Mars attacks: Opposition 8 April 2014

[Airconvent]

Very tempting description Gavin, makes me want to pull out the ole Nexstar for a session...but laziness prevailed...haha.
Keep it up..Have you been going to Mersing recently?

[lqx]

Nice sketch Canopus, and nice images Gavin!

Happened to be out taking a peek at Mars tonight too...

[starfinder]

Thanks Junwei, Gary, Rich, Qixiang!

Great sketch, Yang Beng. I must develop the skills for sketching too.

Btw, on Sunday night, I saw a large white round patch near the south pole (as seen in Yang Beng's sketch), that was larger and whiter than the North polar cap, and it was not there a week ago. Must be a cloud I suppose?

Rich - I've not been to Mersing this year yet. Hopefully soon!

[Canopus Lim]

Looking at images online, there is a South Polar Cap. However there seems to be a big cloud over it too and that is why appears larger than the northern polar cap. From the observation, the south white portion does not have a distinct line around it unlike the northern polar cap; so I guess it is a cloud. Do correct me if I am wrong.

[starfinder]

Thankfully, the skies on Opposition night today (9 April 2014 for Singapore) were clear.

I observed the Red Planet again with the 12.5" Dob at various high powers.

I also managed to image Mars with the LX-90 8" SCT using an ASI120MC camera and a 2x barlow, at about the same time. Here it is, a stack of 700+ frames using Registax 6, and then contrast and colour adjustments in Photoshop.

Mars.
9 April 2014 1509UTC (11:09pm local time), Opposition day.
Diameter: 15.1" Mag: -1.5
Central meridian: 292 deg.
North is up.

[Gary]

Beautiful! Congrats.

[Canopus Lim]

Nice images

[Canopus Lim]

It has been a fruitful Mars observation

Attached is a sketch on 12 April.
http://postimg.org/image/5lamld74x/

Tonight (25 April) I was able to catch Olympus Mons and three other mountains @ 530x! Awesome view.
http://postimg.org/image/vtppis66d/

[starfinder]

Congrats Yang Beng!

Another feather in the cap for Obby.

[Canopus Lim]

Your scope should have no issues resolving these feature too. Just need the right sky conditions. Anyway, Saturn looks fantastic now with it's glorious rings wide open.