Sketched August 8, 2003 from my back deck 2:15 a.m. pacific DST (daylight savings time) or 09:15 UT on a poor night of observing.
| Date: 08/8/03 Lat 37N, Long 122W, elev. 200 feet | Sketch Time (UT): 9:15, (local time): 2:15 a.m. DST |
| Central Meridian: 278º | Filters:none |
| Instrument: 4-inch (105mm) f/6 Astro-Physics Traveler Apo refractor. | Distance from earth 0.40 AU, 60m km, 37m miles |
| Magnification: (25mm) 60x Zeiss Abbe Ortho combined with a 2.4x AP Barcon Barlow | Transp. 3/6, Seeing 3/10, Antoniadi (I-V): IV |
| Apparent Size: 23.5" | Magnitude: -2.5 |
Even using low power, some important Martian surface features can be seen. This sketch was made using my 4-inch refractor, on my suburban back deck with moonlight. I am using a 25mm eyepiece, plus barlow to view Mars at 60 power. This is the view I start my observing with - to find Mars in the eyepiece.
The South Polar Cap and Syrtis Major are clearly visible. Mare Cimmerium with Mare Tyrrhenum flank Syrtis Major. I think it is a really nice view, and so will you if you aim your small telescope at Mars. Remember that as the planet rotates, different features will come into view. This view is perhaps the most prominent and easy to see, so don't be dissappointed if you can't see such prominent features every night. I can't either!
Compare this low power sketch to the one for the same night, August 8th, sketched at higher power. Now this is using a really good small refractor with outstanding optics, so well aligned optics and good eyepieces will make a big difference in your own views. The outer circle is the field of view through the eyepiece, to give an example of how small the disk of Mars will appear.
Details about Mars: Diameter 23.5 arc seconds (Jupiter is about 30 -50 arc seconds in diameter depending on its distance from earth). Central Meridian 278 - the imaginary line passing through the planetary poles of rotation and bisecting the planetary disk, and is used to determine the longitude during an observing session. If you have observed Jupiter thought your small telesocpe, Mars will appear to be somewhat smaller than your view of Jupiter.
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