This RGB CCD image (exposure times of 0.07 seconds
(red), 0.15 seconds (green), and 0.20 seconds (blue)) was obtained by Gregory
Terrance on March 23, 1997 (Ls=94.36, De=22.73, Dia.=14.18") using
a 16-inch (41-cm) f/5 Newtonian reflector coupled with a Celestron PixCel
255 CCD camera. The effective focal ratio (EFR) was approximately f/20.
Visible albedo features upon the disk include the small, but brilliant North
Polar Cap (NPC) surrounded by a dark collar. Sinus Sabaeus is prominent
on the central meridian (CM) towards the southern limb preceding (p.) an
equally dark Sinus Meridiani. Syrtis Major is prominently dark towards the
p., or evening, limb with Iapygia Viridis and Deltoton Sinus visible to
the south. The Utopia-Cecropia-Ortygia region appears as a dark, curvilinear
albedo feature north of Syrtis Major p. the CM. Margaritifer Sinus and Oxia
Palus appears as a dark, triangular-shaped albedo feature on the South-following
(Sf.) limb. Mare Acidalium and Niliacus Lacus appear prominent towards the
following (f.), or morning, limb. The Boreosyrtis-Protonilus-Ismenius Lacus-Deuteronilus
complex appears as a dark to dusky, knotted band just north of the center
of the image. Also noted are clouds over Libya (p. limb), Hellas (Sp. limb),
Chryse-Xanthe (f. limb), and Tempe (Nf. limb).