v.130 uploaded 24th January 2010
Sharnbrook Observatory
Welcome to my web site! This upload includes further images of Mars as it approaches opposition.
All the images on my site are my own, obtained with relatively modest telescopes, cameras and filters.
As ever, I hope this encourages you to get out there and enjoy the treasures of our universe at first hand.
Best Wishes,
Peter Garbett
Galleries...
Mars
Mars approaches opposition
17.1.10
Orographic clouds of the Tharsis volcanoes.
Apparent angular diameter = 13.87"; Phase = 99.2%; altitude = 50 deg.; C.M. long. = 133.8 deg.
Seeing 6/10. Transparency good.
RGB (R =23:17:30UT; G= 23:27UT: B =23:22UT)
C14 @ F45; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
Separate R,G,B channels.
4.1.10
Syrtis Major near centre, clouds to its left and Sinus Sabaeus to its right.
Apparent angular diameter = 12.93"; Phase = 96.9%; altitude = 55 deg.; C.M. long. = 290.6 deg.
Seeing 6/10. Transparency good.
RGB (R = 01:36UT; G= 01:43UT: B =01:39:30UT)
C14 @ F45; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
Separate R,G,B channels.
4.1.10
Syrtis Major near centre, clouds to its left and Sinus Sabaeus to its right.
Apparent angular diameter = 12.93"; Phase = 96.9%; altitude = 54 deg.; C.M. long. = 287.4 deg.
Seeing 6/10. Transparency good.
RGB (R = 01:17UT; G= 01:25UT: B =01:21UT)
C14 @ F45; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
Separate R,G,B channels.
4.1.10
Syrtis Major near centre, clouds to its left.
Apparent angular diameter = 12.93"; Phase = 96.9%; altitude = 50 deg.; C.M. long. = 277.1 deg.
Seeing 4-5/10. Transparency good.
RGB (R = 00:38:30UT; G= 00:46UT: B =00:42:30UT)
C14 @ F45; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
Separate R,G,B channels.
4.1.10
Syrtis Major near centre.
Apparent angular diameter = 12.93"; Phase = 96.9%; altitude = 46 deg.; C.M. long. = 268.2 deg.
Seeing 4-5/10. Transparency good.
RGB (R = 00:02UT; G= 00:06UT: B =00:09:30UT)
C14 @ F45; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
Separate R,G,B channels.
1.1.10
Syrtis Major to left of centre and Sinus Sabaeus upper right.
Apparent angular diameter = 12.67"; Phase = 96.3%; altitude = 49 deg.; C.M. long. = 305.2 deg.
Seeing 3/10. Transparency good, but clouds interfering and a nagging breeze.
R[G]B (R = 00:46UT; B= 00:50UT)
C14 @ F39; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
16.12.09
Solis Lacus towards upper left. North Polar Cap still substantial.
Apparent angular diameter = 11.19"; Phase = 93.2%; altitude = 39 deg.; C.M. long. = 88.4 deg.
Seeing 5/10. Transparency and seeing deteriorating.
RRGB (R = 00:41UT; G = 00:47UT; B= 00:44UT)
C14 @ F45; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
Separate R,G,B channels.
16.12.09
Dark band of Mare Sirenum near top.
Apparent angular diameter = 11.19"; Phase = 93.2%; altitude = 52 deg.; C.M. long. = 115.7 deg.
Seeing 4/10 or worse. Transparency mediocre/variable.
RRGB (IR = 02:33UT; G = 02:43UT; B= 02:38UT)
C14 @ F45; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Astronomik IR 742nm filter, Trutek G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
The above sequence concentrate on clouds/hazes. These were a challenge to image due to terrestrial
fog/cloud! From left to right: 00:44UT Blue; 00:48UT Green; 01:09UT Blue; 02:22UT Blue. The last one
shows orographic clouds of the tharsis volcanoes.
29.10.09
Syrtis Major 'V' shaped feature nicely on show. Very faint equatorial cloud band?
Apparent angular diameter = 7.77"; Phase = 88.6%; altitude = 58 deg.; C.M. long. = 263.5 deg.
Seeing good. Transparency quite poor with mist/fog.
RGB (R = 06:28UT; G = 06:28UT; B= 06:26UT)
C14 @ F45; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
29.10.09
Faint equatorial cloud band (?) visible just above centre cutting into 'V' of Syrtis Major.
Apparent angular diameter = 7.77"; Phase = 88.6%; altitude = 58 deg.; C.M. long. = 257 deg.
Seeing good. Transparency quite poor with mist/fog.
RGB (R = 06:04UT; G = 05:57UT; B= 05:59UT)
C14 @ F39; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
29.10.09
This was the version featured on SpaceWeather.com
Apparent angular diameter = 7.77"; Phase = 88.6%; altitude = 58 deg.; C.M. long. = 257 deg.
Seeing good. Transparency quite poor with mist/fog.
RGB (R = 06:04UT; G = 05:57UT; B= 05:59UT)
C14 @ F39; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters, Baader UV/IR rejection filter
Separate R, G, B channels.Here is an alternative version of one of the images above, reflected horizontally. To my eyes and brain it makes the
image more striking, showing clearly the strong tilt of the north pole (bottom of image) towards the Earth, and the
gibbous phase.
Alternative processing from left to right: pure RGB, R(65%)RGB and RRGB........
Separate R, G and B channels.Saturn returns to the pre-dawn skies
21.12.09
Colourful belts and zones. Rings dim.
Apparent angular diameter = 17.4"; altitude = 38 deg.
Seeing 4/10 and worse. Transparency very variable with
cloud interfering.
R(95%)RGB 06:22UT - 07:12UT)
C14@F27; SKYnyx 2-0M CCD; Trutek R,G,B filters; Baader UV/IR rejection filter
Same image rotated. This to my eye-brain combination
makes the oblate shape of Saturn more apparent and the
belts stand out more too.
Christmas day moon
Sunrise over Clavius
25.12.09 18:37 - 19:04 UT
C14 @ F26; SKYnyx 2-0M; Trutek R; Baader UV/IR rejection.
Eratosthenes
25.12.09 19:09 - 19:20 UT
C14 @ F26; SKYnyx 2-0M; Trutek R; Baader UV/IR rejection.
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Established October 2000. Copyright: P.J.Garbett