Mars was nicely shown for most of the evening, partly because it has grown a bit more dim, and no filtering is needed to keep the glare down in the C8. The hook above Utopia Planitia was creeping into view, and the extended Hesperia Planum area was nicely shown, as well as several "smudgies" in the plains...

I saw a lot of brightness "down under" Hesperia, which makes me suspect either gathering clouds or that the south pole has been growing dramatically into this area (thin CO2 deposits?) as winter progresses.

The view was surprisingly clear, and it was fun to watch Syrtis start to rotate slightly into view as the evening progressed... the show ain't over yet!