Mars: Photometric and Polarization Studies in 2005-2008

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

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Mars, Observations, Photometry, Polarization

Scientific paper

The writer made 123 Johnson V filter brightness measurements of Mars between February 26, 2007 (Ls = 191 °) and June 25, 2008 (Ls = 90 °). In addition to this, he made 59 whole-disc polarization measurements of that planet between 2005 and 2008 in light with a wavelength between 0.42 and 0.86 μm. This report summarizes these measurements. The findings of this study are: Mars' brightness was close to what Mallama's model predicted; the average observed minus predicted magnitude between December 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008 was 0.009 ± 0.002 magnitudes. Secondly, dust deposited by the planet-encircling dust storm in the summer of 2007 caused little or no change in Mars' brightness. Thirdly, Mars reflected about the same amount of polarized light (at λ = 0.54 μm) in nearly dust-free conditions during the 2003, 2005 and 2007 apparitions. Fourthly, the amount of polarized light dropped with increased wavelength roughly in proportion to λ-4 in nearly dust-free conditions, and finally, the October 2005 dust clouds had different polarization characteristics than those in September 2001.

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