MarsWatch 1996-1997

Images of Mars from Astronomers Around the World


Linking Amateur and Professional Mars Observing Communities

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26 April 1997


This is a red light CCD image of Mars obtained by Gregory Terrance, an experienced astroimager, on April 26, 1997 (Ls=109.6, De=23.94, Dia.=11.97") at 00:25 UT (CM=347.4) using a 16-inch (41-cm) f/5 Newtonian reflector, at an effective focal ratio (EFR) of f/30, coupled to a Celestron PixCel 255 CCD camera and an exposure time of 0.06 seconds. The North Polar Cap (NPC) appears very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) surrounded by a dark (3/10) collar consisting of Cecropia, Ortygia, and Hyperboreus Lacus. The Boreosyrtis-Copais Palus-Pierius-Arethusa Lacus Complex appears dark to dusky (3-4/10) surrounded by the bright (7/10) desert regions of Dioscuria, Cecropia, Cydonia, and Ortygia. The Deuteronilus-Ismenius Lacus-Protonilus Complex appears dark to dusky (3-4/10) below the center of the disk. Syrtis Major appears dark to dusky (3-4/10) adjacent to the p., or evening, limb. Mare Serpentis appears dark (3/10) adjacent to a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) Hellas on the Sp. limb. Sinus Sabaeus appears dark (3/10) apparently connected an equally dark Sinus Meridiani. The desert regions of Aeria, Arabia, Moab, and Eden appear very bright (8/10) Deucalionis Regio appears dusky (4/10). Margaritifer Sinus appears dark (3/10) on the terminator over the Sf. limb. Mare Acidalium appears dark (3/10) over the Nf. limb.

(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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