[AZ-Observing] Best Mars so far--Monday Morning

Howdy all;

Well, this evening I got the best views of Mars I have had so far this season.  
The poor seeing in my backyard in metro Phoenix, AZ has really hampered any 
opportunities to use high power and see fine detail.  But, tonight I got a good 
look at the Red Planet.

Scope:  7" Meade Maksutov-Cass.
Eyepiece:  10mm Vixen Lanthanum
Filter:  Salmon (light orange-pink)
Seeing:  6/10, slow seeing with good moments at 7/10
Central Meridian:  315 degrees
Date and time:  Mon, June 11, 2001  01:00 MST  08:00 UT

Syrtis Major is the most obvious feature on this night and  it is very 
prominent.  The central section has an oval in the middle that is even darker 
than the rest of Syrtis Major.  A very contrasty feature.  To it's west is a 
very low contrast feature, Libya.  It is a very small oval at this 
magnification and is only really seen with averted vision.  The Hellas basin is 
not as bright white as in years past, more a dusty grey of pretty low contrast. 
 To the east of Hellas is an area of darker grey color, it includes the Noachis 
region.  Pointing like a thin finger to the east of Noachis is Sinus Sabaeus, a 
long dark marking.  Far to the north is Utopia, a dark thin region right at the 
limb.

Enjoy;
Steve Coe

Author "Deep Sky Observing--The Astronomical Tourist"
email address:  stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx

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