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Mars 2015-2017 Apparition Highlights as observed from Southern Africa Clyde Foster Astronomical Society of Southern Africa EPSC 2017, Riga, Latvia
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Mars 2015-2017 Apparition
Highlights as observed from Southern Africa
Clyde Foster
Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
EPSC 2017, Riga, Latvia
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
• Centurion Planetary and Lunar Observatory• Co-ords : 25deg S, 27 deg E
• Altitude 1475m AMSL
• Central timezone, -2h from UT
• High percentage clear skies, although some
exposure to Jetstream.
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
• Centurion Planetary and Lunar Observatory• Main equipment
• Celestron 14” Edge HD SCT, installed 28 March 2014
• Xagyl motorised filterwheel
• Baader Filter set, including CH4
• Range of ZWO cameras. Latest ASI290MM
• Firecapture for data acquisition
• PIPP, Autostakkert 3!, Registax wavelets, Winjupos and
Photoshop CC
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
• Standard image Format
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia• Imaged on over 220
days
• Submitted images on just over 200 days.
Conjunction
June 14 20154
Ls 358
Northern Spring Equinox
Ls 0
June 19 2015
+24 deg dec
First observation
September 27 2015
3.9”. Ls 47
Northern summer
solstice Ls 90
January 3 2016
-10 deg dec
Opposition May 22 2016
Ls 156
Northern Autumn
equinox Ls 180
July 5 2016
-21 deg dec
Northern Winter Solstice
Ls 270
November 28 2016
-18 deg dec
Final observation February 2
2017.
5” Ls 311
Northern Spring Equinox
Ls 0.
May 6 2017
+22 deg dec
Conjunction July 26 2017 Ls
39
Mars apparition 2015-2017Timeline overview
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
• Orographic Cloud formations-Tharsis• Clouds were evident over the Tharsis plateau
and volcanoes from Jan 2026
• Clouds were observed through to close to
opposition in May
• “W” cloud formation observed on a number of occasions,
most notably on 16 Mar.
Conjunction
June 14 20154
Ls 358
Northern Spring Equinox Ls 0
June 19 2015
+24 deg dec
First observation
September 27 2015
3.9”. Ls 47
Northern summer solstice Ls 90
January 3 2016
-10 deg dec
Opposition May 22 2016
Ls 156
Northern Autumn equinox Ls 180
July 5 2016
-21 deg dec
Northern Winter Solstice Ls 270
November 28 2016
-18 deg dec
Final observation February 2 2017.
5” Ls 311
Northern Spring Equinox Ls 0.
May 6 2017
+22 deg dec
Conjunction July 26 2017 Ls 39
2 Feb 8 Feb 14 Mar 30 Jan 2016 22 May 2016 18 Apr 16 Mar “W”/Domino cloud formation
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
• Orographic and equatorial Cloud formations
Conjunction
June 14 20154
Ls 358
Northern Spring Equinox Ls 0
June 19 2015
+24 deg dec
First observation
September 27 2015
3.9”. Ls 47
Northern summer solstice Ls 90
January 3 2016
-10 deg dec
Opposition May 22 2016
Ls 156
Northern Autumn equinox Ls 180
July 5 2016
-21 deg dec
Northern Winter Solstice Ls 270
November 28 2016
-18 deg dec
Final observation February 2 2017.
5” Ls 311
Northern Spring Equinox Ls 0.
May 6 2017
+22 deg dec
Conjunction July 26 2017 Ls 39
9 Apr 27 Jan 2016 15 June 2016 13 May
ARABIA24 Mar 2016: Cloud formation persisted over western Arabia during March
ELYSIUM
SYRTIS MAJOR2 May 2016. Numerous observationsof clouds over this region
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
• The Polar Hoods and high latitude weather systems
Conjunction
June 14 20154
Ls 358
Northern Spring Equinox Ls 0
June 19 2015
+24 deg dec
First observation
September 27 2015
3.9”. Ls 47
Northern summer solstice Ls 90
January 3 2016
-10 deg dec
Opposition May 22 2016
Ls 156
Northern Autumn equinox Ls 180
July 5 2016
-21 deg dec
Northern Winter Solstice Ls 270
November 28 2016
-18 deg dec
Final observation February 2 2017.
5” Ls 311
Northern Spring Equinox Ls 0.
May 6 2017
+22 deg dec
Conjunction July 26 2017 Ls 39
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
• Hellas 2016
Conjunction
June 14 20154
Ls 358
Northern Spring Equinox Ls 0
June 19 2015
+24 deg dec
First observation
September 27 2015
3.9”. Ls 47
Northern summer solstice Ls 90
January 3 2016
-10 deg dec
Opposition May 22 2016
Ls 156
Northern Autumn equinox Ls 180
July 5 2016
-21 deg dec
Northern Winter Solstice Ls 270
November 28 2016
-18 deg dec
Final observation February 2 2017.
5” Ls 311
Northern Spring Equinox Ls 0.
May 6 2017
+22 deg dec
Conjunction July 26 2017 Ls 39
5 Apr27 Feb 15 Jun 26 Sep
15 Jan 27 Feb 1 Mar 5 Apr 8 Apr 15 Jul 20 Aug 26 Sep 4 Nov15 June
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
• Dust activity
12 Sep 13 Sep
Credit: John Rogers and referenced observers
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
• Hubble Comparison
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
Schiaparelli landing site
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
• The Road Ahead
• Mars 2017-2019 should be spectacular at 24.3” and -25.8 S latitude(Directly overhead!)
• Continue supporting the Juno mission at Jupiter• Continue monitoring of Saturn, particularly with Cassini end of mission.• Develop:
• Methane band imaging• Expand to the outer planets?• Project specific objectives• Continue interaction with the Pro-Am Planetary community in order to identify best
opportunities to contribute.• Any other suggestions welcome!!
Highlights of the Mars 2015-2017 Mars apparition- EPSC 2017, Riga Latvia
My sincere thanks to Marc delCroix and Europlanet for the invitation.
Thank you to the Planetary Pro-Am community for making the last few years some of the most fascinating and enjoyable of my life. I look forward to it getting better!
THANK YOU
