A CCD image of Mars obtained by noted astroimager Gregory Terrance on April 10, 1997 (Ls=102.4, De=22.33, Dia.=13.34") at 03:37 UT (CM=177.9, actually an average time of RGB images between 03:34-03:39 UT) while using a 16-inch (41-cm) f/5 Newtonian reflector coupled to a Celestron PixCel 255 CCD camera. Exposure times were 0.07 seconds (red), 0.15 seconds (green), and 0.20 seconds (blue). The North Polar Cap (NPC) appears extremely bright (9/10) and small apparently surrounded by a dark (3/10) collar comprised of Ierne and Lemuria. A thin, very bright (8/10) NPC-associated cloud is noted over Panchaia. The Nerigos-Scandia-Panchaia region appears dark to dusky (3-4/10), Scandia appears to be partially veiled. The Propontis Complex (Propontis I and II as well as Castorius Lacus; at times including Euxinus Lacus) appears large, dark (3/10), and circular f. the CM. Mare Sirenum (f. half) and Mare Cimmerium (p. end) appear dark (3/10) towards the southern limb. The famous "W-cloud" formation is visible towards the p. limb over the Tharsis-Amazonis region; first reported by the eminent planetary astronomer E. C. Slipher in 1954 but imaged by him as early as 1907. Elysium appears very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) on the f. limb. An extremely bright (9/10) MLH 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)