Mars Art Gallery News

Jan 28, 2006: Adler Planetarium Offers Mars Imaging Class Taught by Jim Plaxco

The Adler Planetarium is offering the class Imaging Martian Marvels and Mysteries on Thursday, February 9 2006. This two hour class will provide an overview of how images captured by the robotic missions to Mars are processed. Special attention will be paid to the methods used by the instructor to transform the raw data into artistic statements of Martian geology.

The Adler Planetarium Class Web Page, located at http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/education/courses/index.shtml contains the following course information:

Title: Imaging Martian Marvels and Mysteries (SS2)
Instructor: Jim Plaxco, The Mars Art Gallery
Description: Take a "best of" Mars tour that includes the Red Planet's most majestic mountains, deepest valleys, and barren deserts using images the instructor created from raw data frames from robotic missions. Along the way, gain insight into the history of telescopic and robotic exploration of Mars, and delve into unsolved mysteries of Martian weather, seasonal changes, landscape features, and so-called Martian anomalies. The course also covers the digital image processing techniques that the instructor uses to create impressive images of planetary surfaces from exploration mission. (One session)

Date: Thursday, February 9, 2006
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Cost: $25 for non-members and $15 for Adler members

To register for this class, download the Adler Class Registration Form PDF, print it, fill it out and mail or fax it to:

Meghan Smith, Group Sales Supervisor
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605

Fax: 312-322-9117
Phone: 312-294-0361

This two hour class will be structured based on the following outline.

1. General introduction to Mars
   1. A Brief History of Telescopic Observation
   2. Martian Nomenclature, Regions, and Mapping
   3. Critical thinking and the Internet
2. Image Processing Techniques
   1. Image Artifact and Noise Removal
   2. Contrast Enhancement
   3. Color Processing
   4. Creating Composites
3. Graphic Design and Color Theory
   1. Composition
   2. Coloration
   3. Tonal Balancing
4. The Image Creation Process
   1. Locating an Image
   2. Initial Image Processing
   3. Composing the Subject
   4. Final Image Processing
   5. Application of False and/or Pseudo Color
5. Break
6. Exploring the Surface of Mars
   • Craters
   • Dune Fields
   • Dust Storms
   • Gullies
   • Martian Moons
   • Polar Caps
   • Surface Defrosting
   • Valleys
   • Volcanoes

Subscribe/Unsubscribe to Mars Art Gallery News Alerts

To subscribe, send an email with the subject "Subscribe" to:

Subscriber Email Address Policy: Email addresses will be used exclusively for the distribution of the Mars Art Gallery News and will not be sold or shared with any other individuals or organizations.

Unsubscribing: To unsubscribe, send an email to the same address with the subject "UnSubscribe". You will receive an acknowledgement email once your address has been removed from the subscribers list.