Mars 20160417

Apr18
by catz on April 18, 2016 at 08:57 and modified on April 18, 2016. at 11:09
Posted In: astronomy

mars_20160417_093811

Mars was actually a better target than Saturn was Sunday morning.
Certainly brighter. The scale is also the same as the last two images. First time ever I am confident that the surface details I am seeing are real! Best image of Mars to date!
Now I have to find the Mars simulator program to tell me what exactly those surface features are named.

Mars was also low, only 21 degrees up off the horizon and with an apparent diameter of 14 arc seconds. It too would benefit being imaged at zenith, which is approx 03:50 EDT.

It appears the feature showing is Syrtis Major and the South Polar Cap.