Mars April 23rd good seeing

[John Hothersall]

SPX350 F39.1, PGRFlea3, Baader RGB filters

Seeing varied from good to vgood but a breeze bounced the planet around. I just started captures and went for it as seeing looked so good - Mars left the scene a few times in a few sets but only briefly, things steadied and the breeze eventually subsided. Strange how Olympus Mons is not visible in preview until after it crosses the martian meridian then it shines stronger.

I took RGB's back to back with 5 sets and combined the 2 best sets for the final image. I put together a gif of the RGB's and a gif of the red channel.

Mars RGB-1131hrs UT 2 sets
Mars GIF RGB-1107-1145hrs UT
Mars GIF red-1104-1142hrs UT.

Thanks, John.

[Astro_Bot]

Another fine ... no, strike that ... brilliant result.

I notice you seem to image between 9:30 and 10:30pm quite a lot, whereas I'm out later (usually because it takes a l-o-n-g time for my SCT to cool down). I'm wondering whether the seeing (in Bayside suburbs) is best at around that time and gets worse later.

I also noticed that Orion Optics UK feature many of your shots in their gallery as an advertisement for their gear. Now, that's recognition! Well done!

[h0ughy (David)]

such a fantastic mars - brilliant result

[edwardsdj (Doug)]

Absolutely stunning image John!

[Maurice]

They are great images John.

cheers
Maurice

[John Hothersall]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

Another fine ... no, strike that ... brilliant result.

I notice you seem to image between 9:30 and 10:30pm quite a lot, whereas I'm out later (usually because it takes a l-o-n-g time for my SCT to cool down). I'm wondering whether the seeing (in Bayside suburbs) is best at around that time and gets worse later.

I also noticed that Orion Optics UK feature many of your shots in their gallery as an advertisement for their gear. Now, that's recognition! Well done!

I get best results with Mars at 50-65 deg alt then seeing dips and I have to break off for Saturn which I have a fondness for since the storm in 2011. Saturn also dips at 60+ deg alt. So Mars imaging now ends at about 10pm. I must admit I am having a very good April so I should not complain. Good seeing overhead will remain unseen, it may be possible but not so far. We are about 25km from Brisbane in the NW I don't know if that is the cause or just local conditions. I have never had a planet so high before coming from the UK so I have little experience only living here in Au since 2010!

Regards, John.

[Shiraz (Ray)]

Crikey John, nailed that one - Olympus with no clouds and easy to make out the shield and caldrea. wow!

[dutch2 (Ingrid)]

Fantastic shots. Well done.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Absolute beauties!!

Mike

[FranckiM06]

Congratulations for yours images one more time. It is really fantastic result and so nice to see these all details on Mars. The polar icefield is very clear and the limit is very prononced.
I also seen that you do yours shots before midnight but why you don't try after midnight (even if I know the planet would be little low that their location before midnight) because maybe the seing and the turbulence would very very good and quite. I think I ever heard in Europe that the seing is much better late in the night. Anyway, I like so much your new images of Mars.
Franck

[iceman (Mike)]

Brilliant result!

[dvj (John)]

Stunning results. I've never, never, seen that amount of detail visually.

j

[Derek Klepp]

John I really am enjoying your pics his month .What a great run.
cheers Derek