This is a red light CCD image of Mars obtained by Gregory Terrance on April 22, 1997 (Ls=107.3, De=23.77, Dia.=12.33") at 00:40 UT (CM=27.3) using a 16-inch (41-cm) f/5 Newtonian reflector (imaged at f/25) coupled to a Celestron PixCel 255 CCD camera at an exposure of 0.5 seconds. The North Polar Cap (NPC) appears small and extremely bright (9/10) and apparently surrounded by a dark (3/10) collar consisting of Ortygia, Hyperboreus Lacus, and Abalos. The northern half of Mare Acidalium appears dark (3/10) whereas its southern half appears dusky (4/10). Niliacus Lacus appears dusky (4/10) as well. Nilokeras appears as a dusky to dull (4-5/10) projection from the Sf. border of Mare Acidalium. Cydonia appears dusky (4/10) p. Mare Acidalium towards the Np. limb. Sinus Sabaeus appears dark (3/10) extending from the Np. limb to apparently attach to Sinus Meridiani which also appears dark (3/10). Brangaena (Argus) appears to project from the f. border of Sinus Meridiani over a bright (7/10) Thymiamata as a dull (5/10), curvilinear band. Neudrus II and Iani Fretum appear as thin, dull (5/10) streaks projecting from the southern border of Sinus Meridiani to apparently connect with Vulcani Pelagus (4/10) and Margaritifer Sinus (3/10), respectively, over a shaded (6/10) Deucalionis Regio. Oxia Palus appears as a small, dark (3/10), circular albedo feature north of Margaritifer Sinus. Mare Erythraeum appears dark (3/10) as well as Aurorae Sinus towards the Sf. limb. The Mars Pathfinder lander's (Sojourner) landing site (32.8 W, 19.5 N) appears clear of obscuration (dust) at this time. Images of Mars such as this are vital in our monitoring of the landing site, as well as the rest of the planet, for such activity.
(Legend: N.=north, S.=south, p.=preceding, f.=following,
Np.=north-preceding, Nf.=north-following, Sp.=south-preceding, Sf.=south-following,
MLH=morning limb haze, ELH=evening limb haze, and SLH=southern limb haze)