Solar＆Planetary LtE Now for CMO/ISMO #18 (CMO #392)

Solar＆Planetary LtE for CMO/ISMO #18 (CMO #392)

Not every email is necessarily cited in the PDF’s CMO LtE

To see the preceding ones, click

The latest is at the top

¤······Subject: Transit of Venus Project Newsletter #7

Received: Sun 18 Dec 2011 16:19 JST

Dear all,

Only 170 days until the transit of Venus on June 5-6, 2012! As we are getting closer to the last transit of our lifetimes, the focus on our website will be more and more on matters practical, like photographing the transit, or making a sketch at the eyepiece of the prime phases of the transit. Please return to the website regularly for new stories and updates: www.transitofvenus.nl

Transit of Venus on SEC 2011

The international Solar Eclipse Conference 2011 at New Delhi (15-17 December) not only discussed solar eclipses, but the transit of Venus as well. Especially the talk of Fred Espenak on the first day of the conference delved into the mechanics and scientific use of the transit. Like eclipses, the transits of Venus are also chased by enthusiasts, who don't want to miss a single moment of this rare and spectacular alignment. Fred showed that, even though the transit of Venus has lost its relevance to determine the solar parallax, it still is an important phenomenon for astronomers working on the frontiers of science. The Hubble Space Telescope for example will, by measuring the spectrum of the reflected sunlight off the moon's surface, provide for a model of transiting exoplanets. Read more at http://transitofvenus.nl/wp/2011/12/15/transit-of-venus-at-sec-2011/

Phone app being tested

The free phone app for the transit of Venus is now being tested by a couple of volunteers. They used the app to time a sunset as seen from their location and already gave valuable feedback on the app's interface. Thank you, testers, for all your help and remarks! As the test run is well underway, this also means that the call for new volunteers is now obsolete.

The transit and the atmosphere of Venus: two papers

On December 2, David Ehrenreich et al. delivered a paper about obtaining a transmission spectrum of Venus during its transit across the sun next June. They show how Venus' transmission spectrum can serve as a proxy for an earth-like exoplanet. The full paper can be read here: http://arxiv.org/pdf/1112.0572v1

On December 14, Paolo Tanga et al. delivered a paper on their research of the aureole as observed during the transit of Venus on 8 June 2004. From measurements of the intensity of the aureole, they found the physical properties of the mesosphere of Venus. A talk by Paolo Tanga, in which he discusses the method and the results, can be seen here: http://vimeo.com/30329770

The full article can be read here: http://arxiv.org/pdf/1112.3136

Looking forward, looking back

On January 8 there will be special session of AAS History of Astronomy Division in Austin, TX: Transits of Venus: Looking Forward, Looking Back. Presentations will be given on both important historical aspects of the transits of Venus and modern applications, showing that though it is often said that transits of Venus are of strictly historical interest owing to the fact that the Halleyan solar parallax method has long since been superseded, this rare phenomenon continues to be of great importance to astronomers and astrophysicists working at the cutting edge of important problems of our own day. For abstracts of the scheduled talks, look at http://transitofvenus.nl/wp/2011/11/15/looking-forward-looking-back/

Eros and the solar parallax: a call on amateur astronomers and students

The year 2012 will give us an opportunity to measure the solar parallax using two classic methods in a single year: the transit of Venus (of course) and the asteroid 433 Eros. For the first time since 1975 Eros will come close enough to earth during its January 2012 opposition to be visible through a small telescope. This will give amateur astronomers and students a chance to measure the asteroid's parallax, like the famous programmes did in 1901 and 1931, from simultaneously taken pictures of Eros. On January 1 there will be a first post on our website, inviting amateur observers and students to join this outreach project. During the month, more detailed instructions will be given. Readers of our newsletter can already apply to join. If you are interested to measure the parallax of Eros, together with others across the globe, just drop us a message: info@transitofvenus.nl

I invite you to follow us on Twitter or to join our group on Facebook to keep in touch with other transit enthusiasts. If this email was forwarded to you, and you too would like to receive our monthly newsletter, just send an email to info@transitofvenus.nl

and we'll keep you in the loop.

