Mars – CM 265 Deg.
DEC 14, 2009 – 11:30 UT

Sketch of Mars - CM 265 Degrees - DEC 14, 2009 - 11:30 UT

Sketch of Mars – CM 265° – Unfiltered
DEC 14, 2009 – 11:30 UT

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Sketch of Mars – CM 265° – Filter: Wratten #80A
DEC 14, 2009 – 11:30 UT

Observation Notes:

It has been a long time since my last Mars observation (DEC 21, 2005). At 11 arc seconds under soft seeing, details took some time to discern. The north polar cap was large and prominent and Syrtis Major was well placed on the following hemisphere. Hellas was bright, as was Arabia. I didn’t detect any limb haze in the unfiltered view. The Wratten #80A did show some brighter spots as noted in the sketch above. I’m looking forward to some more good views of Mars as it approaches a maximum size of 14 arc seconds later in January.

Subject Mars – CM 265°
Classification Planet
Position* Leo [RA: 09 30 53.3 / Dec: +17 53 39]
Angular Size* 11 arcseconds
Brightness* -0.4
Date/Time DEC 14, 2009, 04:30 AM MST
(DEC 14, 2009, 11:30 UT)
Observing Loc. Flagstaff, Arizona, USA – Home
Instrument Orion SkyQuest XT8 Dobsonian (203 mm dia./1200 mm F/L)
Eyepieces/Mag. 4 mm UO Orthoscopic (300X)
Conditions P. Cloudy, cold
Seeing Ant. III
Transparency Mag 5.2 NELM
*Sources Starry Night Pro Plus 5.8.2
British Astronomical Society Mars Maps

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DEC 14, 2009 – 11:30 UT”

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