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MarsWatch 1996-1997

Images of Mars from Astronomers Around the World


Linking Amateur and Professional Mars Observing Communities

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17 March 1997

ih031797.jpg

The red light (Wratten 23A) drawing of Mars on the left was made on March 17, 1997 (Opposition date, Ls=91.71, De=22.54) at 04:00 UT (CM=033.4) by Carlos E. Hernandez (A.L.P.O. Mars Coordinator) using an 8-inch (20-cm) f/7.5 Newtonian reflector at 305x and 492x. The North Polar Cap (NPC) appears small and brilliant (10/10) surrounded by a dark (3/10) collar consisting of Hyperboreus Lacus. Mare Acidalium appears dark (3/10) on the CM separated from a dark (3/10) Niliacus Lacus by a thin, bright to very bright (7-8/10) Achillis Pons. Callirrhoes Sinus is visible along the p. border of Mare Acidalium as a dark (3/10) projection. Baltia (3/10) appears to be separated from Abalos (3/10) by a bright (7/10) strip over Nerigos. Nilokeras appears dusky (4/10) f. Niliacus Lacus with Idaeus Fons projecting from it's Np. border and Achillis Fons over its Sp. border, both dusky (4/10) as well. Sinus Meridiani appears dark (3/10) and forked towards the p. limb. Mare Erythraeum appears dark to dusky (3-4/10) on the CM towards the southern limb. Argyre I is visible as a bright to very bright (7-8/10) indentation over Mare Erythraeum's southern border on the CM. Margaritifer Sinus appears as a dark (3/10), triangular albedo feature p. the CM and Np. Mare Erythraeum. Thymiamata appears bright to very bright (7-8/10) separating Sinus Meridiani from Margaritifer Sinus. Cydonia appears shaded to bright (6-7/10). The Chryse-Xanthe region appears bright (7/10) and the Mars Pathfinder rover (Sojourner) landing site (32.8 degrees West, 19.5 degrees North) is visible nearly on the CM within it just south of Niliacus Lacus. Vulcani Pelagus appears dusky (4/10) Sp. Margaritifer Sinus. Aurorae Sinus appears as a dark (3/10), triangular albedo feature Nf. Mare Erythraeum towards the f. limb. Ganges appears dull (5/10) and broad projecting from Aurorae Sinus towards Tharsis. Solis Lacus appears as a dark (3/10), elliptical albedo feature along the Sf. limb. An extremely bright (9/10) cloud appears on the p. limb over Eden. An extremely bright (9/10) SLH as well as MLH are noted as well.

The blue (Wratten 38A) and blue-green (Wratten 64) drawing of Mars on the right was made at 04:30 UT (CM=040.7) on March 17, 1997 using the same equipment and magnification as above. The North Polar Cap (NPC) appears brilliant (10/10). A very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) cloud appears to extend from an extremely bright (9/10) ELH on the p. limb over Eden through Cydonia, Chryse-Xanthe, and Candor to connect to an extremely bright (9/10) MLH. A very bright (8/10) cloud appears over Tempe apparently connecting to a bright to very bright (7-8/10) cloud over Achillis Pons. An extremely bright (8/10) SLH is visible as well.

(Legend: N.=north, S.=south, p.=preceding, f.=following, Np.=north-preceding, Nf.=north-following, Sp.=south-preceding, Sf.=south-following, MLH=morning limb haze, ELH=evening limb haze, and SLH=southern limb haze)


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