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Phobos and Diemos Observed
See http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html for updated tips and
insights into observing the moons of Mars (follow the "Focus On..." link). Now is the time! The story of my recent successes: On the night of August 19/20 I hauled out my ancient 6-inch Newt. because the weather had been so variable in the evening I'd been afraid it would rain on my large scope. Now, with the exception of the ability to track, this scope is definitely not a good choice for detecting the moons of mars! The mirror needs recoating, it's filthy, and I've never really properly collimated it (no center dot). It's just not my main scope anymore. Nevertheless, I think I may have spotted Deimos. I put a lot of effort into it, spending a total of about two hours at the eyepiece. I knew exactly where Deimos was supposed to be from my software and I was able to spot an 11th magnitude star that lay about 5' away from the planet; still in the glare but well away for the brightest portions. Being able to see the star really helped build my confidence as well as keep me oriented. I could also compare its visibility in different eyepieces and at different magnifications. The first time it happened I was using my 8mm Radian (200x). I had Mars just out of view to the right. The location of Deimos was half way between the spikes from the secondary spider (for a change). Believe it or not I like the spikes because they give me an idea of my orientation and how far mars is off the edge of the eyepiece... I could see the 11th mag star clearly to the SW and then, all of a sudden, a tiny speck of light appeared next to mars right at the proper location. I had just time enough to get off an expletive, and feel a huge surge of excitement, and then it was gone. A bit later I glimpsed something again in the same spot, but I could not hold it visible. I got a few more glimpses in other eyepieces but I was never able to hold it for more than a second--not long enough to really be certain. If I really did see it then I guess it is pretty fitting that it happened first in the old scope. That afternoon I read a message from Russ Lederman describing his view of Phobos and Deimos in his 20 inch where he saw both moons without all that much difficulty and with Mars in full view. That was a confidence builder. On the next night (August 20/21) the weather pattern changed. It looked like a little high pressure area--of all things--had built around my location during the late afternoon. With much better weather I was confident enough to bring out "Skyhound" (my 18-inch) at dusk. I collimated it, started the fan, then went indoors and carefully cleaned my eyepieces. I knew mars would first rise above the trees just before midnight. No deep sky observing this night; I had other things on my mind: two of them. I didn't fool around, putting in what has become my "goto" eyepiece: my 8mm Radian. Compared to the previous night's view in the 6-inch I was at first overwhelmed by the brightness of Mars and all the scattered light surrounding it. I remember thinking something to the effect that there was no way I'd be able to make out two faint specks in all that muck. Phobos was nearing elongation so I concentrated on the eastern side of the planet, about one Mars diameter away from the edge of the disk. Nothing. I took a deep breath and decided to enjoy Mars itself for awhile. The seeing suddenly improved and I tried to tease more detail out of the southern features. In all of this I only slowly realized that I was seeing a tiny speck of light to the east of the planet. I turned my attention to it and it disappeared. Moving my eye up and away a bit it came back into view and I was able to hold it plainly visible. Phobos! I let out the customary "Oh... my... god!" and felt the strain on the skin around my eye from the big grin I was wearing. It was sort of an emotional moment--a huge wave of serene satisfaction. Back at the eyepiece I found Phobos to be an easy spot; every time I looked, there it was shining away. I tracked down Deimos way off to the west of the planet. I found it the more difficult of the two, mostly because it was way out there in no man's land where there were few guideposts to get to it. Comparatively, Phobos was just right there off the equator of the planet. Phobos gave the appearance of a larger, more turbulent dot, powering through the bright glare, while Deimos appeared more as a tiny faint speck lost in a sea of haze. I soon came to the point where I could spot each moon easily, requiring only a short eye movement between the two. They were too far apart to see simultaneously, but after a while I had the same impression one would have observing Saturn--there are those pesky moons, always hanging about. Remarkable after all these years of trying to see them. I thought of my "observing the moons of mars" web page and suddenly realized that I had an opportunity to do some experimentation that could possibly help others looking to see these two illusive objects. I tried many things: different eyepieces, Barlow, occulting bar, Mars off the edge, etc. I have updated my page with this and other insights I have gleamed from the experience. Don't think this is for 18-inch scopes only! I would not be surprised if Deimos could be glimpsed in a 4-inch under just the right conditions. I expect our Ron B[ee] to announce any time that his "Light Cup tasted Deimos". ;-) It's now or never, no matter the size of your scope! My page: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html (follow the "Focus On..." link) Good luck, Greg -- Greg Crinklaw Astronomical Software Developer Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m) SkyTools Software for the Observer: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html Skyhound Observing Pages: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html |
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Phobos and Diemos Observed
In article ,
Greg Crinklaw wrote: See http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html for updated tips and insights into observing the moons of Mars (follow the "Focus On..." link). Now is the time! The story of my recent successes: SNIP_ Nicely done, Greg. I share your excitement. I also spotted Deimos the other night with a 6" refractor, when Mars was culminating and the atmosphere cooperating. Unfortunately, although my scope may have been up to the task, Phobos was nowhere near elongation at the time. I still have hopes of spotting them both before this apparition is over. Starry Skies, Rich |
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Phobos and Diemos Observed
In article ,
Greg Crinklaw wrote: See http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html for updated tips and insights into observing the moons of Mars (follow the "Focus On..." link). Now is the time! The story of my recent successes: SNIP_ Nicely done, Greg. I share your excitement. I also spotted Deimos the other night with a 6" refractor, when Mars was culminating and the atmosphere cooperating. Unfortunately, although my scope may have been up to the task, Phobos was nowhere near elongation at the time. I still have hopes of spotting them both before this apparition is over. Starry Skies, Rich |
