Mars occulted by full Moon 8 Dec 2022
Weather cooperated. Very early morning and very cold!
| Object ID | Mars, Full Moon |
| Details | 2022-12-08 04:54 UT |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian 3x Barlow |
| Camera | ZWO ASI290MC |
| Filters | UV/IR block |
| Exposure(s) | 60fps .ser videos |
| Capture | FireCapture |
| Processing | SER player, ASI3!, Registax, Photoshop |
Mars 2020-12-06
Bright settled dust in Hellas
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-12-06 17:42 UT CM 310° Seeing 4/10 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 4500mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 140s 118 fps video 45% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Drizzle 1.5x |
Mars 2020-12-01
Bright settled dust in Hellas
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-12-01 21:14 UT CM 48° Seeing 3/10 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 4500mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 140s 102 fps video 25% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Drizzle 1.5x |
Mars 2020 updated 2020-12-01
Lots of Mars images clogging up my newsfeed so one image “to rule them all…” to be updated through the apparition.
Dec 01 – Think this is the end of my Mars season. Too small to capture much detail now but it’s been a good one!
Just going to keep updating this throughout the apparition rather than keep putting new images up. Also marked out a few of the more interesting and well known features. I was delighted when I managed to find Olympus Mons although it seems to be brighter this year than in previous apparitions.
Seeing variations make a big difference to detail that can be seen as does my ability to process them. Seeing was much worse later on in the season as Mars receded and got smaller.
General details
250mm f4.8 Newtonian, MPCC
ZWO ASI290MC, IR block
180s SER files, 3 – 50% stacked depending on conditions
100-160 fps
Captured in FireCapture
Processed in AutoStakkert 3, Registax, Photoshop
Mars 2020-11-28
Dust storm is still only just visible in Hellas
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-11-28 19:47 UT CM 40° Seeing 3/10 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 4500mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 118 fps video 40% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Drizzle 1.5x |
Mars 2020-11-27
Dust storm is still only just visible in Hellas
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-11-27 19:51 UT CM 65° Seeing 2/10 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 4500mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 114 fps video 30% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Drizzle 1.5x |
Mars 2020-11-22
Dust storm is still visible but fading and getting smaller.
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-11-21 17:47 UT CM 81.5° Seeing 2/10 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 4500mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 124 fps video 25% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Drizzle 1.5x |
Mars 2020-11-19
Taken during a live stream to the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh members, in some of the worst seeing! Dust storm is more visible at this CM. BAA Mars Mapper 2020 for comparison.
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-11-19 19:29 UT CM 134° Seeing 1/10 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 120s 99 fps video 30% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Drizzle 1.5x |
Mars 2020-11-17
Another quick cloud gap but very strong winds and some of the worst seeing. Still managing to get something out of it. Must be getting better. Showing some form of cloud where marked by an arrow, possibly the local dust storm. Sent to the BAA and got this back from the Mars Director, so maybe:
“Yes, you caught it. Well done, not many in the uk did. Nuttall, myself and you so far.”
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-11-17 21:05 UT CM 176° Seeing 2/10 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 120s 139 fps video 20% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Drizzle 1.5x |
Mars 2020-11-15
Quick gap in the clouds. Lots of processing artefacts. Getting harder to do Mars now as it recedes.
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-11-15 21:42 UT CM 203° Seeing 5/10 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 169 fps video 25% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Drizzle 1.5x |
Mars 2020-10-14
Olympus Mons much clearer now and Arcadia next to it. Just a 10 minute gap in the clouds but rasonably steady.
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-10-14 20:53 UT CM 118° Seeing II |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 113 fps video 10% frames used 1.5x Drizzle |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Drizzle 1.5x |
Mars 2020-10-06
First time for Olympus Mons, visible as a pale patch at 9 o’clock on the limb. Using 1.5x drizzle most of the time now.
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-10-06 20:56 UT CM 192° Seeing III |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 100 fps video 5% frames used 1.5x Drizzle |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Drizzle 1.5x |
Mars 2020-10-04
Quick gap in the clouds – just 2 minutes captured. Barely enough. Using 1.5x drizzle in AutoStakkert for the first time.
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-10-04 22:11 UT CM 224° Seeing III |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 120s 101 fps video 10% frames used 1.5x Drizzle |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Resized 120% |
BAA Mars Mapper shows:
Mars 2020-10-01
Medium good seeing again. Trying out new techniques, less Gamma on recording, lighter touch but there’s more noise now. Still not happy with the results but I suspect I never will be.
Mars images are now being sent to the Mars section of the BAA.
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-10-01 21:51 UT CM 246° Seeing III |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 125 fps video 3% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Resized 120% |
BAA Mars Mapper shows:
Mars 2020-09-29
Decent seeing even when low down but then went to boiling as it got higher. The “peninsula” off the Mare Cimmerium are visible. Sinus Gomer?
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-09-29 21:43 UT CM 262° Seeing II |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 108 fps video 3% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS |
Mars 2020-09-28
Medium good seeing
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-09-28 22:44 UT CM 285° Seeing II |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 120 fps video 3% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Resized 120% |
Over a few hours Mars 2020-09-29 22:44UT (1h 50m), Mars rotates quite lot:
BAA Mars Mapper shows:
Mars 2020-09-17
Jetstream is absent so good seeing
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-09-17 22:46 UT CM 24° Seeing II |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 111 fps video 25% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Resized 120% |
BAA Mars Mapper shows:
Mars 2020-09-15
Jetstream is absent so good seeing
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-09-15 22:49 UT CM 43° Seeing II |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian x3 Barlow 3600mm fl |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 290MC |
| Exposure(s) | 180s 111 fps video 25% frames used |
| Capture | Firecapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert 3, Registax 6, PS Resized 120% |
BAA Mars Mapper shows:
Mars 2020-08-07
Better attempt, still needs to be higher.
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-08-07 01:13 UT Seeing IV |
| Telescope | 250mm f 4.8 Newtonian x2 Barlow |
| Camera | ZWO ASI290MC IR block filter |
| Exposure(s) | 120s SER @95 fps |
| Capture | FireCapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert, Registax |
First Mars of the season
Still too low and small to be sharp but a start
| Object ID | Mars |
| Details | 2020-08-06 23:49 UT Seeing IV |
| Telescope | 250mm f 4.8 Newtonian x2 Barlow |
| Camera | ZWO ASI290MC IR block filter |
| Exposure(s) | 120s SER @95 fps |
| Capture | FireCapture |
| Processing | AutoStakkert, Registax |