I made an observation of Mars on June 26, 2003 (07:10 U.T.) in which
much detail was noted over the regions between Mare Tyrrhenum and
Sabaeus Sinus (East-West, or preceding-following) and Neith Regio-Meroe
Insula and Mare Australe (North-South). During brief moments of steady
seeing the albedo features (e.g. Syrtis Major, Mare Tyrrhenum, and
Iapygia Viridis) appeared to exhibit a "mottled-appearance" similar to
that described by the great Mars observer Eugene Michael Antoniadi
during the great (perihelic) opposition of 1909. I have not noted so
much detail over Mars in some time. I, along with everyone else, am
anxiously awaiting the planet to grow larger in apparent size. Let us
hope that a global dust storm does not develop and obscure the surface.
Date (U.T.): June 26, 2003
Time (U.T.): 07:10
CM: 289.1
Ls 210.2 (Mid-Northern Autumn)
De -20.7, Ds -12.2, k 0.89
Diameter: 15.9 arc-seconds
9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 323x
Filters: Wratten 23A, 30, 38, and 64
Seeing (1-10): 5-6, Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 2-3 (Hazy)
Notes:
The South Polar Cap (SPC) was prominent (10/10) over the southern limb.
A shaded (4/10), central albedo marking was noted. Rifts were noted
along the SPC border with one located at approximately 320-330 degrees
W appearing to connect with the SPC central albedo feature. Mare
Australe appeared to form a dark (3/10) collar along the northern
border of the SPC. Mare Tyrrhenum appeared dark (3/10) towards the
south-following limb. Mare Hadriacum (eastern border of Hellas)
appeared dark (3/10) and separated from Mare Tyrrhenum by a bright
(7/10) Ausonia. Syrtis Major appeared dark (3/10) and prominent on the
CM (intricate detail was noted within it during moments of steady
seeing). Nilosyrtis-Protonilus was noted as a shaded (4/10), thin
albedo feature towards the northern limb (9/10). A bright (7/10) rift
was noted to extend between Libya (7-8/10) and Iapygia Viridis (3/10)
over Crocea. A very bright (8/10) cloud was noted over
Aethipois-Aehteria and encroaching upon Libya. Hellas appeared bright
(7/10) with Zea Lacus noted at it's center and Peneus bisecting it
east-west. Deltoton Sinus appeared dark (3/10). Hellespontus, Noachis,
and Pandorae Fretum appeared dark to shaded (3-4/10) towards the
south-following limb. The eastern portion of Sabaeus Sinus appeared
dark (3/10) and curvilinear. towards the following limb. An extremely
bright (9/10) morning (following) limb haze was noted as well.
The best of luck in your own observations and imaging of Mars.
Carlos E. Hernandez
much detail was noted over the regions between Mare Tyrrhenum and
Sabaeus Sinus (East-West, or preceding-following) and Neith Regio-Meroe
Insula and Mare Australe (North-South). During brief moments of steady
seeing the albedo features (e.g. Syrtis Major, Mare Tyrrhenum, and
Iapygia Viridis) appeared to exhibit a "mottled-appearance" similar to
that described by the great Mars observer Eugene Michael Antoniadi
during the great (perihelic) opposition of 1909. I have not noted so
much detail over Mars in some time. I, along with everyone else, am
anxiously awaiting the planet to grow larger in apparent size. Let us
hope that a global dust storm does not develop and obscure the surface.
Date (U.T.): June 26, 2003
Time (U.T.): 07:10
CM: 289.1
Ls 210.2 (Mid-Northern Autumn)
De -20.7, Ds -12.2, k 0.89
Diameter: 15.9 arc-seconds
9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248x and 323x
Filters: Wratten 23A, 30, 38, and 64
Seeing (1-10): 5-6, Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 2-3 (Hazy)
Notes:
The South Polar Cap (SPC) was prominent (10/10) over the southern limb.
A shaded (4/10), central albedo marking was noted. Rifts were noted
along the SPC border with one located at approximately 320-330 degrees
W appearing to connect with the SPC central albedo feature. Mare
Australe appeared to form a dark (3/10) collar along the northern
border of the SPC. Mare Tyrrhenum appeared dark (3/10) towards the
south-following limb. Mare Hadriacum (eastern border of Hellas)
appeared dark (3/10) and separated from Mare Tyrrhenum by a bright
(7/10) Ausonia. Syrtis Major appeared dark (3/10) and prominent on the
CM (intricate detail was noted within it during moments of steady
seeing). Nilosyrtis-Protonilus was noted as a shaded (4/10), thin
albedo feature towards the northern limb (9/10). A bright (7/10) rift
was noted to extend between Libya (7-8/10) and Iapygia Viridis (3/10)
over Crocea. A very bright (8/10) cloud was noted over
Aethipois-Aehteria and encroaching upon Libya. Hellas appeared bright
(7/10) with Zea Lacus noted at it's center and Peneus bisecting it
east-west. Deltoton Sinus appeared dark (3/10). Hellespontus, Noachis,
and Pandorae Fretum appeared dark to shaded (3-4/10) towards the
south-following limb. The eastern portion of Sabaeus Sinus appeared
dark (3/10) and curvilinear. towards the following limb. An extremely
bright (9/10) morning (following) limb haze was noted as well.
The best of luck in your own observations and imaging of Mars.
Carlos E. Hernandez
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