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Phobos and Diemos Observed
Hi Rich,
Richard DeLuca wrote: Nicely done, Greg. I share your excitement. I also spotted Deimos the other night with a 6" refractor, when Mars was culminating and the atmosphere cooperating. Unfortunately, although my scope may have been up to the task, Phobos was nowhere near elongation at the time. I still have hopes of spotting them both before this apparition is over. Great job seeing Deimos! Keep at it, with a little luck you'll get Phobos too. Clear skies, Greg -- Greg Crinklaw Astronomical Software Developer Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m) SkyTools Software for the Observer: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html Skyhound Observing Pages: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html |
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Phobos and Diemos Observed
Hi Rich,
Richard DeLuca wrote: Nicely done, Greg. I share your excitement. I also spotted Deimos the other night with a 6" refractor, when Mars was culminating and the atmosphere cooperating. Unfortunately, although my scope may have been up to the task, Phobos was nowhere near elongation at the time. I still have hopes of spotting them both before this apparition is over. Great job seeing Deimos! Keep at it, with a little luck you'll get Phobos too. Clear skies, Greg -- Greg Crinklaw Astronomical Software Developer Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m) SkyTools Software for the Observer: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html Skyhound Observing Pages: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html |
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Phobos and Diemos Observed
Hi Martin,
Starstuffed wrote: Greg wrote: It's now or never, no matter the size of your scope! Congratulations, Greg!! I'm still trying with my 12.5 inch newtonian. . . Keep trying. I am sure it can be done. All you need is a bit of luck. Clear skies, Greg -- Greg Crinklaw Astronomical Software Developer Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m) SkyTools Software for the Observer: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html Skyhound Observing Pages: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html |
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Phobos and Diemos Observed
Hi Martin,
Starstuffed wrote: Greg wrote: It's now or never, no matter the size of your scope! Congratulations, Greg!! I'm still trying with my 12.5 inch newtonian. . . Keep trying. I am sure it can be done. All you need is a bit of luck. Clear skies, Greg -- Greg Crinklaw Astronomical Software Developer Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m) SkyTools Software for the Observer: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html Skyhound Observing Pages: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html |
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Phobos and Diemos Observed
In article ,
Greg Crinklaw wrote: Hi Rich, Richard DeLuca wrote: Nicely done, Greg. I share your excitement. I also spotted Deimos the other night with a 6" refractor, when Mars was culminating and the atmosphere cooperating. Unfortunately, although my scope may have been up to the task, Phobos was nowhere near elongation at the time. I still have hopes of spotting them both before this apparition is over. Great job seeing Deimos! Keep at it, with a little luck you'll get Phobos too. Tonight (8/22-23) was the charm- two little indians. This time I knew precisely where to look, and both arrived at eastern elongation during my observing run. Unlike the other night (see my post: 'Call me Asaph Hall') when I spotted Deimos by lucky accident under still and transparent skies, I really had to work to find them this time. And I needed the occulting bar, and also could not see them continuously, but they were both there, for sure. A satisfying feeling. Hey, I really enjoyed your web pages. Starry Skies, Rich ___________________________________________ 42? N, 76? W 8/23/03, 03:30- 06:00 UT Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 7/10 6" f/9.4 Astro Physics Starfire 5mm Tak LE (287X) |
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Phobos and Diemos Observed
In article ,
Greg Crinklaw wrote: Hi Rich, Richard DeLuca wrote: Nicely done, Greg. I share your excitement. I also spotted Deimos the other night with a 6" refractor, when Mars was culminating and the atmosphere cooperating. Unfortunately, although my scope may have been up to the task, Phobos was nowhere near elongation at the time. I still have hopes of spotting them both before this apparition is over. Great job seeing Deimos! Keep at it, with a little luck you'll get Phobos too. Tonight (8/22-23) was the charm- two little indians. This time I knew precisely where to look, and both arrived at eastern elongation during my observing run. Unlike the other night (see my post: 'Call me Asaph Hall') when I spotted Deimos by lucky accident under still and transparent skies, I really had to work to find them this time. And I needed the occulting bar, and also could not see them continuously, but they were both there, for sure. A satisfying feeling. Hey, I really enjoyed your web pages. Starry Skies, Rich ___________________________________________ 42? N, 76? W 8/23/03, 03:30- 06:00 UT Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 7/10 6" f/9.4 Astro Physics Starfire 5mm Tak LE (287X) |
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Phobos and Diemos Observed
Hi Richard,
Richard DeLuca wrote: Tonight (8/22-23) was the charm- two little indians. This time I knew precisely where to look, and both arrived at eastern elongation during my observing run. Unlike the other night (see my post: 'Call me Asaph Hall') when I spotted Deimos by lucky accident under still and transparent skies, I really had to work to find them this time. And I needed the occulting bar, and also could not see them continuously, but they were both there, for sure. A satisfying feeling. Isn't it though? I'm still smiling. You know I read no reports of seeing either moon on these newsgroups last opposition. There was even some idiot claiming than one had been knocked out of orbit and as far as I recall nobody was able to stand up and say, "no way--I just saw them." What a terrific opposition this is. Congrats Richard! Greg -- Greg Crinklaw Astronomical Software Developer Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m) SkyTools Software for the Observer: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html Skyhound Observing Pages: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html |
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Phobos and Diemos Observed | Greg Crinklaw | Amateur Astronomy | 34 | August 25th 03 11:54 PM |