Mars' 1995 Opposition from PIC du Midi

The last Martian apparition was observed from Pic du Midi between October 1994 and March 1995. Earth-based observation remains the only practicable way to perform continuous surveys of the planets, as opposed to orbital (HST) or space-borne observation. A good planetary site with limited demand for observational time like the 1-m telescope at Pic du Midi provides the optimal opportunity to monitor planetary activity, including atmospheric phenomena, surface variations, and polar caps recession. For instance, HST observations of Mars during this period, though yielding a much better spatial resolution, are limited to very few sessions and do not make it possible to monitor quick processes along a whole Martian season.