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Mars in May

Acquisition Deep Sky Mars
4 replies•227 views
Mars??
Multiple choice poll 14 votes
29% (4 votes)
71% (10 votes)
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Alien_Enthusiast avatar
Alien_Enthusiast avatar
Hi dear AstroBinners,

How realistic is it to try imaging Mars rn?

It seems to be skimming low, close to the horizon, but there is an hour gap between the sunrise and the marsrise.

If I use a 12/16'' is it worth the try?

Ty
andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
Opposition is in Jan 2025 and it is going to be aphelic so Mars diameter isn't going to be large at all even then. At the moment is less than 5" and appearing just before dawn breaks and very low on top so, no, it's just wasted time.
Helpful Concise
Alien_Enthusiast avatar
Alien_Enthusiast avatar
andrea tasselli:
Opposition is in Jan 2025 and it is going to be aphelic so Mars diameter isn't going to be large at all even then. At the moment is less than 5" and appearing just before dawn breaks and very low on top so, no, it's just wasted time.

Michael Guerrera avatar
Michael Guerrera avatar
Yes, just because, no because it's so low. I attempted to image the Mars/ Neptune conjunction the other day, but stupidly, I didn't have a charge on my laptop and it died. I did however get a terrible image of Neptune! Haha.
akion avatar
akion avatar
Whatever floats your boat I guess. Will you have a great time observing, I mean will it be a fun, fulfilling experience? Will you accept a not so great quality picture of Mars while also being contended in the fact that at least you have an early (albeit not so great) image of Mars? Do you value observing above sleeping? 

In case all your answeres are a definitive yes, then I'm not sure what the poll is all about in the first place. In case you're in doubt, then smack yourself in the face, state the question again, nod, and go get that Red Planet! smile

So in short, yes. 

Ps.: in case you don't have an ADC, now it's a good time to think about buying one. Or at least a red filter.