MarsWatch 1996-1997

Images of Mars from Astronomers Around the World


Linking Amateur and Professional Mars Observing Communities

for Observational Support of the Mars Pathfinder Mission


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18 January 1997

This drawing of Mars was made on January 18, 1997 at 07:05 UT (CM=238.8, Ls=66.35, De=22.76) by Carlos E. Hernandez (ALPO Mars Recorder) using an 8-inch (20-cm) f/7.5 Newtonian reflector at 305x and 492x as well as Wratten 23A (light red) and 64 (blue-green) filters. The North Polar Cap (NPC) is brilliant (10/10) , large in extent, and no detail is noted within it at this time. The NPC is surrounded by a dark (3/10) collar consisting of Scandia, Panchaia, and Utopia (preceding to following order). Casius is visible as a dark (3/10) wedge extending north over Aetheria from Utopia. The Propontis complex (Castorius Lacus and Propontis II; at times also including Euxinus Lacus and Propontis I to the south) is visible as a dark (3/10), elongated albedo feature preceding the central meridian (CM) south of the NPC collar. A dusky (4/10) "bar-like" albedo feature is noted over Cebrenia north of Elysium as it appears to connect to Morpheos Lacus. Elysium is prominent (8/10) on the CM enclosed by the Elysium complex, or pentagon, consisting of Trivium Charontis-Cerberus (3-4/10) to the southeast(or south-preceding (Sp.)), Phlegra-Styx (3-4/10) to the east (or preceding (p.)), Hecates Lacus-Chaos-Morpheos Lacus (p. to f., 3-4/10)) to the north, the Hyblaeus extension (3/10) to the northwest (or north-following (Nf.)), and Eunostos I to the southwest (or south-following (Sf.)). A very bright (8-/10) orographic (or mountain-associated) cloud is noted over Arcadia apparently connected to a extremely bright (9/10) evening limb haze (ELH), or terminator. Mare Cimmerium appears as a dark (3/10), elongated wedge towards the southern limb p. the CM apparently separated from a dark (3/10) Mare Tyrrhenum, f. the CM, by a bright (7/10) Hesperia. Syrtis Major appears as a dark (3/10) "bar-like" albedo feature within an extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH), or following (f.) limb. The southern limb appears to be covered by an extremely bright (9/10) haze.


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