Astronomy from Mars.

3488 · Jun 27, 2006

I thought that this would be an interesting thread. Eclipse of Phobos by the shadow of Mars as seen by MER A Spirit.<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/2/719c4980-6661-4715-b2e9-e79dfd3e421c.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 27, 2006

How about this, both Phobos & Deimos passing in front of the constellation of Taurus the Bull. Also from MER A Spirit. Familiar constellation & stars (Aldebaran, Hyades & Pleiades) from an unusual location, Columbia Hills, Gusev Crater, Mars?

Phobos & Deimos passing in front of the constellation of Taurus the Bull.

Andrew Brown.

3488 · Jun 27, 2006

Mars moon Deimos going into Mars's shadow as seen by MER A Spirit.

Mars moon Phobos rising in the west out of Mars's shadow in dawn twilight. MER A Spirit.

Andrew Brown.

fingle · Jun 27, 2006

My favorite is, earth as seen from mars or earth from mars as reported by space dot com. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jun 27, 2006

I too quite like that from Mars Global Surveyor. Earth & Jupiter were in conjuction in front of the constellation of Cancer the Crab at this time. The Earth was very bright, about magnitude minus two, & Jupiter also blazed away at about magnitude minus 1.8. Our Moon was about magnitude +3.6, but would be difficult to see as against the brilliance of Earth. MGS got a good view because of the MOC could home in. It would have been a sight indeed from the surface of Mars, particularly as they were only about a degree apart (bluish Earth slightly above yellowish Jupiter). <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/3/e3a8d706-41a2-465f-a368-108a4a672c50.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 27, 2006

How about Jupiter, Europa, Ganymede & Callisto from Mars Global Surveyor?? Shame Io (my favourite) was not visible or the Great Red Spot. Would be interesting to turn MGS towards Saturn soon, when Saturn reaches oppostion as seen from Mars. Perhaps the MERs could do this?? Is is true that MER B Opportunity witnessed a conjunction between the Earth & Jupiter last April in the morning sky over Meridiani Planum?? <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/5/b92ad81d-b0e6-478f-b547-a37089e3573e.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 27, 2006

This is the first image ever taken of Earth from the surface of a planet beyond the Moon. It was taken by the Mars Exploration Rover A Spirit one hour before sunrise on Sol 63, of its mission. The image is a mosaic of images taken by the rover's navigation camera showing a broad view of the sky, and an image taken by the rover's panoramic camera of Earth. The contrast in the panoramic camera image was increased two times to make Earth easier to see. The inset shows a combination of four panoramic camera images zoomed in on Earth. The arrow points to Earth. Earth was too faint to be detected in images taken with the panoramic camera's color filters. The Earth was very bright, magnitude minus 1.64, so somewhat brighter than Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris). The Earth was in front of the constellation of Libra the Scales at the time. NASA / JPL. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/9/3682fdf7-4168-449b-99aa-fad27f29d3b4.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

fingle · Jun 27, 2006

Re: Earth from the surface cool, do you happen to have a link to one without the you are here message on it ? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jun 27, 2006

JPL website > Visit the Mars Rover Site > Mars Exploration Rover Mission > All Raw Images > Spirit Raw Images > Sol 63, both Panoramic & Navigation cameras. I would love to see that in full colour if possible, although the caption says that the Earth was too faint to be imaged in colour. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

robnissen · Jun 27, 2006

Very interesting thread. Thx.

3488 · Jun 28, 2006

How about this, Phobos in Mars Shine!! MER A Spirit. Glad you like this thread. It will be something that will confront future astronauts, particularly seeing Earth as a morning or evening star, just as we see Venus as such. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/13/2/7d070154-2da0-4b72-825a-c14ec489ec9e.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

fingle · Jun 29, 2006

wow two moons at once, and phobos gets eclipsed every time it goes over ?? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jun 29, 2006

