Date (U.T.) January 20, 2010
Time (U.T.): 03;30-04:30
CM (Degrees West): 176.6-191.3
Ls 040.3* (Mid-Northern Spring/Southern Autumn)
De: 15.8*, Ds 15.7*, Phase 100%, 14.0 arc-seconds
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 295x and 388x
Filters (Wratten): 30 (Magenta) and 80A (Blue)
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V) III-II
Transparency (1-6): 5
03:45 U.T. (CM 180.3*W, Wratten 30 (Magenta)): The North Polar Cap (NPC) was brilliant (10/10) without any detail visible within it. The North Polar Cap (NPC) collar was produced by Lemuria which appeared dark to dusky (3-4/10). The region extending between Trivium Charontis (3-4/10) and the Propontis Complex (3-4/10; also including Azania (6/10), Phlegra (4/10), and Styx (4/10)) appeared mottled but somewhat subdued possibly due the opposition effect ( http://www.absolutea...position_effect ). Elysium is visible following the central meridian (CM) and appeared bright to very bright (7-8/10)with a haze (cloud) over it. Mare Sirenum (3-4/10) was visible preceding and Mare Cimmerium (3-4/10) following the CM. Valhalla was visible a dusky (4/10) streak north and parallel to Mare Sirenum and Mare Cimmerium. Orographic (Mounatin-associared) clouds were visible along the evening (preceding) limb and appeared very bright (8/10).
A digital image produced using Pixelmator.
The best of luck in your observations of Mars.