Sincerely,

Steven van ROODE (The NETHERLANDS)

www.transitofvenus.nl

info@transitofvenus.nl

¤······Subject: Solar images 17^th Dec 2011

Received: Sun 18 Dec 2011 07:26 JST

Hi guys

A faint but nice flying prom was a welcome sight today . Not a great deal of spot activity was seen in Ha. Seeing was fair for the 17deg alt.

Coronado .7A on AP 130 EDT f8 +2x powermate and Flea 3, 1/4"chip ver.

Best wishes

Dave TYLER (Bucks, the UK)

www.david-tyler.com

¤······Subject: Mars: December 12, 2011

Received: Thu 15 Dec 2011 13:33 JST

I have attached my latest image of Mars December 12, 2011 to be posted.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111212/FMl12Dec11.jpg

Thanks,

Frank J MELILLO (Holtsville, NY, the USA)

¤······Subject: Jupiter　J111212

Received: Tue 13 Dec 2011 10:58 JST

Jupiter　J111212

Jupiter comes to the meridian around at 8 o’clock PM, and I am forced to take pictures without evening meal.

The NEB is rapidly narrow in width, and the Barges are outside the belt.

Tomio AKUTSU (Cebu, the PHILIPPINES)

¤······Subject: Mars December 12

Received: Tue 13 Dec 2011 01:04 JST

The red planet continues its approach each day; note the broken dark ring within the NPC.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111212/SWk12Dec11.jpg

Sean WALKER (S&T, NY)

¤······Subject: Solar images 9th Dec 2011

Received: Tue 13 Dec 2011 00:09 JST

Hi Guys here are a few of the Hα activities. It's quite pleasant looking through the scope with it almost horizontal. The mosaic is big so you can hit CTRL+ twice to have a closer look round.

Best wishes

Dave TYLER (Bucks, the UK)

www.david-tyler.com

¤······Subject: Mars Ak10Dec11

Received: Mon 12 Dec 2011 13:27 JST

MINAMI-sama. Please find attached the Mars images on 10 Dec 2011

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111210/Ak10Dec11.jpg

Best

Tomio AKUTSU (Cebu, the PHILIPPINES)

¤······Subject: Re: SAF Jupiter note: back to normal in the SEB ?

Received: Mon 12 Dec 2011 08:44 JST

Hi John,

Thanks for the comments, and the additional images! As seen on the compilation on december 2nd there were three bright sources. The region is really active now...

Best wishes,

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: Re: SAF Jupiter note: back to normal in the SEB ?

Received: Mon 12 Dec 2011 08:07 JST

Hi Christophe, Thank you for posting this excellent report in English! Your previous reports, in French, look excellent as well.

Attached is a compilation of recent methane-band images of the turbulent region f. the GRS, confirming what you have said about this region.

best wishes,

John ROGERS (Cambridge, the UK)

¤······Subject: Mars 2011 Dec 8

Received: Mon 12 Dec 2011 06:51 JST

Dear all,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111208/JWr08Dec11.jpg

Attached is my latest Mars image, as well as the previous two with the disk orientation corrected.

Best regards,

Johan WARELL (Skivarp, SWEDEN)

¤······Subject: SAF Jupiter note: back to normal in the SEB ?

Received: Mon 12 Dec 2011 04:10 JST

Hi friends,

I'm writing Jupiter reports since last year for the SAF - this is the first one I translate in english :

http://www.astrosurf.com/planetessaf/jupiter/doc/Jupiter_2011_note3_en.htm

"Back to normal in the South equatorial belt ?" describes the revival of the cyclonic outbreaks near the GRS in the SEB. They might tell us that the fading and revival cycle of the belt opened in 2006-2007 is now over (... until the next one!)

