Mars Oppositions of 2001 and 2003

The following images were obtained with an SBIG ST-7E CCD and a Meade 10-inch LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope using eyepiece projection with an effective focal length of 580 inches was utilized (15mm eyepiece was used). The CCD was binned 2x2.

Mars on June 16, 2001 at 06:36 UT. The central meridian is 250 degrees and the planet's distance was 67.7 million kilometers. Angular size of Mars on this night was 20.7". The picture is a composite of red, green, and blue-filtered images.

Mars on September 13, 2003 at 06:42 UT. The central meridian is 277 degrees and the planet's distance was 59.1 million kilometers. Angular size of Mars on this night was 23.7". The picture is a composite of red, green, and blue-filtered images.