WebCam Images of Mars

Unless noted, all images were captured with my 10" f/6.3 Meade LX200 and
a Philips ToUcam PCVC740K WebCam attached using a Mogg Adapter;
the images were then aligned and stacked with Keith's Image Stacker and
postprocessed (unsharp masking, etc.) in Adobe Photoshop.

09/06/2003 0601 UTC, Home (Grapevine, TX). 5x PowerMate used.
Zenith up. Central Meridian (CM) 337.79°, Diameter 24.63", Phase 99.41%.
Note how the South Polar Cap has shrunk since the images at the bottom of the page.
The Hellas impact basin is to the lower right; Syrtis Major is the dark feature extending
up the right side above it. Sinus Sabaeus is the dark feature crossing the central meridian.
A reference frame from Mars Previewer II is shown on the right.

mars mars

First image with the Tele Vue 5x PowerMate. Seeing wasn't good (3/9).
08/20/2003 0555 UTC, Home (Grapevine, TX). 5x PowerMate used.
Zenith up. Central Meridian (CM) 126.58°, Diameter 24.84", Phase 99.39%.
Mare Sirenum is the to the left and Solis Lacus is to the right.
A reference frame from Mars Previewer II is shown on the right.


08/18/2003 0722 UTC, Home (Grapevine, TX). 2x Barlow used. Zenith up. Central Meridian (CM) 165.52°, Diameter 24.70", Phase 99.17%. Mare Sirenum is the primary dark feature. A reference frame from Mars Previewer II is shown on the right.


My first WebCam image of Mars (not counting the first out-of-focus try). 07/18/2003 0808 UTC, Copper Breaks State Park. 2x Barlow used. Zenith up. Central Meridian (CM) 97.29°, Diameter 19.78", Phase 93.05%. The South Polar Cap is clearly evident, and Solis Lacus, the dark circular feature, is just approaching the CM.


07/18/2003 0812 UTC, Copper Breaks State Park. 2x Barlow used. Zenith up. CM 98.27°, Diameter 19.78", Phase 93.05%. Additional processing was possible with a better stacked image here, making Solis Lacus and other features more clear.


07/18/2003 0923 UTC, Copper Breaks State Park. 2x Barlow used. Zenith up. CM 115.56°, Diameter 19.79", Phase 93.06%. Not as clear an image, but the rotation over the hour from the last picture is evident.


First image with the Tele Vue 5x PowerMate. Seeing wasn't good (3/9). 08/20/2003 0555 UTC, Home (Grapevine, TX). 5x PowerMate used. Zenith up. Central Meridian (CM) 126.58°, Diameter 24.84", Phase 99.39%. Mare Sirenum is the to the left and Solis Lacus is to the right. A reference frame from Mars Previewer II is shown on the right.