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anth
Member
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# Posted: 15 Aug 2003 00:46
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Following a great nights observing last night with my telescope i wondered if any other OTF'ers had managed to get a glimpse of Mars?
Mars is a brilliant object as it rises in the east, shortly after sunset. And is unmistakable as a orange starlike object, much much brighter than any other star or planet.
As you may have heard this is the closest approach by the red planet since pre historic times, and we will not see an event like this again in our life times. With an annual meteor shower taking place right now its a great time to get out and look up at night. See mars, see some shooting stars, and a wonderful moon is also on show right now.
Theres 14 days to go before Mars closest approach. So i urge anybody who has a telescope to go and view, or anybody without should go along to a local astronomical society where members will be more than happy to let you observe Mars. Librarys may be helpful for locating your local club.
Above is a typical view of Mars seen through an amatuer telescope. Last night myself and some friends saw a huge polar cap, and the "mare Acidalium" region of Mars showing as a dark area. They were complete novices at observing, ( their first ever look through a telescope) But Mars is so close, so brilliant, and so bright, that they were able to see the surface of another world for the very first time with ease. So can you. 
In addition, please e-mail me if you are a observer of the night sky, or if you've seen Mars. Or you are interested. It would be a great thing to create some sort of OTF astro society. maybe? *LOL* 
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demonvamp
Member
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# Posted: 16 Aug 2003 16:21
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I've been watching mars for a few nights now, and really wish my dad hadn't been forced to mothball his telescope 
Still, it's pretty impressive even through binoculars and with the naked eye. Too bad I can't say the same about the recent meteor encounter. Lying on my back in the garden I saw only about five, which sucks big time. Let's hope for better later in the year (though I won't be lying in the garden in winter) 
Queen of the Universe. 
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tibetan
Member
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# Posted: 19 Aug 2003 16:10
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Yes, I've seen it it's cool.
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seele01
Member
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2003 06:01
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I have a telescope but unfortunately the lenses that do the best job seem to be dirty or something so i get a really small image about 3-4mm from my other lenses. I'm trying to find somewhere to get new lenses or seomthing to clean my current lenses with.
My local Observatory which is usually closed till september due to it being winter opened up for bookings, they start off with a few but demand is so big it is now 20 nights all fully booked so I can't even go see it. Just shows there are lots of people interested i guess.
SEELE 01
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cellblok1138
Member
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2003 07:47
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Here's an email that I received on this, and I am really looking forward to it!! 
MARK AUGUST 27th ON YOUR CALDENDAR MARS WILL APPEAR AS BIG AS THE MOON!
FIRST TIME IN AT LEAST 5,000 YEARS!
Never again in your lifetime will the Red Planet be so spectacular!
This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars, an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the last 5,000 years but it may be as long as 60,000 years.
On August 27, Mars will come within 34,649,589 miles and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of 2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification. Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.
Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August, Mars will rise in the east at 10 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. But by the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach i ts highest point in the sky at 12:30 a.m. That's pretty convenient when it comes to seeing something that no human has seen in recorded history.
So mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.
Share with your friends, children and grandchildren. No one alive today will ever see this again!
Dwayne Hicks
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caligatio
Member
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2003 09:50
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I have been watching it for a lil b it now (going up the sugar loaf on the 27th if it isnt overcast)
I use a 8 inch newtonian reflector and it is amazing, if you havnt had a look yet. make sure you do so
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anth
Member
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2003 15:56
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<!--QuoteBegin--seele01+Aug. 20 2003,06:01--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (seele01 @ Aug. 20 2003,06:01)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->I have a telescope but unfortunately the lenses that do the best job seem to be dirty or something so i get a really small image about 3-4mm from my other lenses. I'm trying to find somewhere to get new lenses or seomthing to clean my current lenses with.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--><br>If you have a local camera shop, i would suggest that you go along there and purchase some cleaning fluid for lenses. a small bottle will last years. As for the poor performance of your eyepieces have you got or used a barlow lense? These can transform your currant eyepiece by making it 3x or more powerful.<br><br>It's great some of you guys have seen mars so far. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.outpost10f.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smi.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo--> As i said before i've seen some prominent detail on the planet last week and this week, and the polar cap is really bright. I saw more detail back in 1999 though, but that was down to avid observing and spending upto 4 hours at the telescope ( big migraine territory! *LOL* ). This time though you can see it all in seconds! It is stunning. If you can get along to a local astronomy society for an evening i really recomend it.<br><br>One thing though. I've been observing for years, and i really do doubt that Mars will be as big as a full moon. It would be great, but i do not want to disapoint anybody. 75x magnification will not see Mars appearing that big. And unfortately mucky polluted air in our atmosphere will not allow anybody on Earth to see mars that big. The magnification required will just magnify the rippling air and all you will see is a shimmering orange blob. Leave the big blown up images to the magnificent Hubble space telescope! *L*<br><br>Mars however is and will be stunning. those with telescopes should use red or orange filters. The difference in the detail is well worth it.<br><br>Happy viewing! <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.outpost10f.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smi.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
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dierna
Member
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2003 17:13
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Have I seen Mars?? of course I've seen Mars! It's right outside my living room window at night! I just need to stand on my porch to see it....
I dun have any binoculars or a telescope but you don't really need any of those to see it....gonna be really cool once it's the size of the moon! I'll definatly be taking pictures of that! Im glad I don't live in a big city....the only lights are the street lights but they're not bright enough that I don't see the stars.
