Why is Mars So Iffy?
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Why is Mars So Iffy?
Out of a dozen or more observations only 3 were successful. Those 3 observations were spectacular showing dark rust color surface features. I used a 150mm f/ 8 achromatic refractor with a 4" sometimes a 3.5" aperture mask to cut down on the glare.
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Re: Why is Mars So Iffy?
Why is Mars So Iffy?
I think she makes sure that we get the best out of ourselves, either by watching or photographing . :cool:
I think she makes sure that we get the best out of ourselves, either by watching or photographing . :cool:
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Re: Why is Mars So Iffy?
Typically because of our own atmosphere and its propensity to soften views. Also, you have the dust storms that occur on Mars itself, which can obscure details. So between those two factors, it is not unusual to get poor views of its small disk. But as you experienced, there are those few times when things are great and you get the views you are craving. About two or three years ago I got a great view with my ED80, with Syrtis Major and a snow cap quite noticeable. I rarely look at the planets, so I felt fortunate.
Alan
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Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
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"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
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Re: Why is Mars So Iffy?
Had a great view at 80x in the ten inch Dob this past opposition, very small but crisp details were visible including Syrtis and the polar caps along with a semi-horizontal line on the disk. The interesting thing is when I pushed power up to 200 the image was degraded and less features were visible, which I attribute to less than stellar atmospheric conditions. At 36x in the 6" achro the glare was a bit overpowering, so I actually had a better view in the Dob . Nor did I step down the aperture of the achro .
-Michael
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Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
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Re: Why is Mars So Iffy?
It has been pretty good this season, partly due to the opposition and partly to the high declination. Just after opposition there was a dust storm as I recall. Atmospheric effects are worse on planets than stars due simply to their closeness. When they are a low declination it’s best to forget them (below 15 degrees) unless you invest in a ADC for (atmospheric dispersion corrector).
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-ac ... r-adc.html
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-ac ... r-adc.html
Cheers,
Tony.
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Tony.
Smart Scope: Dwarf II - Club and outreach work.
AP Refractor: Altair 72EDF Deluxe F6;1x & 0.8 Flatteners; Antares Versascope 60mm finder. ASIAir Pro.Li battery pack for grab & go.
Celestron AVX Mount; X-cel LX eyepieces & Barlows 2x 3x, ZWO 2” Filter holder,
Cameras: main DSO ASI533MC; DSO guide ASI120MM; Planetary ASI224MC; DSLR Canon EOS100 stock.
Filters: Astronomik IR cut; Optolong L-Pro; Optolong L-Enhance.
Binoculars: Celestron 15 x 70.
Latitude: 52.219853
Longitude: -1.034471
Accuracy: 5 m
Bortle 4 site. https://maps.google.com/?q=52.21985,-1.03447
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