Have a nice read,

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: Saturn S111210　Total Lunar Eclipse on 10 December 2011

Received: Mon 12 Dec 2011 01:31 JST

Saturn　S111210

MINAMI-sama; There still remains an effect of the storm to the north of the NEB.

We saw the Total Lunar Eclipse twice this year. This time sky was clear and enjoyed a beautiful moment.

Best wishes

Tomio AKUTSU (Cebu, the PHILIPPINES)

¤······Subject: Mo 04 Dec_11

Received: Sun 11 Dec 2011 23:22 JST

Masatsugu MINAMI sama: I send a set of Mars images produced on 4 December 2011. I am continuing to take the pictures but all look poor because the skies remain poor.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111204/Mo04Dec11.jpg

Yukio MORITA (Hatsuka-ichi, HIROSHIMA, JAPAN)

¤······Subject: Mars 2011/12/11

Received: Sun 11 Dec 2011 22:01 JST

Hello,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111210/JPp10Dec11.jpg

Here is Mars on 2011/12/11.

The seeing was average.

The transparency was fair.

T = -3°C

Regards

Jean-Jacques POUPEAU (Essonne, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: mars sketch 10/12/'11

Received: Sat 10 Dec 2011 22:47 JST

Hi, here is my sketch from 10 december 2011

Date: 10 december 2011

Time: 07:00 UT

instrument: 12" f/5 dobson

magnification: 214x

seeing: poor to bad

filters: no colour filters used, apodizing mask used

Greetings,

Kris SMET (Bornem, BELGIUM)

¤······Subject: Jupiter images 7th december 2011

Received: Sat 10 Dec 2011 21:24 JST

Hi guys, again a fair and short window for imaging last week.

http://www.astrosurf.com/pellier/J2011_12_07-CPE

The SEB must be slowly going back to normal. The long-running outbreak activity n.f. the GRS is reviving since september, and the belt is darkening in CH4.

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: Mars 2011/12/10

Received: Sat 10 Dec 2011 17:26JST

Hello,

Here is Mars on 2011/12/10 06H32 UT

The seeing was bad, while the transparency was average.

T = +0.3°C

Regards

Jean-Jacques POUPEAU (Essonne, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: Jupiter 7 December

Received: Sat 10 Dec 2011 05:02 JST

Hi All,

I have attached some RGB, NIR, CH4 and UV Jupiter images from 7 December.

Best,

Don PARKER (Miami, FL)

¤······Subject: Jupiter 28 November

Received: Tue 6 Dec 2011 06:52 JST

Hi All,

I have attached an RGB Jupiter image from 28 November. High gusty winds prevented the longer CH4 and UV exposures, but the Paramount ME mount was so robust that I could obtain the RGB set.

Best,

Don PARKER (Miami, FL)

¤······Subject: Jupiter 24 November

Received: Tue 6 Dec 2011 06:02 JST

Hi All,

I have attached RGB, NIR, and CH4 Jupiter images from 24 November. Seeing was fairly poor.

Best,

Don PARKER (Miami, FL)

¤······Subject: Jupiter 23 November

Received: Tue 6 Dec 2011 05:51 JST

All,

I have attached some belated RGB and CH4 Jupiter images from 23 November. First light with the C-14 and the DMK 618 camera. Fair seeing but frequent clouds.

Best,

Don PARKER (Miami, FL)

¤······Subject: Visual Mars Obs 03 December 2011

Received: Mon 5 Dec 2011 07:57:39 JST

Sirs:

Please find attached my recent observational sketch of Mars. Notes are with the sketch and in the body of this message.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111203/MRs03Dec11.jpg

Notes: North Polar Cap with very dark, irregular border prominent in all wavelengths. Utopia part of dark border on f. limb. Amazonis appears dull. Mare Sirenum preceding the central meridian (CM) and Mare Cimmerium following the CM dusky. Bluish haze on southern limb. Slender morning and evening limb arcs visible in blue light.

