From: "matt carmine" <jim_chung@sunshine.net>

Date: March 21, 2012 9:18:56 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Interesting new feature on Mars

A discussion of Cloudy Nights has revolved around a new cloud feature imaged by several members over the last few nights.  I too noticed it in my blue channel from last night's Mars (March 20) but thought it might have been a processing artefact but other have noticed it as a persistent feature that moves with the planet's rotation.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4852049/bluemarschannel%20copy%20copy.jpg

Current theories are it is an orographic ice cloud or large dust plume.  This is the first time such a feature has been captured by earth based imaging!

Jim