This series of sketches covers my observations of Mars around the opposition
of 2003. Various telescopes were used including a 105mm Astro-Physics apo, a
200mm TEC Fluorite apo, a 13-inch Merz Refractor (circa. 1859, Herstmonceux,
Sussex, England) and a 28-inch Grubb Photo-visual Refractor (circa. 1893,
Royal Observatory, Greenwich, England). Simple graphite sketches with colour
notes were carried out at the eyepiece, generally over a 30 minute to one
hour period, these coloured pencil sketches then being drawn as soon as
possible afterwards. Interestingly the same sort of view is distilled out of
each observation regardless of the aperture being used!
Though the view didn’t appear to change very much from one evening to
another, the shrinking southern polar cap and changing phase of Mars is
distinctly seen over the three month observing period. My personal challenge
for the current Mars apparition is to catch the gibbous phase BEFORE
December 2007 opposition as well as afterwards.
The disc diameter of the sketches (image flipped to the correct orientation)
is approx. 5cm, and south is up.
Sally Russell
Sally,
Excellent series of sketches! You have captured the appearance of the dark albedo features and the color seen across the disk very well. Good luck with the 2007-08 apparition.
Michael Rosolina
Friars Hill, WV USA
Sally,
This is a wonderful collection of sketches made at some most impressive telescopes. Your ability to render the appearance and the feel of the 2003 Mars close approach event is beautifully recorded here. As Michael mentioned above the color adds so much more to this post.
Frank
Michael and Frank, thank you for your kind words about my Mars collection sketches 🙂
I occasionally used coloured filters whislt carrying out these observations, but infinitely preferred the unfiltered view and aimed to reproduce that colour in these drawings. When I used the Grubb refractor the image was so bright due to the huge light gathering capacity of that telescope that it took a few minutes before I could actually see any surface details because of the glare!!
Dear Sal,
So nice to see your sketches laid out allowing comparison of changes through that very memorable opposition. Your access to those large historic instruments to study our favourite target was most enviable.
As you know I am lucky enough to own one of your sketches which I absolutely treasure it takes pride of place in my home.
I am already excited about Mars coming into range of our optics again, your post has only served to heighted this excitment, Thank you.
Dale
Thank you Dale! It is indeed very exciting to contemplate viewing and sketching Mars again, though I suspect that the instruments I will be using this time around will be slightly more humble than the grand historic scopes I had access to in 2003 (more’s the pity)!! I must echo Michael’s words and say good luck with the 2007-8 apparition everyone 🙂
Sally
Great work Sally! I have never had the opportunity to see Mars with a telescope, but your sketches sure make me look forward to the next opposition!