35cm SCT f/11 @ 489x & 391x Filters: W21, 23A, 80A, & IL

Thank you,

Michael ROSOLINA (Twin Sugars Observatory, Friars Hill, WV)

¤······Subject: Re: Visual Mars Observation 12 November

Received: Mon 5 Dec 2011 07:36 JST

Dear Masatsugu,

Thank you for accepting my drawing--it was a very difficult .observation given Mars's small apparent diameter.

I used Jeff Beish's WIMP ephemeris but I got confused by the mirror-reversed effect of my SCT with a diagonal. My confusion continued with my subsequent observation of Dec 3rd which I will be sending to you soon.

Thank you for your patience. Best,

Michael ROSOLINA (Twin Sugars Observatory, Friars Hill, WV)

¤······Subject: Mars 12/2, good seeing

Received: Mon 5 Dec 2011 04:20 JST

Clouds on Olympus Mons and Ascraeus Mons at the sunset terminator. Dark ring within the NPC. Image recorded at f/42.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111202/SWk02Dec11.jpg

Sean WALKER (Imaging Editor, Sky & Telescope, NY)

¤······Subject: Jupiter J111128 J111203

Received: Sun 4 Dec 2011 23:41 JST

Jupiter images on 28 November and 3 December 2011

The images on 3 December well show the roundish internal structure of the white oval BA.

Tomio AKUTSU (Cebu, the Philippines)

¤······Subject: Mars: December 3, 2011

Received: Sun 4 Dec 2011 09:53 JST

Hi -

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111203/FMl03Dec11.jpg

I have attached my latest image of Mars December 3, 2011 to be posted.

Thanks,

Frank J MELILLO (Holtsville, NY)

¤······Subject: solar images 30Nov2011

Received: Sun 4 Dec 2011 01:01 JST

Hi Guys still a lot of surface activity, and a nice display of proms too.

Best wishes

Dave TYLER (Bucks, the UK)

www.david-tyler.com

¤······Subject: Mars: 28/11/11

Received: Sun 4 Dec 2011 00:23 JST

Greetings all,

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111128/PAb28Nov11.jpg

Attached is a Mars drawing I made on 28th November 2011. Doesn't show very much I'm afraid; seeing was very poor and there was a vast amount of dew! I was stable able to make the attached disk drawing and the key points from the observation are as follows:

-Mare Sirenum in the far south, quite dark in places

-I suspected a brightening south of Sirenum

-I'm reasonable convinced there was a bright cloud on the proc. limb, and a bright cloud over Olympus Mons.

These two clouds may have been connected but in these conditions I was unable to be certain.

-NPC large and bright.

Best wishes,

Paul ABEL (Leicester, the UK)　

¤······Subject: Mars on 01 December 2011

Received: Fri 02 Dec 2011 09:27 JST

Dear Masatsugu,

I had another clear night last night, so I managed to get at least one set of images of Mars on December 1st.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111201/WFl01Dec11.jpg

The weather does not look great for the next week, but I will continue to try and get some more images as the skies permit. Texas has been in a severe drought this year. In Houston the total rainfall this year is about 56% below normal, the worst on record. So in some respects the clouds and possible rain are a welcome change.

I am receiving the CMO/ISMO every month. Thanks for sending them. I just received No 391 a few days ago and enjoyed Christophe's article on the EPSC-DPS Joint meeting in Nantes. I had not heard the sad news about Don Parker's wife. I met Don once a number of years ago when he spoke at the Texas Star Party. He is a truly delightful person with a great wit and sense of humor. His dedication to Astronomy and his planetary imaging skills have always been a great inspiration for me. I wish the best for him during this tough time. I'm also looking forward to the article he is planning for the CMO/ISMO.

