Mars 3rd. Jan.

[asimov (John)]

Once again, terrible seeing conditions *sigh* I must admit my colours are coming out a bit better on mars though, so I'm learning...I'm learning!

Refractor & toucam.

[RB (Andrew)]

Go Johnny Go Go.

Nice one mate, I've given up on Mars now. been to busy.

[h0ughy (David)]

nice shot, there is some detail there. great effort

[davidpretorius]

yes, good detail!!!

i am unsure if i will get any more mars shots. too low over house roofs, by the time my scope cools!

[ving (David)]

good shot asi. just when people are giving up on mars you come along

the sky looks pretty bright, what time was it?

[asimov (John)]

Thanx guys.

I think the time I shot that was 1am Ving....I had to wait until the seeing got better. (seems to be the way it is here lately, the seeing will be 2-4/10 until 1am then it will suddenly 'come good' for a few hours)..The sky looks bright 'cos I played with the blue channel to bring out some more surface details, which sometimes works, sometimes not.

BTW when I say it 'comes good' I mean it might jump a whole 1-2 points YAY!

[Robert_T]

Great stuff asi, still pulling some detail from that tiny little orb!

Yeah! I agree, good to see your still getting some detail in there.

My place must be a bit like your, crappy early and get better after midnight.

regards,CS

[asimov (John)]

Yes Rob (xrekcor) You could just about set your watch to it at present...1AM & bam! the seeing jumps up a notch or two...Weird!

[space lover]

Nice pic asimov


But is Mars really that hard to take a shot of? Everyone seems to be "giving up"

[Dennis]

Hi Asimov

That is a great effort and very pleasing result for a difficult object right now - your tenacity has paid off!

Cheers

Dennis

[Robert_T]

Originally Posted by space lover

Nice pic asimov
But is Mars really that hard to take a shot of? Everyone seems to be "giving up"

Hi spacelover - (hope you don't mind if I answer this one Asi) As each day passes now Mars shrinks more and more as it recedes from us. It's peak size at closest approach back around November 1 2005 was around 20arc sec, whereas by now it has shrunk to just under 10arc sec diameter which means less than one quarter the area and so detail is becoming very hard to image. About 8 arc sec is the smallest you'll see any detail for Mars and it will be below that by Mid Feb. Couple that with the appearance of the "big uns" Saturn and Jupiter in the morning sky and it's understandable that people view mars as well passed it's best and turn to other things.

Don't worry though, I'll (and no doubt Asi and a few others) will be following Mars for a while yet

cheers,

[asimov (John)]

No probs Rob...Took the words right outa my mouth lol.

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Nice shots John.