Observation by Paul G. Abel: Mars: Large dust storm in progress
Uploaded by
Paul G. Abel
Observer
Paul G. Abel
Observed
2022 Oct 01 - 23:48
Uploaded
2022 Oct 02 - 14:12
Objects
Mars
Equipment
- 305mm Newtonian Reflector, x300
Title
Mars: Large dust storm in progress
About this image
Attached are two observations made of Mars last night and early this morning. Seeing conditions were average, and there was haze and some low cloud at times. At present there is a large regional dust storm on Mars (Richard McKim has posted an alert on the BAA Forums). The western end of the dust storm was clearly visible last night, and with a p[power of x300 on my 12" Newtonian, I noted the following:
- The whole of Argyre I and Camp Phelgraei looked brilliant white. These could be dust clouds with faint orange colouring but my overall impression was that it looked like a pseudo SPC.
- There seems to be a lot of dust in Erythraeum- the whole area seems to look like a vague patchwork of fainter patches except for a the darker Protei Regio and Aurorae Sinus.
- The same is true for Solis Lacus- as can be seen in Drawing 2, there was little in the way of distinctive detail. Instead we have a collection of vague streaks and brighter spots.
- Ophir and Candor were bright, as was Chryse.
- No real sign of Niliacus Lacus, just a vague patch on the prec. limb.
- NPH much less distinctive tonight and I was unable to see the distinctive bluish colour which I have observed on a number of occasions during the current apparition.
At 0131UT, the clouds started to return once more and observing had to be abandoned. It seems that the dust storm is similar to the one of the last apparition and evolving in a similar way. As Richard McKim notes, we are nearing the end of the dust storm season so it is probably unlikely to develop into a global dust storm- but who can say for sure! UK observers should be able to observe the effected regions better over the next few weeks.
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