Mars 2012 Opposition | Rod Pommier

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Photographer:

Rod Pommier

Location of Photo:

Pommier Observatory, Portland, OR, USA

Date/Time of photo:

2012-03-06 through 2012-03-09 on dates and times indicated.

Equipment:

Celestron Compustar C14 Telescope/Mount with Tele Vue 2x Power Mate (f/22) Point Grey Research Flea3 Color Camera Each image, best 300 frames out of 1500 at 24 fps. Seeing conditions were poor (Damian Peach scale), but clear weather in March is rare in Oregon!

Description:

Three images of Mars during the 2012 opposition, despite poor seeing conditions. The left images shows Utopia and Casius point, Syrtis Major (including Huygens crater), Arabia, Sinus Sabaeus , Sinus Meridiani, and Acidalia Planitia. The Hellas basin has cloud cover, and blue haze can be seen on both the eastern and western limbs. The center image shows Syrtis Major on the western limb, Arabia Planitia, Sinus Sabaeus , Sinus Meridiani, and Acidalia Planitia with Achillis Pons, Margaritifer Sinus with Oxia Palus. The right image shows Utopia and Casius point, Syrtis Major Arabia, Sinus Sabaeus , Sinus Meridiani, and Acidalia Planitia. The Hellas basin again has cloud cover.