What Can I See In A 6" Intes Mak-Cas

Hello Mars Viewers,

I have a 6" f/12 Mak-Cas and have been very pleased with the views of Mars I've gotten from it until I started seeing all the fabulous digital photos and drawings on this forum. (Am amazed at the patience, skill and work needed to produce such fine images.)

I am using premium eyepieces (12mm, 10mm, 8mm, 7mm, 6mm, 5mm, 4mm, 3mm) polarizing, lightly tinted orange and orange filters (these gave best results from a wide collection of photography filters I had). Also using the Sirius NPC filter. Scope is collimated with pin-point stars. However, what I see does not come even close to most of the sketches, drawings and photos posted here. I do understand many are using 8"+ scopes and that the photos are stacked. The following postings with images will give an idea of what I am seeing:

www.astromart.com/messages.asp?message_id=105716&page=2

www.astromart.com/messages.asp?message_id=98318&page=7

www.astromart.com/messages.asp?message_id=103970&page=3

Mars and the South Polar Cap are very clear but the mottling is vague and lacks detail. Is this the best I can hope for? What can I do to see more pronounced landscape features?

Thanks for your comments.

Darlene

Darlene,

It sure looks like atmospheric disturbance to me. How long have you had the scope ? Has it always been like this or are there times when its better ? Where do you live ? How long have you been viewing ? With these questions we can better answer your questions. All of the images I seen "the ones you refered to" they seem out of focus, except the last one which is a drawing.

Hi Scott
I have been using my ETX 90 most evenings and it has been very easy to monitor the shrinkage in the south polar cap. Other surface marking are visible every clear night and Syrtis Major easy to see when it's there. Best results with 8 mm eyepiece => 156X. Sharp focus is essential. Your TV102 ought to be much better than my ETX. Have you tried using filters (A23 light red works best for me) and also observing at about 1 to 2 am when Mars is high and the seeing best?

Anthony

Wow Scott sounds like you have pretty bad seeing where you are, as I have a TV-102 as well and have been seeing plenty.
http://members.cox.net/ronby/Solar-System/index.htm

Have you tried some color filters? Waiting until Mars is at the highest point (right now around 1-2am in North America)?

Ron the 4-inch Tall Evangelist B[ee]

Hello Mars Viewers,

Thank you all for your comments and replies. Am pleased to report I saw the Eye of Mars this morning!!!.....I think. Something at the threshold of what I could see sure looked like it. Please tell me I wasn't hallucinating.

Much later into the morning, discovered Astronomik's UHC filter gave me views very suggestive of the digital images and drawings I've seen on this forum. The details it revealed noticibly surpassed those given by Wrattens with high and medium light transmissions, neutral density and circular polarizing filters and Sirius Optic's NPC. Mottling more distinct and textured, Mars a deeper salmon color, blue fringe gone when planet viewed on axis. Not sure why it worked so well for me since there was a lengthly discussion about them earlier in this forum. Perhaps it is a case of "YMMV." However, I am very, very please with the views I got from it with the Mak-Cas.

Darlene