In 1986, I started drawing Mars using a homemade 4.25-inch telescope. These are the drawings I made that year. Drawings were made from a 2nd story balcony on Wilbur Ave in Columbus, Oh. This is just north of downtown and over looked a large asphalt parking lot for a school across the street.
1896/10/17, 00:45 UT, CM=306 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 212x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 9. Wilbur Ave. Excellent seeing. Best in months. Most markings easy. Large white cloud (Dust storm?) just south of S Major. Planet quite small! Note, 2003: white area is likely Hellas. Down to 11" Last observation of the year.
1896/09/21, 02:30 UT, CM=113 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 8. Wilbur Ave. Getting very small. No south polar cap seen. All markings quite faint. North cap was best this year. Note of possible dust storm in center of disc. Note, 2003: 14.8"
1896/09/12, 02:45 UT, CM=311 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 9. Very small, much so over July! Upper light area was white - not orange. Rest of the markings were easy. Nice. Note,2003: Hellas was white. Down to 16" (it was 21" in July) and I'm seeing more detail. Good seeing, better observing skill.
1896/08/08, 02:30 UT, CM=272? Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 7. Wilbur Ave. Most markings easy, except N. Hemisphere. White cloud extended onto front surface. Note, 2003: I suspect my time is off on this one and the CM is not correct. Look at the north polar hood!
1896/08/05, 03:45 UT, CM=317 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 8. All markings easy. Excellent night! Very pretty.
1896/08/04, 03:20 UT, CM=320 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 7. Wilbur Ave. All markings easy. Note, 2003: Sytris Major, nice dark ring around the South Polar Cap.
1896/07/31, 03:45 UT, CM=2 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 5. Wilbur Ave. Markings are quite faint!
1896/07/30, 03:30 UT, CM=7 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 2. Wilbur Ave. Bad seeing caused lost of all faint detail. Very small seeing cells.
1896/07/27, 04:00 UT, CM=41 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 4. Wilbur Ave. Dim markings, VERY HARD.
1896/07/23, 04:00 UT, CM=77 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 8, Wilbur Ave. Markings easy, Pos. ID in "The Book of Mars". NICE! Note 2003: Nope, still have the wrong names for the markings!
1896/07/22, 04:00 UT, CM=86 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 6-9. Wilbur Ave. All markings very faint, moments of great seeing. Later note: Names are wrong. Note, 2003: Huge jump in detail from earlier drawings.
1896/07/19, 04:00 UT, CM=167 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 4. Wilbur Ave. All markings pretty faint. Dust Storms? Note, 2003: Here I managed to draw Solis Lacus, Mare Acidalium and other markings pretty well!
1896/07/15, 03:30 UT, CM=141 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 5. Wilbur Ave. About the same as 7/14/86, but with/dark southern on west side. Note white bulge to the west.
1896/07/14, 03:30 UT, CM=149 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Seeing 4. Wilbur Avenue. Dark area below polar cap, neatly split, hints of details. Below, white bulge on leading, west, side. Morning clouds?
1896/06/14, 03:30 UT, CM=57 Columbus, Oh, 4.25-inch f/10 reflector 170x: 20k jpg image
Wilbur Avenue apartment balcony. Bad seeing, no markings other then polar cap and little below. Dust storm?
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