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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