I'll see if I can come up with a good topic for an essay. Maybe as you suggest something related to the new Flea3 camera.

Best Regards,

Bill FLANAGAN (Houston, TX, the USA)

¤······Subject: Mars Ak28Nov11

Received: Thu 01 Dec 2011 17:00 JST

MINAMI-sama, Please find attached a set of recent Mars images. I am too busy to work in the morning except for the holidays.

　http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111128/Ak28Nov11.jpg

Tomio AKUTSU (Cebu, the Philippines)

¤······Subject: Saturn　S111128

Received: Thu 01 Dec 2011 15:40 JST

Saturn　　S111128

Saturn is still low in the morning sky, while its NH shows a remnant of the activity of the white cloud near the NNTZ. In B the whitish band is located on the similar latitude as in June. Near at II=260° there is a faint patch. With best wishes

Tomio AKUTSU (Cebu, the Philippines)

¤······Subject: Re: Jupiter images, 28th november 2011

Received: Wed 30 Nov 2011 17:57 JST

Hi Sylvia,

Thanks for the additional data !

The NTB is still well visible in blue and UV, although it's faint in R/IR. But during the fading of 2003-2006 it was bright even in UV. The belt still has not recovered its plain aspect (prior to 2003) since the 2007 revival, in my opinion...

>> The CH4 image is again processed with correction of planetary rotation

>> (WinJupos), I think it works really nicely for that filter.

> yes, this kind of processing is very interesting. Can you tell me, how to

> do it? Maybe with some screenshots?

No it's a new function from WinJupos (look at tools > correction of planetary rotation). You need to:

1) Take a long avi file of a planet (5-10 mn). AVI is the only format supported, so far

2) Process a reference image taken from the AVI, in a usual short time -1-2 mn - in CH4 I use the middle 2 mn).

3) Measure this reference image (Recording > image measurement), save the filter,

4) Open the correction window and put the original avi file, its beginning time and end, and the reference frame.

Then WinJupos re-calculate the avi file into a new one, where frames are all corrected respecting to the reference image, and then you can process this new avi file as usual.

Regards,

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: Re: Jupiter images, 28th november 2011

Received: Wed 30 Nov 2011 12:13 JST

Hi Christophe,

> Last night was unexpectedly clear, with fair seeing during two hours.

> Still not good but way better than for the previous nights of

> observations...

I also observed Jupiter on 28th november at home with my 8" Newton and got the same view. You captured the thinnest part of the NEB. Following CM´s (4 days earlier) show a broader NEB. I was busy to prepare for the occultation and driving to the Observatory, so i am not ready with all my rgb avis from 28th november...

http://www.sternwarte-zollern-alb.de/mitarbeiterseiten/kowollik/jupiter/jupiterkarte-2011-11-23-24-25-r-rgb.png

The images for this map also were captured with my 8" Newtonian, so I don’t have the fine details as on the maps with the huge 80 cm Cassegrain of our Observatory at the end of my mail.

> The NEB is extremely narrow, to the point that in R+IR, the barges look

> even detached from it.

I can confirm this.

> I also find that the NTB is well visible. I'm becoming less and less

> convinced that it's encountering a true fading phase, although it has

> faded since last year.

I don’t think it´s disappearing like the SEB in 2009/10. If you look at my rgb, 665 nm, ch4 and uv images from august 2010, you will see, that the faded SEB was not visible with 665 nm, dark in CH4 and bright in UV.

http://www.sternwarte-zollern-alb.de/beobachtungen/jupiterimpact/jupiter-2010-08-22-00-32-23-ut-rgb.png

http://www.sternwarte-zollern-alb.de/beobachtungen/jupiterimpact/jupiter-2010-08-22-01-18-00-ut-665nm.png

http://www.sternwarte-zollern-alb.de/beobachtungen/jupiterimpact/jupiter-2010-08-22-00-45-59-ut-ch4.png

http://www.sternwarte-zollern-alb.de/beobachtungen/jupiterimpact/jupiter-2010-08-22-01-01-17-uv.png

