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  • Mars - Afocal and Barlow Projection
    October 20, 2020

    Mars - Afocal and Barlow Projection

    Most of us have been viewing Mars intently for at least the past month or so.  We're lucky there is no dust storm that would obscure the wonderful detail now visible.  The fall season provides earlier sunsets and now Mars...

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  • USING FILTERS FOR LUNAR/PLANETARY OBSERVATION
    September 30, 2020

    USING FILTERS FOR LUNAR/PLANETARY OBSERVATION

    1. OVERVIEW For the vast majority of my astronomical observing life, over 50 years, I have never used filters of any kind for planets or otherwise. But after half a century of reading the extraordinary claims by manufacturers and observing...

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  • Mars opposition is coming!
    September 28, 2020

    Mars opposition is coming!

    Mars opposition is coming!  As a relatively inexperienced planetary photographer, I am often amazed at the high quality of images I see from a very wide range of equipment and workflows used by amateurs.  There are obviously many ways to skin the cat and much can be done with surprisingly little equipment.    This improves my odds of finding one of them!
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  • Preparing for Mars Opposition
    September 8, 2020

    Preparing for Mars Opposition

    Preparing for Mars opposition includes thinking about your observing location and what you can do to maximize the clarity of your view.  Since the planets are nice and bright, you don't have to worry about city lights but you do need to think about the some other aspects of your location and equipment.
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  • Mars is Coming!
    August 5, 2020

    Mars is Coming!

    2020 is shaping up to be a special year for planetary observing. Jupiter and Saturn are still putting on quite a show, having both recently reached opposition.   Being located so close together in the sky makes their 2020 apparitions even more spectacular. But the real treat this year will be the return of Mars.  
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