LtE in CMO #285

From Nicolas BIVER

® . . . . . . .Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 10:22:32 +0100 (CET)

Subject: Re: Dust in Deucalionis

Dear all Mars Observers,

Monday evening (dec. 15.8 UT) I think I saw what chritophe is reporting: a brighter area South of Sinus Sabaeus extending from Deucalionis to Noachis, close to terminator. I attach here the drawing I made. The development of the dust cloud is also becoming clear on the MGS TES images: http://tes.asu.edu/

Images information:

Left: 9-Dec.-2003 19:45 UT

CML= 16.6 Dia.= 10.2" LS=313.30

25.6-cm Newtonian x507

Seeing 3 to 5 /10 Transparency 9/10

Versailles (France)

Right: 15-Dec.-2003 20:00 UT

CML=321.7 Dia.= 9.7" LS=316.76

25.6-cm Newtonian x507

Seeing 3 to 5 /10 Transparency 9/10

Versailles (France)

Clear Skies,

® . . . . . . .Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2003 20:46:49 +0100 (CET)

Subject: Mars on december 18th 2003

Dear all Mars observers,

I attach here 2 drawings made yesterday evening under fair seeing condition (or at least not too bad): Mare Serpentis seems mostly obscured, but once more the dust seems to spread in this direction at the same speed Mars is rotating the region out of our view from Europe... It is worth keeping an eye on this storm as MarsExpress and Beagle-2 arrive to Mars just in less than 6 days!

Images information:

Left: 18-Dec.-2003 19:27 UT

CML=284.3 Dia.= 9.4" LS=318.46

25.6-cm Newtonian x507

Seeing 4 /10 Transparency 9/10

Versailles (France)

Right: 18-Dec.-2003 20:17 UT

CML=296.4 Dia.= 9.4" LS=318.48

25.6-cm Newtonian x507

Seeing 4 to 5 /10 Transparency 9 to 6/10

Versailles (France)

Regards,