MarsWatch 1996-1997

Images of Mars from Astronomers Around the World


Linking Amateur and Professional Mars Observing Communities

for Observational Support of the Mars Pathfinder Mission


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24 March 1997


Date (by UT): 3/24/97

Time (UT): 01:50 - 05:00

CM: 301 - 347 deg

Ls:

De: 23.18

Disk Diameter: 14.2"

Seeing: 6.5-7/10

Transparency: clear and cold (-15 C)

Camera: Lynxx PC Plus

Telescope: 10" SCT

FL: 500"

FR: f/50

Exposure Time: 1.1 seconds

Filters: Near IR 800-1100nm, IR Passing/Visible Rejection-Murnaghan Instuments IR83 Filter 0.5 second exposure.

Processing: Calibration (bias, therm, flat) w/ BatchPIX
Unsharp mask w/ BatchPIX
Light sharpen w/Photostyler
Composite w/ Photostyler

Special Note: The first half of these images are soft due to a screw up on my part...trying to photograph the comet and Mars at the same time, not paying attention to detail. There was a physical obstruction in the light path which caused the soft focus. Didn't notice it for 2 hours. Once removed, things got much better. Also, the seeing improved somewhat later in the evening as well. I took approx 1000 images, saved the best 10% for processing, and selected the best 10 for this composite.

Observing Station: Lat. N44d 17', Long. W79d 9'

Observer:
Brian Colville
R.R. # 2
Sunderland, Ontario L0C 1H0
Canada
(705)357-1613
E-mail:
bcolville@brocktown.com


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