Mars 2020
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These images were taken with a C14 XLT on an AP900GTO mount. I used a QHY290M camera. A Starlight Xpress USB filter wheel was used to produce an RGB image. I used an Astrophysics Advanced Barcon (starting April 23) working at 3X. To capture I used FireCapture 2.5. For processing, I use AutoStakkert and Registax V5 .
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| October 22, 2020
I had a crazy
session. The sky alternated from clear to totally
overcast in minutes! I was fortunate to get a
short clearing for these images. Seeing was
average and transparency was variable.
These images are similar to the one I took yesterday. Syrtis Major is prominent. The Huygens crater can clearly be seen. There are morning clouds at SInus Meridiani. The shape of the north polar hood is different from that you yesterday.
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| October 21, 2020
Seeing was average
today but transparency was poor due to clouds and haze.
These images shows Syrtis Major. The rim of Huygens crater is distinct. The Hellas basin is clear this season. Sinus Sabeaus can be seen on the left. I was also able to capture Phobos and Deimos which helped in derotating the images I took.
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| October 18, 2020
Weather here had been
horrible due to a series of tropical cyclones that were
close by. It was cloudy most of today. When I started
imaging, seeing was very unstable. In fact it started to
drizzle despite the fact that the sky was CLEAR
overhead. Yes I can see stars overhead! When the
drizzling stop seeing became very stable. These are some
of my best images this season.
Sinus Sabeaus and Sinus Meridiani is the highlight of this region. Syrtis Major can be seen setting on the right while the Chryse region is rising on the left. After I finished processing my first run, I went out to check the sky and it was clear! Because of the weather here, I missed imaging the region of Mare Erythraeum and Chryse so I went ahead and started another run. Seeing was only 8/10 so not as good as the seeing earlier. But a lot of details are resolved and I'm happy with the result.
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| October 10, 2020
Weather had been horrible here due to a lingering low pressure area that refused to leave! I was no sure I could image today because the sky was just totally overcast! I had an opening for a few minutes but transparency was low due to thing clouds. There was also the threat of rain!
Solis Lacus takes center stage on this image. Mare Erythraeum and the Chryse can be seen to the right. On the upper left at the 10 o clock position one can see a bright spot which is Olympus Mons.
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| September 30, 2020
Seeing was average tonight but transparency was poor.
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| September 29, 2020
I had a decent night to image Mars. The past days had been very cloudy. Seeing was good but transparency was bad due to haze and clouds.
Mare Sirenum is prominent on these images. Sinus Gomer can be seen setting on the far left. Olympus Mons can be seen on the upper right as a bright patch on Tharsis. Clouds can be seen over Mons Arsea.
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| September 25, 2020
Here is my first image of Mars since last May! I was only able to capture one set of RGB before the clouds rolled in . Seeing was variable.
This image shows Mare Cimmerium and Sinus Gomer.
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| May 9, 2020
Seeing was average today.
These images show the Mare Cimmerium and Mare Sirenum Region. Elysium is on the upper left. Amazonis is bright in IR.
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| May 5, 2020
Seeing was excellent this morning.
Sinus Gomer is very well resolved. Note the dust could over Hellas. The dust spilling over from Mare Hadriacum to Hesperia can still be seen. The giant volcano Elysium Mons is resolved on this image. It is the dark dot on the upper part at the CM.
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| May 4, 2020
Seeing was good. Mars is now 7.8".
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| April 26, 2020
Seeing was good today. Here are images of Mars showing Sinus Sabaeus on the left and Syrtis Major on the right. There seems to be a very dark patch over Syrtis Major. Note the white clouds over Hellas. Is this frost or cloud?
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| April 22, 2020
Seeing was good today.. These images shows
Sinus Meridiani and Sinus Sabaeus. Note that Edom Promontorium is bright in IR.
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| April 16, 2020
Mars was a bit challenging to image
because it is very low in the sky and seeing was very unstable.
The image below shows the region of Mare Erythraeum and Chryse. Note the bright streak cloud towards Valles Marinaris. Is this a localized dust storm?
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| April 14, 2020
I had to image Mars a few minutes before sunrise. Seeing was variable. Solis Lacus is prominent at the CM. Chryse and Mare Erythraeum is setting on the right.
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| April 9, 2020
I was already starting to image Saturn
this morning when clouds suddenly rolled in. I switch to Mars instead.
Transparency was variable and this resulted in the overexposed polar cap.
This image shows the Three Giant Tharsis Shield Volcanoes of Mars. These are Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons and Arsia Mons. These are the three faint dark spots forming a diagonal line. Olympus Mons can vaguely be resolved.
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| April 4, 2020
Seeing was good today. Mare Cimmerium can be seen. Elysium can be seen on the upper left while there is a hint of Olympus Mons on the upper right.
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| March 29, 2020
Here is my first image of Mars for this season. This image shows Mare Cimmerium and a hint of Sinus Gomer. Syrtis Major is rising on the left. Mars is only 6.2 arc seconds!
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© Christopher Go 2020
