martian dust storm ??

I was out last night where there were fleeting periords of good seeing but not enough for me to be happy with. I got this a image of Mars, and I'd like your opinion on something.
If you look in the 7-8 oclock direction betwen the center and the edge there is a distrint red area, is this the dust storm that has been mentioned on the web over the last day or so ???


Mike, it looks like we've all lost the poler ice caps over the last few days also. :lol:

Nice picture Dave, well done.

Have you tried looking on the net to se if you can verify if a storm is/was in progress? I can just about make out the patch you are referring to in your image.

I have but ones I found so far dont in any way correspond to the image I have here, nevermind the red fuz. :lol:
The funny thing about this image is that i captured over 2000 frames, yet ony 100 were needed for this image, when i stacked any more, the detail became washed out, the seeing was so bad generally..


BTW, turn your monitor brightness and contrast up full to see it.

ah well,
I was able to find out where on Mars the storm is, and it doesnt correspond to that area. so what is this, has anyone else captured, is it part of the Hellas region?

Dave,

I can see the area you mean and if you compare it to the image I took back on the 25th,

Then there certainly are some features missing in this regionin your image that are visible in mine.
The main dust storm is further round the planet but I have seen reports of generally reduced athmospheric transparency on Mars by some observers.( I am more worried about our own athmosphere ) So maybe you are on to something there.

Michael S.

Dave,

Mike, it looks like we've all lost the poler ice caps over the last few days also.

Will have to cancle that sking trip then :lol:

Michael.