Phobos is eclipsed each & every time, this is why orbiter images of Phobos have to be scheduled very carefully, as for about a third of its orbit, Phobos is in the shadow of Mars. I also think that Deimos is eclipsed pretty often too. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

superluminal · Jun 30, 2006

Absolutely amazing astronomy indeed. Thanks <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Columbia and Challenger Starships of Heroes </div>

halcyondays · Jul 3, 2006

I think this is a magnificent thread, which really captures the imagination. The idea of Mars having different celestial poles from Earth's is obvious, but I had simply not thought of this before. Anyway, we know the maximum apparent magnitude of Mars from the Earth can be up to -2.8. Are we now able to calculate what the maximum apparent magnitude of the Earth from Mars would be ? Am wondering if it exceeds the -4.4 of Venus from the Earth. Also, how often would the Earth transit the Sun from Mars ?

halcyondays · Jul 3, 2006

3488, thank you for a fascinating response.

JonClarke · Jul 3, 2006

I love "Transit of earth"! One of Clarke's most poignant stories. Looking to the future of Martian astronomy I suggest the following possibilities: Auroral and airglow studies. Meteor tracking Asteroid tracking Very long baseline interferometry Long baseline positional astronomy Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

3488 · Jul 4, 2006

I quite agree. I understand that Mars Express & Mars Odyssey have both detected Martian Aurora. I wonder if it would be visible from the surface? Of course with Mars being roughly 50% further from the sun, baseline interferometry would be mare accurate & over greater distances. Stars in the upper portion of the constellation Orion the Hunter, including the bright shoulder red supergiant star Betelgeuse, the blue giant star Bellatrix & Orion the Hunter's three-star belt (Alnitak, Alnilam & Mintaka), appear in this image taken from the surface of Mars by the panoramic camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover A Spirit. Spirit imaged stars on Thursday, March 11, 2004, after it awoke during the martian night for a communication session with NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter. This image is an eight-second exposure. Longer exposures were also taken. The images tested the capabilities of the rover for night-sky observations. Scientists will use the results to aid planning for possible future astronomical observations from Mars. It is worth noting that as seen from Mars, Orion the Hunter is fully south of the Martian celestial equator (on Earth the celestial equator passes just north of Mintaka). On Mars, the Sun passes through Taurus the Bull during the Northern Hemisphere Autumn Equinox (Southern Hemisphere Spring Equinox). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

JonClarke · Jul 4, 2006

I don't know if Martian aurora would be visible to the naked eye from the surface (although I seem to remember that either Miller of Hartmann have some nice paitings imagining what this might look like). But certainly they should be visible with image intensifiying cameras. I can't see missions being sent to Mars purely for astronomy, but it could be a useful piggy back program on other missions, especially crewed ones. All sky cameras and radar soundersfor meteor and auroral studies would mass a key kg and would be largely automated, requiring just an occasional look in by the crew. Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

3488 · Jul 5, 2006

I do agree that there should not be a mission devoted only to astronomy from Mars, but as with the rovers, it has proven a valuable piggy back mission. The Mars Phoenix Lander if it lands successfully, will be tro the far north of the Martian Arctic Circle (does anyone actually know where the landing site will be??), & maybe a movie could be made of the Martian midnight sun as the Sun from Mars will be in Aquarius the Water Bearer at this time!!! (the point of the midsummer northern hemisphere sun on Mars) Just a thought. On Mars the Tropic of Aquarius is the Martian northern tropic (On Earth Tropic of Cancer). The southern tropic on Mars is the Tropic of Virgo (On Earth Tropic of Capricorn). In the mean time I hope that both MER A Spirit & MER B Opportunity will be able to carry out further astronomy from Mars. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jul 7, 2006

