1st view of Mars this apparition

[John]

I stayed up late to get my 1st views of Mars of the 2011/12 apparition. The scope I used was my Skywatcher ED120 refractor with 6mm orthoscopic and 5mm monocentric eyepieces.

The red planet is easy to find, just below Leo. Tonight it presented a small, strongly orange / rust coloured gibbous disk which had an apparent diameter of around 8 arc seconds. The northern polar cap was clearly visible at 150x and 180x as was a sizeable elongated dark surface marking - I guess that was Syrtis Major as that's the largest and most distinctive dark area visible on the disk of Mars.

Not much else to report but this short session has whetted my appetite for the forthcoming Martian apparition which will see the apparent diameter of the planets disk increase to nearly 14 arc seconds on the 3rd of March 2012

[Nexus 6]

just wrote up my thoughts on it on another thread John, it was not giving away that much for me and apart from the Northern Polar region I struggled to make out much more detail than that, although I have been looking at it with bins and just naked eye over the past few weeks it was my first proper look at it using the 925 and 13mm Ethos, elusive little blighter really tests out the conditions, kit and patience, it would be great to see so much more from it, makes me wonder how the astronomers of the past managed to pick out so much detail with equipment that would not stand up well with some of today's "quality kit"

[John]

I agree Alan.

Mars is a pretty challenging object and, to some extent, I suspect it will generate a little disappointment among first time viewers I fear.

There have been some much better apparitions in the past with Mars apparent diameter being much more than it will be this time around. Back in the 1980's I can recall picking out a number of surface features and 2 pole caps with my old Tasco 60mm refractor !.

Last time around I remember viewing Mars with quite a lot of twilight still in the sky and that helped bring out the details. I'll try that again when Mars starts rising earlier.

[Moonshane]

Mars is special. I got a view last night too through my 90mm fast achro refractor but it was so low it was actually twinkling! Just a bright blurry blob. Still, I've seen it this time round. Looking forward to the early spring for the better views and for later in the winter when it gets a bit more height.

[MorningMajor]

Had my first sighting this morning - left it a little late as the sky was lightening up - very small even through the Dob and made me realise I need to re collimate the scope! - looking forward for better opportunities next year

[John]

Mars is special....

Definitely Shane - despite it's observing challenges I'm sure I will be pointing my scopes in it's direction for many hours over the coming months - Mars does have a special fascination

Hopefully the new mega-rover will be exploring the red planet from next August too which will be exciting

[Moonshane]

It's funny really as I don't consider myself a planetary specialist but I simply cannot resist a look every time there's one available and I'm out observing. I suppose it is the challenging nature of the planet and in a way this is similar to chasing tight doubles etc.

Even though I know logically, there's little if any chance of finding life there I think the infused childhood tales of Martians etc still makes it feel like there might just be.........it's all Jeff Wayne's fault!

Plus we can see the surface which just make us want to stand on it!

I have not looked at it through my current scopes either and am hopeful of some good detail and observing sessions to come.

[John]

.........it's all Jeff Wayne's fault!

.....

Him and H.G. Wells

[Moonshane]

well, yeah of course but it was JW that brought it to life for me in my teens

I must read the book, never done so.

[Nexus 6]

Agree it is captivating, the colour kind of draws you in, maybe the "martians" are to blame

funny, how talk of observing Mars tends to lead on to discussion of HG Wells and Jeff Wayne's musical version, a classic album for which I blame Richard Burton, once his voice hits the air waves....No One Would Have Believed.....