Interesting sketch. That dark thing on the limb is Syrtis Major
coming into view.
Rich
>Its worse than you think....
>
>http://www201.pair.com/resource/resource-intl/mars.09.14.03.jpg
>
>It almost looks to me as if there is a dark limb on the right side.
>
>At 9/14/2003, you wrote:
>>OMG, Wagner looking at planets, what next? The moon?!?!??!!! AAAaahhh.
>>The world is stopping, the Big One is coming, the end of life as we know
>>it.
>>
>>Doomed I tell you DOOMED..........
>>
>>---------
>>Phil Chambers [ptchamb@No-Spam] (S.F. Bay Area - Calif. USA)
>>
>>On Sun, 14 Sep 2003, Mark Wagner wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > I set up my 10" f/5.7 scope in the backyard before doing the BBQ. Let
is
>> > cool down nicely, tweaked the collimation. Ate dinner, fixed a coffee
and
>> > went out back.
>> >
>> > Mars, of course.
>> >
>> > 20 Nagler, 72x. Steady with detail.
>> > 12 Nagler, 120x. Good detail. Rock steady.
>> > 7 Nagler, 207x. NIce detail. Holding up very well.
>> > Put in the 2x Barlow. 414x, more detail. I could do a drawing, the
dark
>> > markings are so well defined. Very good seeing snaps to exquisite.
Magic.
>> >
>> > I can't help but look at the foreign world and think of the first
human,
>> > maybe one of my kid's friends, maybe your's, setting foot up there.
Nobody
>> > has been there.
>> >
>> > I keep watching. Ochre, the color of those soft "peanut" shaped
candies...
>> > circus peanuts. But with banana bad spots on it.
>> >
>> > I am amazed.
>> >
>> > The southern polar cap is doing a disappearing act. Magic. I can
watch it
>> > through this weird collection of aluminum struts, rods and several
pieces
>> > of glass.
>> >
>> > I'm telling you, it is magic. It is fun.
>> >
>> > I watch for a while more. Subtle features - a bay of orange in the
dark
>> > river crossing the planet. Smaller dark pieces extending along
parallel to
>> > the main feature. Faded dark on the limb and up toward the southern
ice
>> > cap. Haze on the northern one.
>> >
>> > I'm so glad I set up the scope.
>> >
>> > I look around.
>> >
>> > Pegasus is up.
>> >
>> > At 414x I point at M15. Find it in, well, the finder - I can see it at
>> > 9x. Center it then in the eyepiece. It is there, dim. Handful of
stars.
>> >
>> > I cup my hands around the eyepiece and look. Stars begin filling the
>> > field. Suddenly they are everywhere. The core is dense. The globular
is
>> > beautiful. Stars are everywhere. No counting them
>> >
>> > From my celestial backyard to the halo of my galaxy in 10 seconds.
>> >
>> > It is magic.
>> >
>> > I hope some of you are out tonight. It is a fine night.
>> >
>> > Going back out to count features on Mars.
>> >
>> > There is something magical to this.
>> >
>> > Mark
>> >
>> >
>> >
>
