MarsLiterature & Fiction Books) is a difficult planet to observe. It only shows itself well to amateur astronomers once every two years or so and even then it is better in some years than it is in others. When Mars is in a favorable position though and close by enough to observe well it is a sight to behold, especially in larger instruments. This sketch was made with an 8″ Dob telescope at 244X and shows quite a bit of detail. In the center of the sketch is Syrtis Major, one of the more prominent features on the Red Planet. Definitely worth a look…… in 2012!
