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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28 February 1997

The red light (Wratten 23A) drawing of Mars on the left was made on February 28, 1997 (Ls=84.23, De=22.10) at 04:50 UT (CM=193.9) by Carlos E. Hernandez (A.L.P.O. Mars Coordinator) using an 8-inch (20-cm) f/7.5 Newtonian reflector at 305x. The North Polar Cap (NPC) appears brilliant (10/10) over the northern limb surrounded by a dark to dusky (3-4/10) collar consisting of Ierne, Scandia, Lemuria, and Panchaia. The Propontis complex (Propontis I and II, as well as Castorius Lacus; at times also includes Euxinus Lacus) is visible as a dark (3/10), curvilinear albedo feature p. the CM. Elysium is visible f. the CM as a bright (7/10) circular albedo feature surrounded by the Phlegra-Styx region p., Trivium Charontis-Cerberus (I) complex Sp., Eunostos (I; itself possibly developing a following, or NW, extension) Sf., the Hyblaeus Extension Nf. it. The following end of a dark (3/10) Mare Sirenum (includes Titanum Sinus) is visible towards the Sp. limb apparently connected to an equally dark (3/10) Mare Cimmerium on the CM. a dusky (4/10) projection is noted to extend from the northern border of Mare Cimmerium towards the Sf. limb, possibly representing the "canal" Cyclops. An extremely bright (9/10) ELH, SLH and MLH is noted. An extremely bright orographic (or mountain-associated) cloud is visible over the Np. limb over the mighty Martian volcano Olympus Mons.

The blue (Wratten 38A) and blue-green (Wratten 64) drawing of Mars on the right was made on February 28, 1997 at 05:20 UT (CM=201.2) by Carlos E. Hernandez using the same instrument and magnification as above. The North Polar Cap (NPC) appears brilliant (10/10) towards the northern limb. An extremely bright (9/10) orographic cloud is noted over Olympus Mons on the Np. limb, or terminator. A very bright (8/10) cloud is noted over the p., or eastern, half of Elysium. A very bright (8/10), small isolated cloud is noted over Amazonis p. Trivium-Charontis. A bright to very bright (7-8/10) equatorial cloud band (ECB) is noted over Amazonis, Mesogaea, Zephyria, and Aeolis. An extremely bright (9/10) ELH, SLH, and MLH is noted.

(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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