This year I also observed in all this wavelength, and the situation is different.

http://www.sternwarte-zollern-alb.de/beobachtungen/jupiter/2011-09-28-gesamtkarte-1206-r-rgba.png

http://www.sternwarte-zollern-alb.de/beobachtungen/jupiter/jupiter-2011-09-28-gesamtkarte-ir.png

http://www.sternwarte-zollern-alb.de/beobachtungen/jupiter/jupiter-2011-09-28-gesamtkarte-ch4.png

http://www.sternwarte-zollern-alb.de/beobachtungen/jupiter/jupiter-2011-09-28-gesamtkarte-uv.png

This year both (UV and ch4) show a dark NEB...

But: the small white line between the brownish NEB and the blue line seams to become broader and brighter. And the dark brown barges seem to also grow and grow...

I am really happy to capture such detailed images. Compared to the images with webcam and videomodul they are much better :-))

> The CH4 image is again processed with correction of planetary rotation

> (WinJupos), I think it works really nicely for that filter.

yes, this kind of processing is very interesting. Can you tell me, how to do it? Maybe with some screenshots?

Cheers

Silvia KOWOLLIK (Ludwigsburg, GERMANY)

¤······Subject: Mars on 29 November 2011

Received: Wed 30 Nov 2011 10:01 JST

Dear Masatsugu,

Attached is my first set of images for the 2011-2012 Mars apparition.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111129/WFl29Nov11.jpg

I just got a new camera and I'm still in the process of learning how to get the most out of it. It seems to be more sensitive and less noisy then my old Lu-075, so hopefully I will be able to squeeze a little more detail out of Mars during this apparition. Just for fun, I have also attached a couple of images of Jupiter I took with the new scope and camera earlier this month.

I'm looking forward to the next few months as Mars grows larger!

I hope you are doing well!

Best regards,

Bill FLANAGAN (Houston, TX, the USA)

¤······Subject: Jupiter images, 28th november 2011

Received: Wed 30 Nov 2011 06:23 JST

Hi all,

Last night was unexpectedly clear, with fair seeing during two hours. Still not good but way better than for the previous nights of observations...

http://www.astrosurf.com/pellier/J2011_11_28-CPE.jpg

The NEB is extremely narrow, to the point that in R+IR, the barges look even detached from it. I also find that the NTB is well visible. I'm becoming less and less convinced that it's encountering a true fading phase, although it has faded since last year.

The CH4 image is again processed with correction of planetary rotation (WinJupos), I think it works really nicely for that filter.

Best wishes,

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: solar images 27-November- 2011

Received: Wed 30 Nov 2011 01:59 JST

Hi guys a little bit better seeing from UK on this day. There was great train of spots right across the disc, so a large montage was made to take in all of them. It is 2974 pixels wide and 1070 deep, so you can zoom in for higher res.

All Images were with Coro 90 DS scope.

Best wishes

Dave TYLER (Bucks, the UK)

www.david-tyler.com

¤······Subject: Jupiter images 27-Nov-2011

Received: Tue 29 Nov 2011 21:16 JST

Hi Guys here are a few images taken in variable seeing on the 27th. The pink spot is on show on the early ones, and the GRS complete with "Crop Circles" is on the 2109 image which caught the best of the seeing.

Best wishes

Dave TYLER (Bucks, the UK)

www.david-tyler.com

¤······Subject: Re: Re: Re: Mars 2010 Rotating Globe Ani

Received: Mon 28 Nov 2011 08:23 JST

Hi Masatsugu,

The Mars animation does not come up for a minute or two on the page;

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmo/ISMO_LtE392.htm

but when it does appear it plays perfectly. However, when shown on

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmo/2010News.html

the image appear straight away but looks much inferior with bands on it and it plays slowly. Are you able to have it look like the appearance in the first htm document- I think it would be preferable.

