From
Harold HILL
Dear Dr Minami,
For a long time I was a recipient of
the OAA Mars Section bulletin and then it suddenly ceased to arrive and could
only conjecture that, not having heard from me, you had presumed me to be deceased!
I am in my 83rd year but still have a great interest in the observation of Mars
and have always appreciated the most regular and prompt arrival of your
excellent bulletin with its up-to-date contents and news regarding the planet.
I am over-awed by what can be
accomplished by the more talented observers and, in particular, the results
achieved by CCD techniques in the hands of skilled and dedicated workers such
as Don Parker, but I still endeavour in my small way to observe the features of
the most beautiful of telescopic objects.
I now use a much more manageable
140mm Maksutov-Cassegrain which I recognise is
limited in aperture for Martian studies but, providing the atmospheric behaves,
gives exquisite images which are more contrast but without the resolution of my
old 250mm Newtonian reflector.
Commencing to observe in the present
apparition on June 25 I found the SPC to be quite large (45-48 areocentric
degrees in diameter), uneven in brightness as seen on June 29, but with the
using strong 'contrast' band of an indigo tint. Also there was a bright glimmer
along the northern limb but no actual cap.
At my latitude of +53° the planet at -14° decl. is
low and my present observing session is limited from 0140 - 0300 UT before dawnlight begins to intrude.
I should much appreciate resumption
of the receipt of your bulletin and I hope to send my observational results
from to time despite my limited means.
Yours very sincerely
P.S/ My
friend Mr Alan Heath of Long Eaton confirmed your address on enquiring that it
was still the same.
(
Harold HILL (