Mars

03:53 23/10/2005 UTC

There has been reports of dust storms in Chryse region in Mars. I've been waiting for opportunity to image this region. Weather reports were not so promising, but today morning I woke up early and noticed to my surprise it was clear outside. Chryse was barely visible in the limb and there is no noticeable brightening. However there is one to the south of the Chryse, in about general region of Argyre I. Maybe the storm is getting broader? This image has almost exactly the same orientation than the one I took few weeks ago [link] . There is definite difference in brightness over the region. It is more prominent in RGB than in IR. Seeing was bad. Clouds rolled in and Sun started getting up while I was waiting for the Chryse to turn toward us. Very interesting...

Camera: Phillips ToUCam Pro II webcam | Telescope: Orion Optics Europa 200mm f6 Newtonian reflector, Televue Powermate 5x | Mount: Orion Skyview Pro, Boxdoerfer PowerFlex MTS-3SLP drive controller | Filters: Baader IR/UV block, Baader IR pass filter | Guiding: - | Exposure: 400(1000) RGB + 494(1500) IR 1/10s f30 | Software: Qastrocam, Registax, GIMP | Location: 60°31'N 26°52'E (Koivula/Kotka,FI) |