Observing Notes
from the Tuckahoe Irregulars
Had some time last night and tried something different. Stopped the 20-inch f/6.4 to 17-inches to make it f/7.8 using 64 cents worth of cardboard.. An evening star test suggested there would a nice improvement in sharpness and perhaps contrast. The test was right; Mars was about as good as I've seen it from Maryland with the 20-inch. I might have to make a plywood mask that I can take in and out easily.
In anycase, a fine morning for Mars.
2003/06/27, 08:30 UT, Bowie MD, 17-inch f/7.8 reflector 408x: Seeing 7 out of 10. Hot, very humid. Hazy, poor transparency. Light dew. Stopped the 20-inch down to 17-inch, good improvement in contrast. Detail observed on floor of Hellas. Floor markings appeared almost "s" shaped. Bright area seen on 6/26 not observed in either white or blue (w47). Syrtis Major was skinny, long, compared to 2001/1999. Not as dark either. Slight "hook" at north end of SM. Sinus Sabaeus is dark, as dark as Syrtis Major, with difficult/fine detail leading to S. Meridiani. Rift in SPC was very plain and showed more detail then in the past. Slight notch in SPC near Mare Australe. Tramp the faithful observing Golden Retriever was happy to lie in the grass and sample the early morning scents that wandered past.
Mars log: http://ladyandtramp.com/mars/
Steady Skies,
Bob Bunge