Mars 16th March 21

[mikeDnight]

I believe it was the Solis Lacus region on view, if you can call it a view. The disc is tiny and the seeing was turbulent, yet in steadier moments, subtle dark features appeared close to the southern limb. The planet's tilt is lessening and so Solis isn't as obvious. 

[jock1958]

Nice one @mikeDnight you have the knack of seeing things I can't. I looked at it about a week ago through my Tak FC-100DL at x250 - 300 and couldn't pull out any discernible detail, roll on 2022!

[mikeDnight]

26 minutes ago, jock1958 said:

Nice one @mikeDnight you have the knack of seeing things I can't. I looked at it about a week ago through my Tak FC-100DL at x250 - 300 and couldn't pull out any discernible detail, roll on 2022!

I think its a bit of a fine balancing act. Last night my 5mm Ultrascopic showed dark and light albedo features almost immediately, but at only 160X in the 100mm F8  and a sub 6 arc second disc, the image scale was too small to give any meaningful detail. Even at 200X the image scale was much smaller than id prefer, but going above that power just amplified the poor seeing. If id have caught it just before it crossed the meridian, which is a sweet spot from my site, I may have been able to use my Vixen HR's, but my seeing goes down hill fast as things approach my South west. Unfortunately even our FC 100's only work well when the seeing allows. 2022 should be a good apparition, but I'm not wishing it to roll on, as I'm fast approaching my use by date.

[jock1958]

1 hour ago, mikeDnight said:

2022 should be a good apparition, but I'm not wishing it to roll on, as I'm fast approaching my use by date.

I’m sure you have many observing years left before your used by date arrives 😁