Mars 2005

Our last good view of Mars for a long while

Mars Calendar of Events 2005

Date Notes Size “ Magnitude (-) % Illumination

22 Aug Start Observing Window 13.1 -0.8 86%

2 Oct Prime Observing Window 18.1 -1.7 93%

25 Oct Breaks 20” size 20.0 -2.1 99%

29 Oct Mars Closest Approach 20.2 -2.2 99%

7 Nov Mars Opposition 20.2 -2.3 100%

9 Nov Drops 20” size 20.0 -2.2 99%

23 Nov End Prime Observing 18.1 -2.0 99%

21 Dec End Observing Window 13.1 -1.0 94%

Mars will be in Aries for the listed dates

Oct – Dec 2005, Mars on Meridian, 60 degrees above our horizon

This Mars apparition is nearly identical to the Nov 1958

This is our most Favorable view of Mars until 2020

Surface Features:

Mars Southern Hemisphere Displayed: -15 degrees S Most Prominent

Mars South Polar Cap (SPC) will shrink during this apparition

(Mars Seasons: Summer Solstice 16 Aug 2005, Autumn Equinox 21 Jan 2006)

North Polar Cap should grow enough to show?

Surface Feature Visibility: Size: 1” = 200 miles (Nix Olympus = 300 miles or 1.5”)

Filters:

For Mars: Red, Orange Surface Features

Yellow Deserts, Dust Storms

Green Polar Cap, Frosts

Blue, Violet Atmospheric, Clouds, Hazes

Filter Suggestions for Mars:

Small Telescopes < 4” (100m) W85 Salmon, W8 Lt. Yellow

Medium Telescopes 5” – 9” (125mm – 225mm) W21 Orange, W58 Lt. Green

Large Telescopes >10” (250 mm) W23a Lt. Red, W47 Violet

Don’t Forget This Is A Good Time to Work on Your Planetary Observing Certificate:

(Either Basic or Advanced)

Gary T. Nowak