Mojo and I set up our 4.1 inch refractor the past two nights out on the back deck. We observed the terminator of the six and seven day moon first, then set the alarm and went to bed. The alarm went off at 1:40 a.m. (08:40 UTC) both nights and we got up to observe Mars from the back deck through our AP Traveler.
Conditions were great when we awoke both nights. The Scoprion was high, the Milky Way was visible. It was still and clear. Mars snapped in and out of sharpness and slowly many features presented themselves on the first night. The second night was actually a little better, the seeing was more steady. A glimpse at moonset offered a moment of quiet in the dark night. We took turns observing Mars, and while it was my turn I did a couple quick sketches, and then went in to look on a map to see what the heck I had seen and drawn. After a look at Mars on the computer, using Mars Previewer II, and penciling in the names of the features on my first sketches to identify areas, I went out again and concentrated on those now-known areas, hoping to see more or even just glimpse more features and detail.
My sketches turned out to be quite detailed, indeed. Using our Astro Physics Traveler 4.1 inch refractor, and viewing through a 2.3 mm Orion Lanthanum eyepiece for a magnification of 265x we concentrated on the features of the red planet. The central meridian was at longitude 60 to 90 degrees during the couple hours we observed each night. North up, east right and west left in our setup using the refractor. Last night I added a comparison telescope - six inch f/5 reflector, 6mm Orion Lanthanum eyepiece for a magnification of 125x. The reflector view next to the refractor view was a little confusing, but the large south polar cap and distinct colorings on Mars the past two nights made for easy reference. The view, of course was very similar on both nights because we observed at the same hour of the night. That helped to cement in my mind the names and features that I was observing. It really helps alot to know what you are looking at. Sketching helps tremendously, too.
Mare Boreum was dark right below the tiny bit of visible north polar cap. Chryse was a large whitish oval near the western limb between the NPC and Mare Acidalium. It blended into a dark anvil shaped area which turned out to be several features - Nileacus Lacus and a lighter area - Achillus Pons. Counterclockwise dark swirls curved eastward toward Arcadia. These are named Nilokeras, Achillis Fons and and Idacus Fons. These tendrils also pointed towards where the great volcanoes of the Tharsis Plateau are located.
Further south, also jutting out towards Tharsis - the great ochre plateau were the features Tithonius Lacus and Noctis Lacus and I know I couldn't really see it but this is right where Vallis Marinaris is. The dark finger-shaped feature is right where the largest rift system on Mars is located. That alone made the night a thrilling success for me. It was much more fun observing Mars knowing what I was looking at. But wait, there's more!
The large south polar cap was below the light ochre Mare Australe, which was below the dark group of features named Bosporos Gemmatus, Mare Chronium, Phathontis, Mare Sirenum, encircling a southern band of dark above the south polar cap from west to east.
The large expanse of Tharsis was featureless although I thought I detected some lighter mottling that I want to say were oval shaped features. Right where I sketched these lighter blotches are where the three volcanoes are, and over a bit toward the eastern side of Tharsis is Olympus Mons. I hope it was not my imagination that I saw some "clouds" hovering over the peaks of the calderas, but it probably was. It was still wonderful to know exactly where they were on the planet, and that I was pointing my telescope knowingly at them.
This was my first really good view of Mars this year. Armed with good maps, great telescopes, and steady skies, I can't wait for next month! We'll be at the Grand Canyon Star Party as Mars gets as close at it will this year. It'll be fun to show lots of people our red rock neighbor.