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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4 March 1997

The red light (Wratten 23A) drawing of Mars on the left was made on March 4, 1997 (Ls=85.99, De=22.18) at 04:40 UT (CM=156.4) by Carlos E. Hernandez (A.L.P.O. Mars Coordinator) using an 8-inch (20-cm) f/7.5 Newtonian reflector at 305x. The small, brilliant (10/10) North Polar Cap (NPC) is surrounded by a dark to dusky (3-4/10) collar consisting of Mare Boreum, Scandia, Lemuria, and Panchaia. The Propontis complex (Propontis I and II as well as Castorius Lacus; at times including Euxinus Lacus) is visible as a dark (3/10), curvilinear albedo feature f. the CM. The f. end of a dark (3/10) Idaeus Fons is visible on the p., or evening, limb adjacent to an extremely bright (9/10) MLH as well as a dusky (4/10) Lunae Lacus and Ganges; a very bright (8/10) strip appears to separate the two albedo features. A very bright (8/10), circular orographic cloud (most probably associated with the mighty martian volcano Olympus Mons considering it's position) is visible p. the CM over Tharsis. A dark (3/10) Trivium Charontis-Cerberus (I) complex is visible towards the f., or morning, limb as well as a similarly dark Phlegra-Styx region. These dark albedo features appear to p. an extremely bright (9/10) Elysium on the f. limb. Cebrenia, to the north of Elysium, appears very bright (8/10). An extremely bright (9/10) MLH is noted as well. Mare Sirenum appears as a dark (3/10), thin albedo feature towards the southern limb appearing to be surrounded by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) haze.

The blue (Wratten 38A) and blue-green (Wratten 64) drawing on the right was made at 05:10 UT (CM=163.7) on the same date, instrument and magnification as above. The very bright (8/10) orographic cloud over Olympus Mons appears larger in area in blue (W38A) light indicating a greater altitude in the martian atmosphere. The orographic cloud appears to connect with an extremely bright (9/10) cloud over the Chryse-Xanthe region and an equally bright ELH. The f., or morning, limb appears to be obscured by an extremely bright (9/10) MLH (includes an extremely bright (9/10) cloud over Elysium). An extremely bright (9/10 SLH is visible over the southern limb as well as a thin, very bright (8/10) cloud over Memnonia. A very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) equatorial cloud band (ECB) appears to extend over the Tharsis-Memnonia-Zephyria region. The north Polar cap (NPC) appears brilliant 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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