λ=331°Ls,  ( ω=018°, 032°W,   φ=19°S ),   δ=17.6",   ι=17°

Instrument: 9" F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 248×, 290×, and 348×
Filters (Wratten): 30 and 38A
S (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 5

Notes:
Left Image (03:00 U.T. IL/W30): The South Polar Cap (SPC) was very small and brilliant (10/10) surrounded by a thin, dark (3/10) collar. Mare Australe appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10) and mottled. Noachis appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10). Pandorae Fretum appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled (with a thin, bright (7/10) streak (cloud?) noted within it). Deucalionis Regio appeared shaded to bright (6-7/10) with two, dull (5/10) bands across it. Sinus Sabaeus and Sinus Meridiani appeared dark (3/10) preceding the CM (Sigeus Portus (4/10) noted along the northern border of Sinus Sabaeus). Iani Fretum (?) was noted as a dull (5/10) and diffuse band between Sinus Meridiani (south-following border) and Margaritifer Sinus (preceding (or eastern) border). Aeria, Arabia, Eden, Moab, and Aram appeared bright (7/10). Ismenius Lacus appeared as a thin, dusky (4/10) wedge adjacent to an extremely bright (9/10) North Polar Haze (NPH). Margaritifer Sinus appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled following the CM. Mare Erythraeum appeared dark to dull (3-5/10) and mottled with bright (7/10) streaks within it (Pyrrhae Regio?). Argyre appeared bright (7/10) over it's north-following sector whereas the rest of the albedo feature appeared dusky to dull (4-5/10). Aurorae Sinus appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10) and bifid towards the following limb. Chryse-Xanthe appeared bright (7/10) and free of dust. Niliacus Lacus appeared as a dark (3/10) wedge adjacent to the NPH (portions of it visible through the haze). Thin and extremely bright (9/10) morning and evening limb hazes (MLH and ELH) were noted as well.

Right image (04:00 U.T. W38A): Sabaeus Sinus, Sinus Meridiani, Margaritifer Sinus, Mare Erythraeum, and Niliacus Lacus were visible as dull (5/10) albedo features. Diffuse and bright (7/10) streaks were noted over Mare Erythraeum/Argyre (water vapor clouds?). Extremely bright (9/10) morning limb haze (MLH), evening limb haze (ELH), North Polar Haze (NPH), and South Polar Haze (SPH) were visible as well.

Observer:   Carlos E HERNANDEZ,   Miami   FL