A Stupid noob Mars question

Dennis79 (Keith) · #1 19-01-2010, 05:59 PM

Hi Guys,

I have just started my first attempts at viewing Mars but have only been able to stay awake long enough to catch it very low on the horizon. Last time there were atmosphere problems as the red disk was dancing around like a flame.

When I finally stay up late enough to catch it higher in the sky, I was wondering what I can expect to see with my 10 inch? Would I be able to see the polar caps?

multiweb (Marc) · #2 19-01-2010, 06:14 PM

I reckon you'd need a barlow to see any disc really. Jupiter is fairly small in my C11 at prime focus and it's way bigger than Mars, even in apparent diameter I'd assume?

Greenswale (Wren) · #3 19-01-2010, 07:28 PM

I had a look at Mars with my 8" and Pentax 7mm on Saturday morning. Seeing was ordinary, and I had to wait for belts of fog to pass through my observing position..... Mars was about 30° from zenith.

On occasion, reasonable seeing occurred for a couple of seconds. Ice cap and dark bits were quite obvious, all against that red background. I was pretty chuffed with the result, considering a lot of opinion that not much would be seen! I spent about an hour taking it all in.

Set your alarm for 3.00am and hope for clear skies!! It is certainly worth the effort.

astro744 · #4 19-01-2010, 07:34 PM

This Mars opposition you need about 200x to get a descent view and image size but seeing will also determine what you see. The polar caps are generally not difficult but they are seasonal and as one cap shrinks the other grows but at mid season both can be small. The north polar cap is quite visible at the moment. Best for Mars tomorrow morning is between 1am and 4am.

Mars will be almost double its current size in three oppositions from now (mid 2018).

Stuart78 (Stuart) · #5 21-01-2010, 11:09 AM

Hi there, i was able to view mars at around 12am 2 nights ago with my 10" GSO Dob using my 2x ED Barlow and 15mm GSO EP, i could clearly see the icecaps and some darker areas of detail i was quite impressed with what i could see considering i live next to the freeway with lots of skyglow from lights, definatly worth a look through your 10" Dob mate.

Stu>>

Dennis79 (Keith) · #6 21-01-2010, 03:01 PM

So it's a bit of a mixed bag, maybe, maybe not that I'll spot the polar caps, I hope I do. Sounds like the best bet is to stay up late, well I'm off to my local observatory on Friday night so hopefully the weather stays good. The observatory has 14 inch scopes so I should be able to see the caps through those if mine is not good enough.

Marc I can make out the cloud belts on Jupiter and can get Mars to a disc near the horizon.

bkm2304 (Richard Brown) · #7 21-01-2010, 03:35 PM

[QUOTE=Dennis79;548646]Hi Guys,
Last time there were atmosphere problems as the red disk was dancing around like a flame.
QUOTE]

Hi Dennis,

Two nights ago I had a peak at Mars through the old 22", and Mars looked more like a wil - o - the - wisp than a planet. Red flame is a good description. For a real idea of the turbulence in the air, defocus your scope until the disk of Mars is really big and faint and watch the oceans of air boil away! Objects so low in the sky will always present a "viewing challenge" but what makes it all worthwhile is the second or two when things go still and the view is amazing. Your 10" with a barlow should hammer it when it comes to seeing the polar caps and a bit of mottling, especially at the moment when the Northern cap is prominent.

Richard

Dennis79 (Keith) · #8 25-01-2010, 10:22 AM

Yay, it was good viewing last night.

My 10 inch easily shows the dark markings on Mars and the polar caps, I was a very happy fella last night.

My mates 6 inch was also able to see the dark markings and if you looked carefully, you could also make out the polar caps.

As an extra bonus, when we finished looking at Mars at various magnifications, we realised Saturn was up and got some great views of it as well.

It was a great night.

Liz · #9 25-01-2010, 10:44 AM

Great to hear Keith!!
Mars is at opposition on January 30th, when it will be about 99 million km from Earth. After opposition it will start getting smaller again, as it moves away from Earth.
Make the most of the next week

http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/...Observatory%29

supernova1965 (Warren) · #10 25-01-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz

Great to hear Keith!!
Mars is at opposition on January 30th, when it will be about 99 million km from Earth. After opposition it will start getting smaller again, as it moves away from Earth.
Make the most of the next week

http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/...Observatory%29

Yeah we need to live through others if we are to see mars with all this rain don't we Liz

Liz · #11 25-01-2010, 11:45 AM

Absolutely Warren .... my NEW scope is still unused due to cloud/rain!!!
Certainly very sqally and damp at the moment, and you guys have had more rain than us at this stage.

Would like to see Mars before it fades away to a tiny disc again