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seele01
Member
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2003 08:06
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Thanks for tip Anth, i'll try them, hopefully that will fix the problem.
I do have a barlow lense but thats is one of the dirty(hopefully dirty and not ruined) lenses and well as the inverting lense to make things look the right way up, thats 1.5x. I'm not sure if it will work with that and the barlow lense and then a 4mm but if it does i'll be happy. I think the maximum of my telescope is somewhere between 300x to 500x. I don't know the model so I can't tell from the book.
Hopefully i will be able to see mars nice and big soon.
Thanks again
SEELE 01
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anth
Member
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2003 00:31
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<!--QuoteBegin--seele01+Aug. 21 2003,08:06--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (seele01 @ Aug. 21 2003,08:06)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->I do have a barlow lense but thats is one of the dirty(hopefully dirty and not ruined) lenses and well as the inverting lense to make things look the right way up, thats 1.5x. I'm not sure if it will work with that and the barlow lense and then a 4mm but if it does i'll be happy. I think the maximum of my telescope is somewhere between 300x to 500x. I don't know the model so I can't tell from the book.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--><br>SEELE: I would say a 4mm eyepiece and a barlow will be more than enough. That will be pushing your telescope to the limits of its capabilities. And giving you maximum magnification...nearly.<br><br>One thing though for you, and anybody really trying to view Mars or anything else at the highest possible magnification. Big is not always best. Big images in your eyepiece will also see any mucky atmosphere magnified. Meaning a messy view. The more you magnify the dimmer the image you will get also. And light, bright images are what astronomers strive for. Thats the reasons we try and get bigger telescopes with bigger mirrors or lenses with more light gathering potential. Brighter images show more detail.<br><br>So...a smaller bright image will reveal much more surface detail on Mars. A good example is many stars easily seen at low magnification will totaly dissapear at high magnification because you are not getting the light to your eye. Inverting attachments which bring things the right way up in astronomical telescopes also rob light, and mean less detail. They are not needed and never used by astronomers.<br><br>The best views of Mars on my telescope so far have been with a 3x Barlow lense and a 25mm eyepiece. Coupled with a red or orange filter ( for darkening and contrasting features ). A blue filter was also good for highlighting clouds.<br><br>It's the holidays, there's a few days left before closest approach. I would really encourage any interested parties to seek out their local astronomy society in the next few days. Possibly via your local library. Don't let the chance of saying "i've seen the surface of another planet!" slip by. The guys at the society's really will be happy to let you see Mars. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.outpost10f.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smi.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo--> <br><br>After reading another post, i'm sorry to say that Mars will not look as big as the full moon. Not at 75x magnification. And not at any magnification that will be useful for observing. To the naked eye it will be a spactacularly bright orange/red star.<br><br>Happy viewing...and clear skies to all! <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.outpost10f.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smi.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
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rbw
Member
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2003 09:28
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*can''t see mars for the clouds and street lights, isn't even sure which way the moon is:(*
Shea *in love with angust and was going to watch mars with him on the 27th but can't now* Macgyver
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cutemacgyver
Member
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2003 09:43
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You can see Mars, Shea
Here:
And here is the moon:
/Angus "in love with Shea" MacGyver
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rbw
Member
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2003 10:08
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YAY!! I can see it!!!
Angus: sweet 
Shea *angus' girl* Macgyver
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anth
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2003 00:57
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It happened! And despite what some said we're still alive! And unfortunately mars was only 100th the size of a full moon. But it was still spectacular, even in the smallest telescopes showing anybody on any budget can do good astronomy.
Distinct markings and the brilliant white polar cap were unmistakable. But high up in Earth orbit the best placed telescope was unhindered by cloudy skies and mucky atmosphere. The Hubble Space Telescope was aimed at Mars yesterday as closest approach came and went. And it captured the best possible Mars images for 60,000 years!
The best, newest, and sharpest Hubble Space Telescope images are shown below. With a link to the full resolution version of each picture underneath.
http://hubblesite.org/db/2003/22/images/a/formats/full_jpg
http://hubblesite.org/db/2003/22/images/g/formats/full_jpg
http://hubblesite.org/db/2003/22/images/d/formats/full_jpg
The newly formed OTF Space Wing would be happy to have any new otf members join our ranks. If you're interested in any aspect of space exploration or astronomy. Contact me via the addy in my doss. Or look out for founder members Demonvamp or Luke Skywalker in the chats.
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seele01
Member
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2003 07:09
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Thanks for thr pics. Unforutnately we have quite a bit of cloud cover at the moment so i won't be seeing it till at the earliest sunday night. Pity, i was looking forward to it.
SEELE 01
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anth
Member
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# Posted: 4 Sep 2003 00:00
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At last the clouds parted over England! Any other time i would have complained about it being hazy or very very bad seeing conditions for telescope viewing...but i was just so pleased to see Mars for the first time since its closest approach.
Below are the results of my telescope viewing last night. Thank god for a roll of selotape and a bit of old toilet roll..(rescued from a gerbil cage ) that was used to mount a digital camera onto my telescope eyepiece in very quick fashion!
These images were gathered just last night. And are the first to be shown from the newly formed otf space wing. Our membership is growing all the time. And if you would like to join look out for Demonvamp or Luke Skywalker in the chats for more info. or e-mail otf_space_wing@yahoo.co.uk
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