Hurricane Katrina damaged much of New Orleans, forcing me to be evacuated for two weeks and then having to remain away because no schools were open until a month later. Basically all of September was lost.
I got back out on the morning of October 1st to see my favorite area of Mars, Mare Cimmerium. I was surprised how much the south polar cap had shrunk, indeed being challenging to even locate. Mare Cimmerium was noticably distinct from Mare Tyrrhenum, with Syrtis Major along the preceeding limb appearing of similar darkness as Tyrrhenum. Hellas was large and bright, trying to act like it was the SPC! With the SPC so small, Mare Australe is clearly seen left of (preceeding) Hellas, and even Palinuri Fretum stood out clearly.
The north side is sporting a bright polar hood. For some reason it seems less obvious to me than it did a month ago, possibly because Mars is larger and brighter now. Still one isolated dark area stood out, which I believe is Nodus Alcyonus (the precision of my drawing leaves something to be desired!).
I got back out on the morning of October 1st to see my favorite area of Mars, Mare Cimmerium. I was surprised how much the south polar cap had shrunk, indeed being challenging to even locate. Mare Cimmerium was noticably distinct from Mare Tyrrhenum, with Syrtis Major along the preceeding limb appearing of similar darkness as Tyrrhenum. Hellas was large and bright, trying to act like it was the SPC! With the SPC so small, Mare Australe is clearly seen left of (preceeding) Hellas, and even Palinuri Fretum stood out clearly.
The north side is sporting a bright polar hood. For some reason it seems less obvious to me than it did a month ago, possibly because Mars is larger and brighter now. Still one isolated dark area stood out, which I believe is Nodus Alcyonus (the precision of my drawing leaves something to be desired!).
Attached Image:
