[AZ-Observing] Mars Observation: 16 June 2001 UT (Flagstaff, AZ)

The seeing was pretty good at times, last night. I've posted my observing 
notes below. These notes and a sketch are available at my "Cosmic Voyage" Web 
site: http://members.aol.com/billferris/mars061601.html

Regards,

Bill FerrrisFlagstaff, AZ
==========================
Date/Time: 16 June 2001, 07:15 UT
Location: Flagstaff, AZ (+111 deg. 39' 00", +35 deg. 12' 00")
Instrument: 10-inch, f/4.5 Newtonian
Eyepeice: 8.8mm w/ 3X Barlow
Filters: ND, 23A, 80A

MARS STATS
Apparent diameter: 20".7
Phase: 100%
CM: 260º

Tonight, I was treated to extended moments--five to ten seconds--of good 
seeing during otherwise turbulent conditions. I was able to view at 388X 
throughout the observation. I also used neutral density, 80A (light blue) and 
23A (light red) filters. High pressure is re-building over the Colorado 
plateau and the seeing should improve somewhat over the next few nights. If 
that is the case and tonight is any indication, we're in for some good Mars 
observing over the weekend.

Mars presents an overall fleshtone hue, or peach as I like to call it. This 
is broken by several dark albedo features. The most prominent, Syrtis Major, 
is fast approaching the central meridian (CM). A darker central region 
extends the full north-south length of Syrtis Major, and reaches across its 
breadth from the preceding (west) side to just inside the following (east) 
side. Iapygia Viridis borders Syrtis Major to the south. Syris Minor and Mare 
Tyrrhenum blend seemlessly into one darker feature west of Syrtis Major. A 
light colored gulf separates Mare Tyrrhenum from Tritonis Sinus, Hesperia and 
Mare Cimmerium. These three features combine to form a mottled, irregular 
shaped feature which extends over the preceding limb.

Hellas is fairly well defined south of Iapygia Viridis. In my June 6 
obsevation, I noted that Hellas did not present the bright white hue which 
had been characteristic the past three oppositions. However, I didn't spend 
much time observing Mars without filtration that night. I find the glaring 
view difficult to decipher. Hella appears a dull fleshtone when viewed at 
388X through the neutral density filter. However, this impact crater displays 
a dull white hue when viewed without filtration. I also noted the white glow 
of clouds and/or ice over the north polar cap. The southern limb in the 
vicinity of Mare Australe also presented as dull white.

Several northern hemishpere features are seen despite being much less 
prominent when compared to oppositions of '95, '97 and '99. Utopia is the 
dominent feature north of Syrtis Major. Casius is seen extending southward 
from Utopia along the CM. Boreosyrtis is just detectable east of Casius. The 
familiar chevron pattern of Hyblaeus Extension is visible near the preceding 
limb. I did not capture Nodus Alcyonius in the sketch at left. This dark 
feature normally appears immedidately south of Utopia, just west of Casius.

Regards,


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