Mars: In Living Color

Its finally Summer!  Oh, not on Earth, for that we still have to wait, but on Mars, Summer is in full bloom.

We were able to image Mars on two different dates at NJAA using the new Image Source DMK21AU ccd video camera.  This was coupled with an Orion Telescope filter wheel manually controlled.  Both the large NJAA 26” scope and the 12” Meade RCX were employed for imaging.  The resulting images produced scientifically useful data along with a pretty pictures of the Red planet.

Imaging Mars thru different filters can target specific features.  A red filter will help attenuate the dark maria surface markings of Mars.The red filter can also help display dust clouds and help determine if a Martian dust storm is brewing.  Blue filters in turn will show the haze and cloud features.

A green filter will show both the surface aldebo markings and the atmospheric features.

NJAA's 12" Meade RCX with DMK21AU camera

 and Orion filter wheel attached

Once images are obtained of the planet thru a red, green, and blue filter, we can produce an RGB color image.  While not as scientifically useful, the RGB color image does produce a pretty picture of the Red planet.  This might sound like a long drawn out process, and to be honest, it is!  Luckily the process is becoming faster as we gain practice. 

Here is a quick run down for how these images were acquired and image processed. 

Video of the planet thru the telescope was captured using NJAA’s Image Source DMK21AU camera.  The manual filter wheel was employed to capture 2 minute video of the planet thru a red, green, and blue filter.   Then each video was run thru AutoStakkert 2, where 1000 frames were aligned and composted using 3X drizzle.  Once completed, each final image was brought into Adobe Photoshop.  From there, the Astra Image plug-in for Photoshop was used for a tad of wavelet sharpening (40 each) and lucy-richardson deconvolution (7 iterations of 5.7 PSF).   Then, each image was placed in its appropriate channel (R, G, and B channel).  Finally the combined RGB channels gave us a nice color image of the planet.  This was after adjusting the levels and curves for each channel.  But for scientific reasons, each channel is displayed too.  For example, the blue image from March 11^th shows the cloud features over the planet on that date.   Hopefully the process will be come much faster with practice. 

So, what did we capture you might ask??

Mars 3/11/12 thru

NJAA 26" Reflector

The images thru the NJAA 26” on March 11^th show clouds over Elysium Mons (the white spot on the left side of the planet).  This is quite obvious in the blue filtered image of the planet.  We can also see haze on both sides of Mars.  We can also determine how small the polar cap has become too.  While difficult to detect, the red filtered image shows the shrinkage of the northern polar cap.  Certain features that were previously covered in ice are now visible.  The large Syritis Major is quite prominent in the middle of the image too.

Mars 2/27/12 thru the

NJAA 12" Meade RCX

Shot a few days before, the images thru the NJAA 12” RCX show a haze/cloud feature on the setting western side of the planet on February 26th  (27th in UT time).  This feature is quite obvious in the red and green filtered images too.  The red filter also shows very good detail around the Northern Polar region of Mars.  This again reinforces the notion that the ice has melted making features once covered, visible.

A few of the major surface features are present in this image.  The dark arm looking feature on the left side of the planet is Sinus Meridiani.   To the right of this is Aurorae Sinus.  This feature looks similiar to an upside down hand with the thumb and pinky raised.  (What a scientific description!).  Below this coming up across the bottum right side of the image is Mare Acidalium.  The clear area between these two is Chyrse.

    

Special thanks to Wayne Jaeschke for his advice and tips.  In 3 hrs, Wayne dispelled quite a bit of information and invigorated everyone to image and or draws the planets!!! 

Check out Wayne’s website at http://www.exosky.net/ for some truly amazing planetary images.

Also, a big thanks to all the members of the NJAA Research Group.  Their hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated.   I would also like to note that each image will be submitted to ALPO USA and ALPO Japan.

William Anthony

NJAA Research Director.