Mars on December 1st, 2020

Good seeing condition, single RGB sequence of 120s per channel. Diameter of the planet at date 14.5". C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Dust Storm on Mars, Nov 24, 2020

At left is an image of Mars taken on November 24, showing the massive dust storm started few weeks after the planet opposition that is now affecting large parts of Mars' surface. At right, for comparison, a realistic simulation generated from the images taken weeks earlier with the same instrumentation, showing what would have been the aspect of the planet at the same time without the storm. Aside the normal shrinking of the polar cap it is quite striking the extension of the raving storm. Good seeing condition, derotation of 3 videos, each of 120 sec per RGB channel. Diameter of the planet at date 15.7". C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars on November 12, 2020

Mars in good seeing condition, 120 sec videos per RGB channel. Diameter of the planet at date 17.9". C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars Opposition 2020 - Full Rotation

An animation showing the full rotation of Mars as seen in the 2020 grat opposition. This rotation was created using the images taken around the opposition time and the generated surface map. As this is a large file it could take a while to load.. C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Albedo Map of Mars - 2020 Opposition

With the best images of Mars I took from around the opposition I created this map covering the entire surface of the planet, complete with the nomenclature of the main features (in white). In red are reported the landing location of all major missions to Mars, including the upcoming Mars 2020 chosen landing site for the Perseverance Rover, the Jezero Crater. WinJuPos was used to create first each image' equirectangular projection, then all projections were merged into this global map.

Mars around opposition (panel)

This panel collects some of the best images of Mars I took from my rooftop terrace in Singapore before and after the planet's opposition on October 13, 2020. Seeing was from average/good to very good on each night. C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars on November 5, 2020

Mars in good seeing condition, 120 sec videos per RGB channel. Diameter of the planet at date 19.2". C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars on October 29, 2020

Mars in very good seeing condition, 120 sec videos per RGB channel. Diameter of the planet at date 20.45". C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars on October 25, 2020

Mars in good seeing condition, 120 sec videos per RGB channel. Diameter of the planet at date 21.07". C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars on October 17, 2020

Mars in average/good seeing condition, 120 sec videos per RGB channel. Diameter of the planet at date 22.0". C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars on October 10, 2020

Mars in average/good seeing condition, 120 sec videos per RGB channel. Diameter of the planet at date 22.5". C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Phobos and Deimos dance on October 1st.

This animation shows the two Mars moons, Phobos of mag 11th and Deimos of mag 12.1. The two moons are quite small and move very quickly around the planet as can be seen in this sequence covering a time span of just over 5 minutes. As the moons are very faint, I had to expose much longer to record them (exposure for each frame was 100ms with luminance filter), therefore instead of Mars globe only its intense glow is visible. I then superimposed (in negative) the images of the globe correctly exposed taken at the beginning of each sequence to show the relative position of the satellites. North is up. C14 + Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars in Opposition October 1, 2020

Mars in good seeing condition, derotation of 2x120 sec videos per RGB channel. Diameter of the planet at date was close to 22.5". C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars in Opposition October 1, 2020

An animation of a sequence of images of Mars in good seeing condition taken the night of October 1st. Each frame is obtained from 3x120 sec videos per each RGB channel. Map computation in WJ was used to remove the rind artifact from the border, while the details of the surface come from derotation of two sequences each. As time passes some features on the surface shows their change in appearance, like the huge Olympus mons (21 km high) on the top right that casts a shadow as it gets closer to the planet's border and some tiny clouds on the left of the image which appear intensifying by the grazing light. Diameter of the planet at date was close to 22.5". C14 + Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars on September 23, 2020

Mars in average seeing condition, derotation of 2x120 sec videos per RGB channel. Diameter of the planet at date 21.9". C14 +Siebert 1.5x (@ f/16) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars on September 4, 2020

Mars in average seeing condition, derotation of 2x120 sec videos per RGB channel. Diameter of the planet at date 19.4". C14 +TV 2x (@ f/23) - Drizzle 1.5x - ZWO ASI290MM - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars with dust-storm on July 20, 2018

Mars close to opposition, during the global dust-storm covering most of its surface and limiting the visibility of major surface features. The relatively deep infrared is able to improve some details visibility. Poor/average seeing condition. Diameter=23.8". Unfiltered RGB image derotation of 3x300 sec videos, IR850 image derotation of 6x300 sec videos. Deconvolution in Astra Image and final process in PS. C14 + TV Powermate 2.5x (@ f/25) - ZWO ASI224MC + ZWO IR850 filter - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars on June 10, 2018

Variable seeing condition. Diameter=17.0", CM=45.9°. Single 300 sec video, 20,000 best frames selected and stacked in AS!3, deconvolution in Astra Image and final PS processing. C14 + TV Powermate 2.5x (@ f/25) - ZWO ASI224MC - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore

Mars on June 4, 2018

Average seeing condition, planet at 30d altitude. Diameter=15.9". Single 300 sec video, 20,000 best frames selected and stacked in AS!3, deconvolution in Astra Image and final PS processing. C14 + TV Powermate 2.5x (@ f/25) - ZWO ASI224MC - iOptron CEM120 - Singapore