|
THIS week Mars reaches its closest point to Earth as it does every 26 months. This time Mars is around its closest point to the sun, making for a particularly close fly by. Although one of the brightest objects in the night sky it is still a tiny dot requiring me to use my 500mm lens with a 2x extender.
Being at its closest to the sun, this is Mars' dust storm season. The relatively warm weather the planet receives as this time in its year results in fine dust being blown off its surface into enormous dust storms. Mars is currently going through a particularly big dust storm, covering the entire planet. This unfortunately means there is no chance of capturing Mars' features tonight. I'm hoping to have a good telescope before Mars next comes close to earth, and hopefully outside its dust storm season allowing me to capture some of its mountains, craters and other land forms.
|
