Mars 2003.6.24

Hi,

I had very good conditions for Mars this morning. The most rock solid seeing I've had in a long time though transparency was average. Anyway, Mars was showing its "good" side at 400x in my refractor.

Just a note on the filter I used. This is a beta version of Sirius Optic's PC filter which is really close to being a true RGB - 3 peak filter. In conjunction with the Chromacor, Martian detail was amazing.

I think I'll have to find a different kind of drawing paper in order to get smoother tones and better ability to stand up to blend/lift techniques with an eraser.

Sol Robbins

Attached Image:

Sol,

A spectacular observation of Mars! You have captured the regions between Syrtis Major and Meridiani Sinus (east-west) and Cydonia and Mare Australe (north-south) very well. Hellas appears bright as well towards the south-preceding (upper right) limb. The Sirius PC filter sounds like a very good one for Mars. I have been using a magenta (Wratten 30) filter for most of my observations of Mars, but the PC filter also exhibits detail visible through a green filter as well (e.g. bright frost, surface fog). I look forward to your future observations.

Carlos

This is the heart of us amateurs, in my opinion. Beautiful planet, beautiful drawing. Just plain satisfying!