[AZ-Observing] [Fwd: AstroAlert: Martian flares sighted]

Given the recent discussion on Mars RE seeing and the mention below
of western observers, I thought this might be of interest.


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Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 10:43:40 -0400
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From: Rick Fienberg <rfienberg@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: AstroAlert: Martian flares sighted
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********************************************************************************
* Attention all Mars observers: Flares have been sighted in Edom 
Promontorium! *
********************************************************************************

In the May 2001 issue of SKY & TELESCOPE (pages 115 to 123), Thomas Dobbins 
and William Sheehan discussed rare historical observations of bright, 
star-like flares from certain regions on the planet Mars. They suggested 
that the flares might be caused by specular reflections of sunlight off 
water-ice crystals in surface frosts or atmospheric clouds, specifically at 
times when the sub-Sun and sub-Earth points were nearly coincident and near 
the planet's central meridian (the imaginary line running down the center 
of the visible disk from pole to pole).

Based on their analysis, Dobbins and Sheehan predicted that flares like 
those last reported in 1958 might erupt this week in Edom Promontorium, 
near the Martian equator at longitude 345 degrees. Dobbins organized an 
expedition to the Florida Keys, where Mars would ride high in the south 
under exceptionally steady skies. Expedition members observed the planet 
using a variety of telescopes nightly beginning June 3rd. No flares were 
seen for several nights. But on June 7th, beginning around 06:40 UT (2:40 
Eastern daylight time), about 80 minutes before Edom crossed the central 
meridian, the team observed a series of brightenings. Each lasted perhaps 3 
to 5 seconds; they occurred sporadically over the next 90 minutes or so, 
until clouds ended the observations. At times Edom appeared to pulse with a 
period of 10 to 15 seconds for a minute or two. The flares were seen 
visually at about 300 power through two homemade 6-inch (15-centimeter) 
Newtonian reflectors (one f/6, the other f/8) by Dobbins, Donald Parker, 
Gary Seronik, Rick Fienberg, and David Moore and were recorded on video at 
1,400 power through a Meade 12-inch (30-cm) Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope by 
Parker and Tippy D'Auria. Visually, the flares seemed to cut the dark 
linear feature Sinus Sabaeus nearly in two.

Mars observers in North America, especially the western half, are 
encouraged to observe the planet visually and to record it on video over 
the next two or three nights, when conditions will continue to favor flares 
in Edom. Observing reports -- including your location, Universal date and 
time, telescope/equipment description, sky conditions, and any other 
relevant details -- should be sent to the Mars sections of the Association 
of Lunar and Planetary Observers (http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/alpo/) and 
British Astronomical Association 
(http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~baa/jupiter/index.html), as well as the 
International Mars Watch (http://elvis.rowan.edu/marswatch).

Clear skies!

       -- Rick Fienberg and Gary Seronik, SKY & TELESCOPE


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