Mars 2003 Fly-By

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Mars and Earth will be as close as they've been in just under 60,000 years on Aug 27, 2003 at 10am UT. Since this is as close as I will likely ever be to Mars, I wanted to record our fly-by with some pictures.

July 19, 2003 1039-1108 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 29° above horizion. Seeing: Moderate
Distance from Earth: 0.47 AU (70 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


Combined red (1059 UT), blue (1108 UT), and synthesized green from red and blue. 2x barlow.
(1039 UT) First image. Taken at cassegrain focus. 72 of 300 frames stacked at 2x resampling.
(1052 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow. 359 of 600 frames stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

(1052 UT) Same as previous but stacked at 2x resampling. 226 of 600 frames stacked.
(1059 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow and a red filter (#23A). Then I split the color channels and kept the blue channel. 183 of 600 frames stacked.
(1108 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow and a blue filter (#80A). 248 of 600 frames stacked.
(1108 UT) Same as previous but stacked at 2x resampling. 307 of 600 frames stacked.

July 26, 2003 1041-1109 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 29° above horizion. Seeing: Poor
Distance from Earth: 0.44 AU (66 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


Combined red (1051 UT), blue (1055 UT), and synthesized green from the red and blue. 2x barlow.
(1041 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 281 of 600 frames stacked.
(1051 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow and a red filter (#23A). ~500 of 600 frames stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

(1051 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow and a red filter (#23A). Only the blue channel. ~500 of 600 frames stacked.
(1055 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow and a blue filter (#80A). ~500 of 600 frames stacked.
(1109 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. ~500 of 600 frames stacked.
(1109 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter, stacked at 2x resampling. 450 of 600 frames stacked.		  

Aug 2, 2003 1017-1024 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 29° above horizion. Seeing: Bad (cloudy)
Distance from Earth: 0.41 AU (62 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


(1017 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. ~180 of 743 frames stacked.
(1017 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. ~180 of 743 frames stacked.
(1051 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. ~130 of 545 frames stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

(1055 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. ~85 of 350 frames stacked.		      

Aug 9, 2003 0922-0952 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 28° above horizion. Seeing: Moderate (some clouds)
Distance from Earth: 0.39 AU (59 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


Combined red (0934 UT), blue (0940 UT), and synthesized green from the red and blue. 2x barlow.
(0922 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 210 out of 450 stacked.
(0934 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). 410 out of 446 stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

(0934 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Only the blue channel used. 410 out of 446 stacked.
(0934 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Stacked using 2x resampling. 393 out of 446 stacked.
(0934 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Stacked using 2x resampling. Only the blue channel used. 393 out of 446 stacked.
(0940 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, blue filter (#80A). 361 out of 450 stacked.

(0945 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, yellow filter. 361 out of 444 stacked.
(0945 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, yellow filter (#12). Only the green channel used. 361 out of 444 stacked.		    

Aug 18, 2003 0855-0913 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 27.5° above horizion. Seeing: Very good to good (clear with mild turbulence)
Distance from Earth: 0.38 AU (57 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


Combined red (? UT), blue (0855 UT), and synthesized green from the red and blue. 2x barlow.
(0855 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, blue filter (#80A). 413 out of 445 frames stacked.
(0908 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). 389 out of 447 frames stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

(0908 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Only blue channel used. 389 out of 447 frames stacked.
(0908 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Stacked at 2x resampling. Only blue channel used. 334 out of 447 frames stacked.
(0913 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 268 out of 518 frames stacked.
(0913 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. Stacked at 2x resampling. 388 out of 447 frames stacked.

Aug 26, 2003 0702-0730 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 24.5° above horizion. Seeing: Poor (hazy to partly cloudy)
Distance from Earth: 0.37 AU (56 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


(0702 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Only blue channel used. 481 out of 525 frames stacked.
(0715 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 435 out of 525 frames stacked.
(0720 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Only blue channel used. ~400 out of 525 frames stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

(0720 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Stacked at 2x resampling. Only blue channel used. ~400 out of 525 frames stacked.		      

Aug 27, 2003 0745-0822 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 26.5° above horizion. Seeing: Poor (partly cloudy)
Distance from Earth: 0.37 AU (56 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


(0746 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 113 out of 323 frames stacked.
(0753 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Only blue channel used. 177 out of 519 frames stacked.
(0757 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Only blue channel used. 338 out of 521 frames stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

(0757 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Stacked at 2x resampling. Only blue channel used. 260 out of 521 frames stacked.
(0820 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 435 out of 525 frames stacked.		    

Sept 6, 2003 0749-0806 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 26° above horizion. Seeing: Moderate (clear, unstable)
Distance from Earth: 0.38 AU (57 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


Combined red (? UT), blue (0757 UT), and synthesized green from the red and blue.
(0749 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 296 out of 516 frames stacked.
(0757 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, blue filter (#80A). 315 out of 520 frames stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

(0802 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Only blue channel used. 315 out of 524 frames stacked.
(0802 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Stacked at 2x resampling. Only blue channel used. 261 out of 524 frames stacked.
(0806 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 138 out of 524 frames stacked.		    

Sept 13, 2003 0707-0724 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 26° above horizion. Seeing: Good (clear)
Distance from Earth: 0.39 AU (59 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


(0707 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 377 out of 525 frames stacked.
(0713 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Only blue channel used. 377 out of 524 frames stacked. Oddly disappointing result.
(0716 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, blue filter (#80A). 377 out of 520 frames stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

Combined red (0713 UT), blue (0716 UT), and synthesized green from the red and blue. 2x barlow.
Combined picture: (a)(0724 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter, grey scale and (b)(0713 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A) using blue channel. The images are blended to bring out features of both.
Combined picture: (a)(0724 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter and (b)(0713 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A) using blue channel. The images are blended using the color of (a) and the luminosity of (b) to bring out features of both.
Combined picture: Same as previous, but each image was stacked using 2x sampling.

Sept 21, 2003 0625-0645 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 26° above horizion. Seeing: Poor (clear, windy, unstable)
Distance from Earth: 0.42 AU (62 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


Combined red (0641 UT), blue (0638 UT), and synthesized green from the red and blue. 2x barlow.
(0625 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 271 out of 524 frames stacked.
(0638 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, blue filter (#80A). 217 out of 523 frames stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

(0641 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 269 out of 524 frames stacked.
(0645 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 319 out of 518 frames stacked.
Combined picture: (a)(0641 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter, grey scale and (b)(0630 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A) using blue channel. The images are blended to bring out features of both.
Combined picture: Same as previous, but each image was stacked using 2x sampling.

Sept 27, 2003 0608-0634 UT. Seattle, WA (47.66N 122.35W)
Mars Altitude: 26° above horizion. Seeing: Poor (clear, unstable)
Distance from Earth: 0.44 AU (65 million km).
Telescope: Meade LX-90 (8" SCT). Camera: Philips Vesta Pro 690k.


Combined red (0615 UT), blue (0611 UT), and synthesized green from the red and blue. 2x barlow.
(0608 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 304 out of 599 frames stacked.
(0611 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, blue filter (#80A). 298 out of 600 frames stacked.		 Mars Previewer II
Mars Previewer II by Leandro Rios shows us what we should be seeing.

(0615 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, red filter (#23A). Converted to grey scale. 420 out of 599 frames stacked.
(0634 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. 366 out of 599 frames stacked.
(0608 UT) Taken with a 2x barlow, no filter. Stacked at 2x resampling. 299 out of 599 frames stacked.		  

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Updated: 11/08/03
All pictures and text are Copyright © 2003 Tom Talbott
unless indicated otherwise.