Mars - Feb 14th, 2010

Mars on Feb 14th, 2010. Image captured using a Pentax Optio E30 (pocket digital) placed at the eyepiece of an 8" Celestron SCT, using a 13mm Ultima LX 2" eyepiece and antares 1.6x 2" Barlow for 250x. The camera was handheld at the eyepiece. A 13% Neutral Density Filter was used to tame Mars' brightness. Visually Mars showed much greater detail in moments of good seeing.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Mars
• The
• Red
• Planet
• Celestron
• SCT

[Jonnieyates23]

Take it you aint got a lady then lol? ie valentines day?

[JamesJames4]

Actually Jonnie, my 'lady' is The President of our Astronomy Club!

[Simmonique]

That seems to me like a great experience (to see Mars through the telescope). When Mars is closer to the Earth (2014) I also hope to see Mars through my own telescope. Great capture!

[JamesJames4]

Thanks Simmonique. I've looked at Mars a few times previously and never had such a clear view. So its a good idea to have a look whenever possible. There's nothing like actually seeing mars with your own eyes through the telescope.

[c3llyc3ll1]

@JamesJames4 good vids man awesome but i have a ? 4 u iv seen the pictures of the moon that u made so if u can view jupiter that well how come the focuse on the moon vids r extremly closer to where u can see the flag? just wondering not say ur bad at what u do i think its awesome im subin u great work tho

[JamesJames4]

Most backyard scopes use a maximum of 400x. So its the same as seeing the Moon from 60 miles away (240,000 / 400 = 60) and you couldn't see a flag from that distance. You would need to be within I'd guess a half mile away (even here on Earth) to see something as small as a flag so for the Moon you would need to use 480,000x to get the view someone would have from 1/2 mile away. That's why we can't see the flag. Clear skies ...

[giofrasa]

very good !!

[bosb33r]

very nice James!