Mars Observation (April 1, 2003)

I have attached an observation of Mars I made this morning (08:15 U.T.). I noted much detail over the disk as can be seen in my drawing. Any comments will be welcome. The best of luck in your own observations and imaging.

Date (U.T.): April 1, 2003
Time (U.T.): 08:15
CM: 053.9
LS: 161.1 (Martian Northern Summer)
De: -10.0, Ds: 7.8, Phase (k): 0.88
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 282x and 352x
Filters (Wratten): 23A and 80A
Seeing (1-10): 5-6 (brief moments of 7/10), Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 6

Notes:
South Polar Limb Haze (SPLH): Appears brilliant 10/10 and obscures the south polar limb.
Mare Erythraeum: Appears dark (3/10) with a central bright (7/10) area (Pyrrhae Regio?).
Aurorae Sinus: Appears dark (3/10) connecting to the south to Bosporos Gemmatus (3/10).
Argyre I/II: Appears shaded to bright (6-7/10) adjacent to the SPLH.
Solis Lacus: Appears dark (3/10) and oval-shaped. Adjacent to an extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH).
Chryse-Xanthe: Appears bright (7/10), but no other detail noted within.
Cydonia: Appears bright (7/10) adjacent to an extremely brilliant evening limb haze (ELH).
Niliacus Lacus: Appears dark (3/10) and separated from Mare Acidalium (3/10) to the north by a bright (7/10) haze over Achillis Pons.
Tempe: Appears bright to very bright (7-8/10) following Mare Acidalium.
Tharsis: Appears bright to extremely bright (7-9/10) towards the following limb.

Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez

P.S. This is no joke.

Attached Image:

Hi Carlos,

That is an excellent detailed observation and drawing. One of the reasons I bought my scope this year is the upcoming opposition of Mars, which I have heard is going to be one of the best in decades.

I notice that one of the limbs in the drawing is foreshortened, making the disk appear gibbous. As Mars is rising in the morning, it would seem that the eastern (rightmost) limb would be the one foreshortened. Am I correct in assuming, then, that your telescope inverts the image? I know this is the case with Newtonians; I wasn't sure about Mak-Cass's, though.

Clear nights ... dark sites,
Darren