Finally saw mars

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #1 16-05-2005, 09:58 AM

Finally saw mars through my scope this morning. Watched it dance around at 360x Polar cap easily seen, a little bit of darkening on the surface but no idea what features they were. I think I saw Uranus too just off to the side of Mars. Impressive.

Correction I was using a 6.5mm EP making it 222x

ving (David) · #2 16-05-2005, 10:56 AM

good one andrew

have gone hunting for mars yet myself.

I saw uranus last night too

(some one needed to do a uranus joke)

toetoe (Peter) · #3 16-05-2005, 11:45 AM

What would be the best time for viewing Mars ? what time did you view it Andrew.?

iceman (Mike) · #4 16-05-2005, 11:47 AM

Mars is rising at about 1:00am at the moment, so leave it as late as you can before the sun rises. Around 5am is a good time to start, and it's pretty much almost overhead in the north-east.

It's not much to look at yet, but it will get bigger as the months progress.

toetoe (Peter) · #5 16-05-2005, 11:52 AM

Thanks Mike, prob be another fuzz ball to me tho, but i am gunna have a ganda anyway.

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #6 16-05-2005, 12:08 PM

I saw it at 4:30am then 5am then 5:30am, each time going back After having a look around. Although it took me about 10 minutes to move the dome around, boy it's loud at that time of morning lol.

ving (David) · #7 16-05-2005, 12:55 PM

is that because of its oval shape?
put some rubber tread on the wheels maybe?

toetoe (Peter) · #8 16-05-2005, 01:04 PM

Any noticable diff during the hour spread of viewing? i was just wondering if the closer to sunrise was better or not for viewing. I hope your neighbours are heavy sleepers.

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #9 16-05-2005, 02:22 PM

It looked washed out to me, barely noticable as a planet, but the polar region stood out. Don't know wether it was the scope not cooled enough or heat radiating off the dome (unlikely)

fringe_dweller · #10 16-05-2005, 03:16 PM

The seeing hasnt been good for ages, maybe 4-6 weeks IMO - was trying to image jupiter all week - just wasnt good enough, to much moisture in the upper atmosphere with those little troughs around despite the nice big fat High. And to warm during the day - bring on those freezing winter nights with little variation between daytime and night time temperatures.
Fringey

rumples riot · #11 17-05-2005, 08:27 PM

Maybe I should get up early and take some images, anyone interested if I were to do this? Can't promise anything impressive but if there were a lot of interest I might force myself to get up.

As usual it all depends on the weather.

slice of heaven · #12 17-05-2005, 08:37 PM

Love to see some pics RR
I'm too close to the river and mornings are too hazy for me .

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #13 17-05-2005, 09:16 PM

Looking outside right now, doesn't look good till near the end of the week. Then more cloud. Okay who got a new toy and isn't saying anything, come on speak up.

rumples riot · #14 17-05-2005, 09:51 PM

Andrew tomorrow night should be ok, the cloud bank that is over us at the moment should be gone by late tomorrow afternoon. In fact they are predicting good conditions up until Friday night.

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #15 17-05-2005, 09:56 PM

See I chase storms and don't even look at the weather hehehehe.

gaa_ian (Ian) · #16 18-05-2005, 11:29 PM

Good on you astroman
Glad to see someone saw Urunus when it was at it's closest point to Mars on the 15th, less than 1 Deg apart that morning.
I was too hung over on Sun morning for a 4 am rise

It's about 3deg apart tomorrow morning.