2009/2010 Featured Observations
Observations of the North Polar Cap Fragment Lemuria
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Observations of the North PolarCap Fragment Cecropia
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Observations of the ‘Blue Syrtis’ Phenomenon
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Tharsis Volcanoes Well Recorded by Mars Observers in early March 2010.
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Elysium Mons Region Well Recorded by Mars Observers in February 2010.
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Observers should be on the lookout for dust clouds originating over the North Polar Cap.
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North Polar Cap Recedes as Northern Spring Advances
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New Markings on North Polar Cap
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The above images show a curving dark streak across the North Polar Cap. The interpretation of this phenomenon is for airborne dust clouds driven by very high velocity winds. This kind of activity may be a likely explanation of the Dec. 4th images of the NPC below. Another interesting observation is that the H2O ice clouds over Tharsis are so dense they are readily visible in the red-filtered image!
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A Dark Linear Feature Splits in Half the NPC on Dec. 04, 2009
John Boudreau’s excellent RGB images show a dark feature splitting the NPC that is really a mystery to ALPO. The validity of the dark marking is demonstrated in an animation John made showing it to rotate in time.
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A Comparison of the Solis Lacus Region in Nov. 2007 and Nov. 2009
Repeatability of image quality from apparition to apparition allows ALPO members to discern changing features on Mars. The above two image sets recorded by Ed Grafton show among other things that the Western half of Solis Lacus is still covered with bright material as it was after the planet-wide dust storms of 2007. The dark Sirenum extension that appeared after the 2007 storms, persists in this apparition. The dark linear marking connecting Solis Lacus and Phoenicis Lacus has faded considerably in 2009. If you are interested try using ALPO Mars maps to find Tharsis volcanoes in the images. Good hunting.
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The First Rites of Spring
The Transfer of Ice from the North Polar Cap to the Southern Hemisphere is shown by the Orographic Clouds associated with Olympus Mons, Pavonis Mons and Arsia Mons
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Day to Day Changes at the NPC at the Start of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere
High resolution bayer color images show the North Polar Hood clouds on Nov. 6 and 7 in row 1. The clouds are not visible in the Nov. 8 and 13 images in row 2, and instead show the North Polar Cap. Extinction at the high slant angles near the Pole may contribute to the contrast of the dark spots on the cap.
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October 31, 2009
Ed Lomeli’s red image shows development of the NPC with the lifesaver pattern and possibly the start of brightening of the rest of the cap in a broad band over Cecropia and Ortygia.
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October 1, 2009
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September 6, 2009
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August 23, 2009
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August 8, 2009
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July 10 and June 29, 2009
Rolf Meier’s image shows a dust cloud in Northwestern Hellas and over Mare Ionium and Serpentis. Paul Maxson’s image shows a dense cloud over Margaritifer Sinus on the evening (left) limb. Both images have a broad pole to pole haze over the Morning limb.