Mars

[kerrylewis]

I enjoy the challenge of Mars too and have seen some great views in times of good seeing. I like to do a quick reminder sketch of what I can see and then compare this with a close up view in Starry Night for the same time. It's very satisfying to get it 'right'!

Kerry

[Moonshane]

You need the right time to observe Mars Paul. 

I saw the planet through a 4.5" reflector at the time of the closest opposition for 50,000 years,   . 

Interesting Ron but what was the previous closest one like?  

[Moonshane]

Definitely worth hanging on but I agree it's an amazing planet to study.

What I tend to do is make a sketch as well as I can and get maximum detail out of the often vague fuzzy images and then compare it to e.g. calsky http://www.calsky.com/cs.cgi/Planets/5/1?obs=34296505672773 

set your parameters for the scope you are using etc and it gives a good representation of the view

The end result hopefully confirms what I have sketched. e.g. http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/211159-moonshanes-sketches/?p=2309162

The small pea sized dot is the real approx size of the planet in the field (even at e.g.200x) so you need patience and time as well as good collimation and cooling to get detail as you do with all planetary observing.

[MAN or ASTROMAN]

Cheers Shane. Calsky is now in my favourites,awaiting opposition.

[barkis]

Interesting Ron but what was the previous closest one like?  

Funny enough Shane, there are times when I do feel that old  .

[Dave In Vermont]

CalSKY is a very useful resource for that, Shane. It always amuses me that when I enter the site, it recognizes my computer and gives me a personalized greeting. If anyone reading this hasn't yet checked them out, I recommend they do.

Not the NSA,

Dave

[Thales]

Hmmm...very interesting discussion - maybe Mars in 2016 is worth a trip to a more southerly point when at its best?? MAybe a trip to Spain or the Algarve? I've heard that some people go to the Algarve for astro observing??