Awaken by worries over problems at work :-( at 4:30am PDT, I saw that the sky looked clear. Quick out went the 4" TV-102 Light Cup to cool off. Tonight the seeing was around III (often) and I was able to use mostly 220x (4mm Radian) and at times 176x (5mm Radian). Mars was gazed without filter, #21 (orange) and #80A (blue) filters.
CM: 36d - 43d
Magnitude: -0.3
Size: 10.8"
Altitude: nice 35d above horizon
The albedo looked like Margaritifer Sinus and Mare Erythraeum. No prize on the "Life-Saver Effect" :-(. See sketch.
http://members.cox.net/ronby/Planet-Sketches/Mars-051603.jpg
At 5:35am (12:35UT), I noticed uneven intensity near the western rim (still at 220x) - see sketch. So I put on the #80A filter and viola, the "brightening" looked grayish white, but not white or as bright as the polar cap. This is the first time I've seen this phenomenon on Mars with my 4-incher! Without sketching, I could have easily passed
this by! I did some research and reading into this ...
Anxious question: could this be the so called "limb
"brightening", "morning cloud", "haze", or what is it? If
not, what should I look for?
Much thanks in advance,
Ron B[ee]
CM: 36d - 43d
Magnitude: -0.3
Size: 10.8"
Altitude: nice 35d above horizon
The albedo looked like Margaritifer Sinus and Mare Erythraeum. No prize on the "Life-Saver Effect" :-(. See sketch.
http://members.cox.net/ronby/Planet-Sketches/Mars-051603.jpg
At 5:35am (12:35UT), I noticed uneven intensity near the western rim (still at 220x) - see sketch. So I put on the #80A filter and viola, the "brightening" looked grayish white, but not white or as bright as the polar cap. This is the first time I've seen this phenomenon on Mars with my 4-incher! Without sketching, I could have easily passed
this by! I did some research and reading into this ...
Anxious question: could this be the so called "limb
"brightening", "morning cloud", "haze", or what is it? If
not, what should I look for?
Much thanks in advance,
Ron B[ee]
