Mars - 6 May 2012

[DarkerSky]

After endless weeks of cloud and rain, finally got a break last night at a suitable time to view Mars with my 16" scope. Excellent seeing gave some stunning detail even though the disc is really now quite small at 9.5 arc seconds.

16" x295 magnification

Neodymium filter

21.00UT to 21.45UT

CM 349 degrees

Illuminaiton: 91%

NPC small and bright, but much more obvious than the last time I viewed it. It seemed to be surrounded by a cusp of lighter material, and there was no obvious dark outlining to the cap (Lowell band?) that there has been earlier in the apparition.

The most noticeable features were in the south (top). Syrtis Major was distorted into a curve on the evening limb. Above it (top left) was a very bright area - Hellas - exiting over the limb.

A dark kinked line was seen stretching out across the southern part. This is Sinus Sabaeus. A couple of darker dots were seen within it, one equating to the position of Sinus Meridiani.

Towards the end of the observation the gap between Sinus Meridani and Mare Erythraeum was obvious as a slender brighter zone flanked by curving darker arms from Mare Erythraeum.

Also noticeable in the south was Pandorae Fretum, the darker area slightly south of Sinus Sabaeus.

In the north the darkness of Mare Acidalium was obvious rotating on the the disc. Some great detail in the area that cusps Arabia to the north, including a distinctive Ismenius Lacus.

Cydonia was obvious as a lighter area between Mare Acidalium and Boreosyrtis that ran across the extreme northern area.

[Mike73]

Thats a lot of detail Seb and a lovely sketch.

[andrew63]

That's stunning - and to think the disk is that small. Shows what can be achieved with dedication and good seeing!

andrew