Set up a 16" NightSky dob with a Pegasus mirror this morning at 2 am PDT. Seeing was at least an 8 with a wealth of detail around Mare Cimmerium. Both moons were at opposition on opposite sides of the planet. I've wanted to construct an occulting bar, but haven't taken the time, so I put the planet just outside the field of an old 6.6 ortho. Deimos was relatively easy and Phobos less so (I wouldn't have seen them if I wasn't looking for them). I watched for over an hour as Phobos approached the planet and was no longer visible. To reassure myself, I ran 2 programs this morning showing stars down to mag 13 and there nothing in the field of view.
It will be interesting in the next month to see how small a scope will pick up these 2 elusive objects. Has anyone else made a search for them yet?
Pete Rice
It will be interesting in the next month to see how small a scope will pick up these 2 elusive objects. Has anyone else made a search for them yet?
Pete Rice