Alternatively you could show it as it is but say;

A clearer version and full details of how it was created can be seen at the website of Martin Lewis at;

http://www.skyinspector.co.uk/Mars-Animation(2369874).htm

Many thanks,

Martin LEWIS (Hertfordshire, the UK)

¤······Subject: Jupiter Nov 26, 2011

Received: Mon 28 Nov 2011 03:48 JST

Hello All,

It's been a while since I posted an image but many continue to post and cover all aspects of Jupiter. Still, after having a Great time with family and Friends I was able to make an image of Jupiter with my TMB 10" F/9 @ F/45 with a Skynyx color cam. See attached FYI.

All the Best,

Jim PHILLIPS (Charleston, SC, the USA)

¤······Subject: Mo16 23Nov_11

Received: Sun 27 Nov 2011 23:43 JST

Masatsugu MINAMI-sama: I have shot on 14, 15, 16, 23, 24 Nov, but the seeing conditions have not improved these days and I am fighting a desperate battle: I am getting up early every day but I sometimes meet the cloudy sky. So there have been no good images. Just those on 16 and 23 Nov may be better.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111116/Mo16Nov11.jpg

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111123/Mo23Nov11.jpg

Even then I will try tomorrow morning if it turns to be fine. Best wishes,

Yukio MORITA (Hatsuka-ichi, Hiroshima, JAPAN)

¤······Subject: Re: Any article on Alba brightening

Received: Sun 27 Nov 2011 20:05 JST

Dear Masatsugu,

This is cleverly said. I'm going to work on a note. There is a way to make it interesting as an example of details analysis with first erroneous conclusions...

Best wishes,

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: Jupiter images 22nd / 25th Nov 2011

Received: Sun 27 Nov 2011 19:19 JST

Hi guys; Here are a few burnt offerings from this patch of very poor seeing we are having in the UK just now. There is usually something to note though. The IR bright pink spot, and the ring now positioned in the bottom of the GRS .

Best wishes

Dave TYLER (Bucks, the UK)

www.david-tyler.com

Ham call G4PIE

¤······Subject: Mars: November 25, 2011

Received: Sun 27 Nov 2011 01:04 JST

M201111251111_fjm.JPG

Hi - I have attached my very first image of Mars November 25, 2011 at 11:11 UT to be posted.

Thanks,

Frank J MELILLO (NY, the USA)

¤······Subject: RE: Mars images (November 18th, 2011.)

Received: Fri 25 Nov 2011 11:07 JST

Lovely, as I sit near Kennedy Space Center awaiting Saturday's launch of the next rover on Mars! Thanks for a lovely reminder and touchstone!

Jane Houston JONES (NASA, the USA)

Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Solstice Mission

What's Up For October? Moons and meteors

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews

¤······Subject: Re: Re: Mars 2010 Rotating Globe Animation

Received: Fri 25 Nov 2011 09:42 JST

Hi,

I see you have included the 2010 Mars animation I made last year to be part of the 2010 CMO New Headlines. Thank you for doing this. The Mars animation, however, is very large and plays very slowly. I have just discovered how to make it look much better and wonder if you are able to replace the old gif animation with the one I attach. This will be smaller in file size but look and play much better.

Many thanks,

Martin LEWIS (Hertfordshire, the UK)

¤······Subject: Uranus observations last 18 and 19th

Received: Fri 25 Nov 2011 03:01 JST

Good evening sir,

May I transmit you my observations about Uranus performed with the 305mm last 18 and 19th. It seems that the spot is not alone.

For your perusal.

Stanislas MAKSYMOWICZ (Ecquevilly, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: Re: Any article on Alba brightening

Received: Fri 25 Nov 2011 04:21 JST

Dear Masatsugu,

I have been reviewing images from many apparitions and it appears that apart of white strips of clouds, the "line" visible in red light is absolutely steady and permanent in time - and it's just a clear albedo feature. So there is not much to tell about it. There have been already an ISMO note on the Alba cloud...

