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| | The following images were taken around the 2003 opposition, the closest
one in recorded history. In August 27, 2003 Mars made its closest approach to
Earth in almost 60,000 years.
Otherwise noted, all images were produced with the following setup:
 |
10" LX200GPS Meade |
| Canon Elura 2 MiniDV Camera (720x480@30fps progressive scan) |
| 15mm Super Plossl Eyepiece |
| AVI frames stacked with Registax 2 |
| Final processing with Adobe Photoshop |
 |
Sep 12, 2003
Notice how the polar ice cap shrank since the last picture. It was
summer in the Southern Hemisphere. During this season the Sun shined continuously on the southern polar ice cap, causing the cap to shrink in size.
|
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Sep 12, 2003
The Hellas impact basin is at the top right, near the polar cap.
Also visible Syrtis Major, the "shark-fin" shape right
below the Hellas basin. |
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Aug 24, 2003
Same camera, but on different (much larger) telescope. I recorded this image through Mike Wirth's gigantic 30-inch
Starmaster, from Nirvana.
Unfortunately we couldn't achieve a very good focus due to the small
LCD screen of the camera. Solis Lacus (the "eye of Mars") is visible. |
 |
July 31, 2003
311 out of 2490 frames
Syrtis Major (left limb), the Hellas impact basin (top left) and the
Mare Sirenum (center) are the most prominent features in this image,
together with southern polar ice cap.
A developing dust storm in the Chryse region was also captured on
the far right limb of the image.
|
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July 31, 2003
49 out of 2489 frames
Notice the notch on the polar ice cap. |
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July 29, 2003
First try on Mars. |
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