All 2003 images taken with a Logitech Quickcam 4000 Pro and the University of North Dakota's 18"
NGT. The first three nights, I used afocal projection (just sticking the thing up to an eyepiece).
I then took the lens off and have been shooting prime focus through an Orion Shorty 2X Barlow. Scroll down for 2005 images.
July 29, 2003
My first images of Mars! I used the University of North Dakota's 18"
NGT stopped down to 6 inches because of bad seeing.
Shot through a 10mm plossl + 2X barlow with and without a red 23A filter.
The images have been resized 2X
August 10, 2003
I finally took the lens off the webcam and tried prime focus. I took pictures with and without a 2X Barlow. I also tried moving the camera back from the Barlow to get a bigger image. None of the images have been resized.
no Barlow
2XBarlow
2X Barlow "projection"
August 13, 2003
Another image with the webcam taken at prime focus on the 18" with a 2X Barlow.
August 17, 2003
I found that I get better images by doubling the exposure time.
These images show a bluish cloud over Arsia Mons as well as Olympus Mons.
The first image was shot at 12:26AM CDT and the second was at 1:14AM CDT.
August 19, 2003
Another image catching Arsia Mons and Olympus Mons
August 26, 2003
Finally, the night of closest approach and it was clear skies!
September 4, 2003
The picture on the left used a 2X barlow like usual while the picture on the right used eyepiece projection and resized 60%
September 5, 2003
Very low transparency so I had to use a longer exposure but the seeing was pretty good.
September 8, 2003
My first image of Mars through my 6" Dobsonian! This was very difficult since it doesn't track.
September 13, 2003
I finally got back out to the observatory (which I just found out doesn't exist?!) to use the 18". The seeing wasn't very good and I found the images look better half size.
October 4, 2003
Over a month since closest approach, Mars is showing a slight gibbous phase. The polar cap has also shrunk.
October 12, 2003
Detail is becoming difficult to pick out. This is about the same face as Sept. 4.
October 1, 2005
Two years later, Mars comes around again. This time, I'm using a TouCam with IR filter and my new 9.25" Celestron. This picture was taken from the Space Studies observatory after a star party.
October 9, 2005
A cloud can be seen on the left side. I combined frames taken at 1:16AM and 1:21AM from my backyard.
October 14, 2005
A windy night cut down on the number of good frames I had to work with. Solus Lacus can still be seen to the right.
October 21,2005
A dust storm appears as a bright spot to the upper right. This is an rrgb image, meaning the red channel was used for luminance. This results in more contrast like you'd get from a red filter on the eyepiece but maintains the natural color. I also used my extender tube from 2 years ago to push the camera away from the Barlow for a larger image.
October 30, 2005
Part of Meridiani is missing! Compare with the images with October 21,2005 and
Sept 4-5, 2003. There is a dust storm in the area that must be masking the dark feature where the Opportunity rover currently resides. Part of the dust storm can be seen as a bright yellow area coming over the right limb above Meridiani. Imaging Mars higher in the sky has certainly resultedin better images.
November 5, 2005
Another night of good seeing. The "gap" between the two bands was visible through the eyepiece even before the scope had cooled down. Catching Mars high in the sky is giving much better video than two years ago.
November 10, 2005
I was spoiled the last two weekends by excellent seeing. I captured Mars at the same height using the same equipment but the seeing was terrible.
November 19, 2005
As soon as I got set up, clouds began coming over the western horizon. I was able to get a couple videos before the Mars was covered. Although not very good, it is still my best shot of Solis Lacus.
