Observations by Month:

July and August...I was able to glimpse some markings in July with my 80mm f/15 vintage refractor, just before the major dust storm developed that blanked out most of the albedo features that would have been visible at this point in the apparition. The last week of August has seen some clearing and a dying down of dust activity so hopefully we can get on with observing the surface as well as the atmosphere.

September...As September comes to a close and we get into Autumn with it's usual unsettled weather, the observer has to contend with decreased transparency in addition to the persistant dust in Mars' atmosphere, making the use of filters necessary in order to discern much detail in the albedo features. I find myself using mostly the TeleVue Bandmate A & B filters in addition to the #21 for visual observing. The dust veil continues to obscure finer detail although white clouds are occasionally seen or suspected especially in the Tharsis-Solis Lacus regions.

October...Some brightness increase in Chryse and yellow cloud incursion int Mare Acidalium may indicate continued dust activity, but sure at present. Increasing in size at the beginning of October from 10", the planet begins to show more detail with some finer features becoming visible, though there is still a pall of dust partially obscuring some features.

Unstable weather conditions have produced inferior observing in the latter half of October, Mars' dusty atmosphere continues to clear with some clouds and bright areas apparent as well as darkening in Elysium of the Hyblaeus Extension and Trivium Charontis, areas noted for changes.

Unstable sky conditions have produced less than ideal observing conditions in the last week of October. Midnight observing times gave much turbulence to seeing conditions while passing weather systems reduced transparency. I will probably continue morning observing until later in the apparition after retrograde begins.

November...Mars continues to increase in size but albedo features remain obscure on all but the clearest of nights when they still appear as if through a mist. There is apparently much suspended dust in Mars' atmosphere along with cloud formation all of which is leading to a view that is less sharp than 2005 even though the planet is as high in the sky as it gets from northern latitudes.

With November's usual unstable weather, it has been more challenging to get nights or mornings with a clear sky with good transparency, although the increased disk diameter certainly makes a difference.

Even though transparency was not optimum, seeing was fairly good through November, averaging Antoniadi II with occansional moments of A I seeing. A great deal more detail can be seen as far as albedo features go, although the North Polar Hood remains amorphous with this aperture. As Mars is almost now at it's greatest diameter for this apparition, one can hope for some clear nights through December with the present equipment, methods and techniques. From correspondence online with other observers, I consider myself fortunate to have been able to resolve this level of detail.

December...This month opens with cold tempertures and often overcast and snowy skies. Some observations were made in degraded seeing conditions and poor transparency. However conditions are good enough that some finer detail is visible due to the increased disk diameter as well as a good view of orographic cloud activity over Tharsis and into the Solis Lacus region and Chryse.

As Christmas eve draws near, there have been fewer cloudless nights and evening seeing has proved less reliable than early morning skies, but one has to take whatever clear period is available. Even though the planet's disk remains below 16" of arc, when seeing and clarity permits, a wealth of detail is still available if one waits for the opportune moments when the atmosphere allows. Over the holidays, evening presentation of the Syrtis Major hemisphere allows detailed examination of the feature and it's surroundings which I have not so far had a good opportunity to do.

From Christmas eve until New Years, we are locked into a stationary weather system that is overcast with fog on the ground and cold tempertures trapped underneath, preventing any observing whatsoever. Impression of the apparition so far is that even though the disk diameter is less than 16", some good detail and a few changes in albedo feature are evident such as the darkening of trivium Charontis and Indus as well as some changes in the Solis Lacus region. Hopefully January will yield some good nights as Mars recedes from us.

January...This month (and year) opens with continuation of the weather patterns of December. There were some very good nights though where there was a good window for an hour or two. I have spent much of the time concentrating on the Tharsis/Solis Lacus region due to the large amount of orographic cloud activity and some albedo feature changes.

Mid month brings better weather with enough clear breaks for observations. Good detail in the Tharsis and Solis Lacus regions with Olympus Mons and other volcanoe orographic clouds observed a number of times. The Solis Lacus region is definitely changed in albedo features since the duststorms of August and September, the Martian atmosphere has cleared considerably but is still not completely cleared. Intensive use of filters is still required to bring out subtle detail in the albedo markings.

Late January has turned into real winter with overcast skies, snow and blowing snow. It is a real chore to get an hour of observing in before the clouds move in again. Some cloud activity noted south of the North polar cap across Mare Acidalium and aso in and around Argyre. Observations suspended for 10 days due to tempertures in the -30C and below range.

February...This month opens with the cold of January still with us but a few more opportuities to make some observations before Mars drops below 10" of arc as we speed away from it along our orbit. Cloud activity in the North polar regions is still ongoing and many albedo features are still showing good detail. Being almost at the zenith in the evening has resulted in quite good seeing on a disk that is smaller than 12".

As the month continues, weather has reduced the number of available nights for observation. The disk diameter continues to diminish as Mars recedes from us as we speed along on our orbit. Fine detail is now no longer visible but the major albedo features and some weather can still be determined and as the planet is still well up in the evening, the viewing is quite sharp. Feb 29th observation shows this is the end of the apparition as detail has become too small the planet is too far away for further drawing and imaging with my equipment.

Here is some preliminary information for the next apparition of Mars.

Nov 20, 2009 9" diameter in Cancer

Dec 03, 2009 10" diameter in Cancer

Dec 15, 2009 11" diameter in Cancer

Dec 25, 2009 12" diameter in Leo

Jan 05, 2010 13" diameter in Leo

Jan 22, 2010 14" diameter in Cancer

Jan 26, 2010 14.09" diameter in Cancer, closest approach

Jan 29, 2010 14.08" diameter in Cancer, opposition

Feb 13, 2010 13" diameter in Cancer

Mar 01, 2010 12" diameter in Cancer

Mar 11, 2010 11" diameter in Cancer

Mar 22, 2010 10" diameter in Cancer

Apr 03, 2010 9" diameter in Cancer