The panoramic cameras on NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers are about as sensitive as the human eye at night. The cameras can see the same bright stars that we can see from Earth, and the same patterns of constellations dot the night sky. Scientists on the rover team have been taking images of some of these bright stars as part of several different projects. One project is designed to try to capture "shooting stars," or meteors, in the Martian night sky. "Meteoroids" are small pieces of comets and asteroids that travel through space and eventually run into a planet. On Earth, we can sometimes see meteoroids become brilliant, long "meteors" streaking across the night sky as they burn up from the friction in our atmosphere. Some of these meteors survive their fiery flight and land on the surface (or in the ocean) where, if found, they are called "meteorites." The same thing happens in the Martian atmosphere, and Spirit even accidentally discovered a meteor while attempting to obtain images of Earth in the pre-dawn sky back in March, 2004 (see http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040311a.html, and Selsis et al. (2005) Nature, vol 435, p. 581). On Earth, some meteors come in "storms" or "showers" at predictable times of the year, like the famous Perseid meteor shower in August or the Leonid meteor shower in November. These "storms" happen when Earth passes through the same parts of space where comets sometimes pass. The meteors we see at these times are from leftover debris that was shed off of these comets. The same kind of thing is predicted for Mars, as well. Inspired by calculations about Martian meteor storms by meteor scientists from the University of Western Ontario in Canada and the Centre de Recherche en Astrophysique de Lyon in France, and also aided by other meteor research colleagues from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, scientists on th <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jul 7, 2006

Taking advantage of extra solar energy collected during the day, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit settled in for an evening of stargazing, photographing the two moons of Mars as they crossed the night sky. The first two images in this sequence show gradual enhancements in the surface detail of Mars' largest moon, Phobos, made possible through a combination technique known as "stacking." In "stacking," scientists use a mathematical process known as Laplacian sharpening to reinforce features that appear consistently in repetitive images and minimize features that show up only intermittently. In this view of Phobos, the large crater named Stickney is just out of sight on the moon's upper right limb. Spirit acquired the first two images with the panoramic camera on the night of sol 585 (Aug. 26,2005). The far right image of Phobos, for comparison, was taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on Mars Express, a European Space Agency orbiter. The third image in this sequence was derived from the far right image by making it blurrier for comparison with the panoramic camera images to the left. More information about the Mars Express image is available at http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEM21TVJD1E_1.html" Scientists will use images of the two moons to better map their orbital positions, learn more about their composition, and monitor the presence of nighttime clouds or haze. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jul 11, 2006

Dear Jon. First answer. I found out the dates on the NASA website (cant remember where now, go into Google & input Asteroids have seasons too). On this there are the actual dates of the seasons for Mars & Asteroid 433 Eros (seaonal dates in Month - year for the outer planets. Saturn was easy, because I knew when the last time Saturn had its solstices & equinoxes, so simulating these was dead easy. I printed this & took it home, where I put myself on these different objects on Redshift 4, put in the dates shown, & noticed where the sun was at the solstices, its northern & southern most points. I then did a formula on Microsoft Excel & forwarded these dates. Lo & behold, it was amazingly accurate. On Mars in the northern hemisphere, the Summer Solstice sun is in Aquarius, Autumn Equinox: Taurus, Winter Solstice: Virgo, Spring Equinox: Ophiuchus. On Asteroid 433 Eros in the northern 'hemisphere' (if you can call it that on such an irregular body) the Summer Solstice sun is in Pisces, Autumn Equinox: Gemini, Winter Solstice: Corvus, Spring Equinox: Sagittarius. Where does Sun Yat Sen's neice come from? My wife is from Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province in China. These meteorites seen by MER A Spirit named as such have a special meaning for me in this respect. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

JonClarke · Jul 11, 2006

Sun Yat Sen's niece ended up in Phuket in south Thailand, which is where I met her. She died many years ago. SYS was an amazing character, revered by the Nationalists and Communists alike for bring about the demise of the empirial system. But we digress! Does Mars have anything that approximates a polar star (say within 5 degrees of the celestial pole)? Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

3488 · Jul 11, 2006

The blue supergiant Deneb (Alpha Cygni) is the closest bright star to the Martian celestial north pole (I think is about 7 degrees away, but I will need to look to be certain). The north celestial pole on Mars is located in Cygnus the Swan. The southern polar point is in Vela the Sails not far from the prominent second magnitude star Delta Velorum. I will need to look on Redshift 4 tonight (United Kingdom) to see the actual polar stars on Mars. It will be worth checking back here. When I have done this, I will make the post. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

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