Tom Dobbins, and Gary Seronik of Sky and Telescope Magazine, and me. Instruments included two six-inch Newtonian reflectors and a Meade 12-inch SCT used in conjunction with a monochrome video camera. A perceptible brightening of Edom was noted around 06:35 UT. By 06:40 UT pronounced pulsations in brightness were evident. These events occurred at roughly 10 to15 second intervals, with brightness maxima of approximately 3 seconds duration that could not be attributed to atmospheric turbulence. These dramatic variations in brightness were simultaneously detected by visual observers at the eyepieces of the 6-inch Newtonians and by those viewing the video monitor. It is notable that they could not be seen with an 85mm refractor.

Further details and images extracted from the videotape will be forthcoming in the near future. Meanwhile, I would be grateful if you would alert other observers to the possibility of repeating these observations, as calculations suggest that the optimum Sun-Earth-Mars geometry for specular reflections at Edom will occur on 8 June UT.

Best regards,
Don

Hi All,
We again observed Mars from the Florida Keys this morning (8 June 2001 UTD) from 05:40 UT to 08:36 UT. There appeared to be two peaks in brightening phenomena around Edom. The first was a series of short-lived (3-5 second) brightenings observed both visually and via video between 07:00 and 07:20 UT. Mars' altitude was 35 degrees. These were quite pronounced and were similar in frequency to those of 7 June. The second group of events occurred between 07:53 and 08:24 UT (altitude = 26 degs), when a series of small but frequent brightness variations were detected. In general, the events of this morning displayed the same intensity but less frequency than those of 7 June.

Observers included Dan Troiani, Tippy D'Auria, Scott and Lou Ireland, Carolyn and Mark Peterson, Bob Itzenthaler, and Don Parker. Instruments were a 6-inch f/8 Newtonian for continuous visual observation from 05:51-08:36 UT and a 12-inch Meade SCT used in conjunction with a monochrome video camera, taping from 05:51-08:36 UT. Observational conditions were very favorable, with light ESE wind and high cirrus. Seeing was 8 initially, deteriorating to 4-5 as the planet's altitude fell below 30 degrees. Clouds interfered with observations less than 20% of the time.

We will attempt to make further observations tomorrow morning (9 June UTD), but the areas of interest will not be favorably presented until Mars' altitude is less than 30 degrees.

Best,
Don

Subject: Edom

Hi All,
This morning (9 June 2001) we observed and video taped Mars from the Florida Keys continuously from 07:01-09:15 UT. Edom Pr. exhibited normal brightening as it approached the CM, but no unusual phenomena were detected. This result was confirmed by a phone call from Stephen J. O'Meara who observed Mars from Volcano, Hawaii between 08:14-09:20 UT.

Observers included Tippy and Patty D'Auria, Scott Ireland, Carolyn and Mark Collins-Petersen, and Don Parker. Instruments were a 6-inch f/8 Newtonian for continuous visual observation and a 12-inch Meade SCT used in conjunction with a monochrome video camera.

Observational conditions were very favorable, with light ESE. Seeing was 6 initially, deteriorating to 4-5 as the planet's altitude fell below 30 degrees. However, even during, the last hour of observation (altitude = 29-17 degrees), the planet's surface features were easily discernible both visually and on the video monitor. Clouds interfered with observations more than 50% of the time from 07:01 to 08:00 UT, but after 08:00 clouds presented no problem.

Best regards,
Don