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Immerse yourself in the beauty of stargazing on Mars with a 360-degree unobstructed view of the true dark sky. Experience the unique environment of Mars, with its thin atmosphere, absence of industrial smog and light pollution, and excellent seeing and transparency. Discover the different constellations, observe the Martian moons, and witness solar eclipses and Earth transits. Explore the wonders of the Mars Observatory and capture breathtaking images of the cosmos.

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  1. Top Page Stargazing on MARS Your imaginary observatory location, 360 degrees unobstructed view, True dark sky.

  2. Environment on Mars • Thin atmosphere, no industrial smog, no light pollution, • Excellent seeing and transparency (in absence of sand storms, etc.). • Average temperature on Mars is -63ºC/-81.4ºF • Atmosphere is composed of 95.32% carbon dioxid and 7.2% nitrogen • Average atmospheric pressure is 0.007 bars (about 1/100th of Earth) • Gravity is 0.379 of Earth's. • A year on Mars is 1.881x of Earth, a day is about 40 minutes longer.

  3. Reason being: Parallax angles to Proxima Centauri: on 1 AU base (Earth orbit): 0.773” on 1.524AU base (Mars orbit): 1.178” Different Constellations? It’s only a small step to Mars, but no giant leap into space. Therefore, the constellations appear like as seen from Earth. Mars Rover Spirit’s image of Orion as viewed from 15 deg southern latitude on Mars.

  4. South North RA: 09h10m43s, Dec: -52º53’09 RA: 21h10m43s, Dec: 52º53’09 Mars’s Polar Axis • The orientation of Mars’s axis is different from Earth, • Mars has no obvious Pole Stars, • Inclination to ecliptic is 1.85º – same zodiac constellations, • but different equinoxes and solstices, • Mars, too, is subjected to precession and axial tilt variation.

  5. Observing the Martian Moons Moon Orbits to-scale

  6. Influence of altitude Influence of latitude Observing the Martian Moons Apparent Angular Sizes

  7. Observing the Martian Moons Fact Sheet Phobos (‘fear’) Deimos (‘panic’) Image: Viking 2 Orbiter Image: Viking Orbiter Dimensions Surface distance Center distance Apparent size* Visual magnitude Orbit period Axial rotation of Mars: 1.026 days 27 x 22 x 18 km 5,980 km 9,378 km 12.58’ -9mv max. 0.32 days rises in the west 15 x 12 x 11 km 20,060 km 23,459 km 2.43’ -5.5mv max. 1.26 days *In the meridian on 45º latitude, measured on longest axis. Angular size variations: Phobos: 45%, Deimos: 1.8’ to 2.6’ Image: Phobos-2, Feb 28, 1989 Image: Viking 2, h=30km, 1.2km wide

  8. Observing Mars from its Moons From Phobos Simulated view on Valles Marineris FOV: 120º Mars’ angular size: 42.5º (85x the full Earth moon) From Deimos Simulated view on the Hellas region FOV: 120º Mars’ angular size: 16.7º (33x the full Earth moon)

  9. Influence of relative orbit position From Moon to Moon Visibility Condition Phobos: 8.2º E/W elongation Deimos: 20º E/W elongation Apparent Sizes • An exciting performance of fast changes, • Observing Phobos from Deimos is most dynamic • Phobos - Deimos minimum distance is 14,081km, • Phobos - Deimos maximum distance is 32,837km.

  10. Solar Eclipses on Mars • Phobos Eclipse • Mars Rover Opportunity • On March 10, 2004 • Sun size is 2/3rd • Phobos’s is half of Earth Moon • Deimos Eclipse • Mars Rover Opportunity • On sol 39 of its mission • Sun size is 2/3rd • Deimos size is half of Phobos • Eclipses occur several times a day • No total eclipses on Mars • Less spectacular than on Earth Phobos eclipse shadow Mars Global Surveyor. August 26, 1999 over Western Xanthe Terra. 250km (155mi across)

  11. Observing Earth from Mars • Earth is an inner planet, • Shows phases like Venus/Mercury, • Mean greatest elongation is 41º, • Earth transits observable but rare. • (last: May 11, 1984; next: Nov 10, 2084) Venus transit in 2004. Courtesy K. Spencer. Mars Global Surveyor. May 8, 2003 13:00 UTC • Earth of the Past • Earth-Mars light time varies between • 3 and 22 minutes. • In 22 minutes Earth rotates 5.5º • towards East (1ºin 4 minutes).

  12. Imaging on Mars Our Mars Observatory Mars Rover Spirit Spirit’s two panoramic CCD cameras. Spirit’s field of view • Location: Gusev Crater, 15º south of equator • Mounting: altazimuth, no tracking • Pixel area: 1,024 x 1,024 pixels • Field of view: 16.8º • Resolution: 59” per pixel • Equivalent: 35mm SLR with 125mm lens • Cost: 400 million US$, excluding shipment

  13. Imaging on Mars Orion

  14. Imaging on Mars Phobos and Deimos

  15. Imaging on Mars Phobos and Deimos

  16. Imaging on Mars Phobos Lunar Eclipse

  17. Imaging on Mars South Celestial Pole Region

  18. Back to Earth – Thank You!

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