解説（安達）
グラフトン氏(Ed Grafton)はデュ−カリオン(350W,-15)付近の黄雲の様子
を詳しく記録している。ヘラス(Hellas;290W,-50)に侵入した黄雲はデューカ
リオンから侵入した物ではなく、ノアキス(Noachis;355W,-45)から侵入した
ことが判る。デューカリオンの黄雲は、今日はセルペンティス(Serpentis;
325W,-25)付近で非常に明るく成長している様子が記録された。また、サバ
エウス(Sinus Sabaeus;340W,-5)の南部が覆われ、一部はエドム(Edom;350W
0)から北に伸びている様子が認められた。メリディアニ(Meridiani;0W,0)か
らセルペンティス南端に向けて斜に黒いバンドができているが、この正体は
不明である。
一方、西の方はベルデン氏(Erwin van der Velden)の画像によれば、140W
になり、やや西に伸びたものの、拡散傾向が続いている。

December 18th, 2003.
Ed Grafton recorded the state of the dust cloud around Deucalion(350w
-15) in detail. The dust cloud which entered in Hellas(290W,-50)
didn't flow from Deucalion(350W,-15). This flowed from Noachis (355W
-45). The dust cloud which flowed into Deucalion develops very
cheerfully around Srpentis(325W,-25) today. Moreover, the southern
part of Sinus Sabaeus (340W,-5) was covered with dust cloud, and it
partly flowed out in the north from Edom(350W,0). A dark band can be
seen in the south of Serpenthis from Meridiani(0W,0). True character
isn't clear. On the other hand, though the west side was 140 degrees
it spreads by the image of Erwin van der Velden.

FROM Makoto ADACHI
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Mars Observers
Here is an image from December 18th 2003 @ 0:17 UT. Looks like the Dust
storm is expanding. The sky transparancy was excellent 9/10, and the seeing
was fair to fair 4-5/10.
C14 @ f/39, ST5 CCD

RED  + IR rejection, .2  seconds, Edmund filter
GREEN + IR rejection, .4  seconds, Edmund filter
BLUE  + IR rejection, .6  second, Edmund filter
Luminance, IR + Red , 600-1000nm  .05  seconds,  Edmunds filter
Ed Grafton
[Ed Grafton, Houston Texas U.S.A.]

I have attached a webcam image and some drawings from 18 December.
Conditions were very poor, with cloud cover.
The dust appears to be confined to the southern hemisphere and  moving eastward
possibly into Hellas (although this might be a limb effect).
Best



D.C. Parker, Coral Gables, FL. 16-in (41cm) Newtonian

ToUCam Pro Camera  Eyepiece Projection @ f/21.7

Integration Time: 1/25 sec. 10 fps. GAIN = Maximum.



Image shot through heavy cloud layer. Transparency =1m. Mars barely visible
Seeing variable but surprisingly good (4-7 Pickering) --post cold front.
W  Wind 4 kts. Altitude =47 degrees. No dew.

Dust very bright over Noachis near PM limb.
Dust streak across Argyre. NP Hood prominent.
[ Donald C Parker Coral Gables, Florida U.S.A]

Another picture of Mars with the dust storm, this time with a more
favourable CM and a 6/10 seeing. I think I have still some astigmatism with
my C8 since the disk looks a bit warped. I might have a look at the barlow
lens when the storm is over.
[Erwin van der Velden Austlaria]

2003/12/18 19:27 UT                     2003/12/18 20:17 UT
CML=284.3  Dia.= 9.4" LS=318.46         CML=296.4  Dia.=  9.4" LS=318.48
25.6-cm Newtonian x507                  25.6-cm Newtonian x507
Seeing 4 /10  Transparency 9/10         Seeing 4 to 5 /10  Transparency 9 to 6/10

Dear all Mars observers

I attach here 2 drawings made yesterday evening under fair seeing
condition (or at least not too bad): Mare Serpentis seems mostly obscured
but once more the dust seems to spread in this direction at the same speed
Mars is rotating the region out of our view from Europe...
It is worth keeping an eye on this storm as MarsExpress and Beagle-2
arrive to Mars just in less than 6 days!

[Nicolas Biver  MEUDON, FRANCE]

Hello
I am pleased to join this Mars observer group. It is a bit late for this
opposition, but quite good pictures can still be taken with Ludiver 600
mm cassegrain telescope, because Mars is now reaching 40° above horizon
in France.
[Bruno Daversin  Cherbourg, France]

ALPO-Japan Latest Mars Section