Best wishes,

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: Mars images (November 18th, 2011.)

Received: Fri 25 Nov 2011 02:46 JST

Hi all,

Here are some Mars images from Nov 18th in good seeing. Syrtis Major and the Elysium cloud are prominent.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111118/DPc18Nov11.jpg

RGB & Reds:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6099/6395472513_ef7b0d74fa_b.jpg

Green & Blue:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6395472369_8a80afbb94_z.jpg

Best Wishes

Damian PEACH (Selsey, the UK)

¤······Subject: Visual Mars Observation 12 November 2011

Received: Thu 24 Nov 2011 21:04 JST

Hello,

Please find attached my first observational sketch of the 2011-12 Mars apparition. Mars was very small, but I could not wait to use my new 35cm telescope. As you can see, I could not see very much detail. Notes are with the sketch and copied to this message.

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111112/MRs12Nov11.jpg

Notes: Martian disk very small and difficult to observe. North PolarCap (NPC) bordered to south by dark Mare Boreum. Mare Acidalium & Niliacus Lacus dusky preceding the CM. Sinus Meridiani dark on p. limb. N. hemisphere dusky. Disk following the CM bright in blue light.

Best regards,

Michael ROSOLINA (Twin Sugars Observatory, Friars Hill, WV, the USA)

¤······Subject: Jupiter 2011.11.17

Received: Thu 24 Nov 2011 04:09 JST

Dears,

Under acceptable conditions:

http://astrosurf.com/delcroix/images/planches/j20111117-MDe.jpg

Sincerely,

Marc DELCROIX (Tournefeuille, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: Jupiter images 20th november 2011

Received: Wed 23 Nov 2011 04:12 JST

Hello

The poor seeing continues.

http://www.astrosurf.com/pellier/J2011_11_20-CPE.jpg

The CH4 image is again derotated under WinJupos, and worked very well - for the conditions of course, but this 5 mn image is really better than the first 2 mn used as a reference.

Regards,

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: Jupiter images 19th November 2011

Received: Tue 22 Nov 2011 20:51 JST

Hi guys here are a few taken in reasonable seeing. There are a few pink spots in what might be called the South Temperate Zone, and a faint pink line. The white spot Z (thank you Damian) with its blue quiff I see is still revolving at the same pace as the adjacent barge. The NEB appears to be getting quite thin now in places, and looks like leaving the barges hi and dry. Is BA leaking away into the STZ?

Best wishes

Dave TYLER (Bucks, the UK)

www.david-tyler.com

Ham call G4PIE

¤······Subject: Uranus images 20th november 2011

Received: Tue 22 Nov 2011 04:26 JST

Hi all,

Here are again some experiences on Uranus. Seeing was fairly good, but again nothing clear is caught :

http://www.astrosurf.com/pellier/U2011_11_20_CPE

These are images taken with deeper filter, a RG630 and a "pure" IR-pass filter. The camera was used in binning 2x and the images resized to 200 %.

Regards,

Christophe PELLIER (Nantes, FRANCE)

¤······Subject: solar images 19-Nov-2011

Received: Sun 20 Nov 2011 22:53 JST

Hi Guys

Here are two presentations of the same image. The mono shows the chaos in the regions of AR 1355 and AR1353, and the other is revealing that the sun is under attack from The Pink Plasma Lizards.

Best wishes

Dave TYLER (Bucks, the UK)

www.david-tyler.com

Ham call G4PIE

¤······Subject: Mars 2011/11/20

Received: Sun 20 Nov 2011 22:00 JST

Hello,

Here is Mars on 2011/11/20

http://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~cmo/cmons/2011/111120/JPp20Nov11.jpg

The seeing was average.

The transparency was decreasing.

T = +0.6°C