1961

Mars on 1961 February 6/7 at 18:00 local time (23:00 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. C.M. 263°. 8" reflector at 375x. Seeing 3-5/10. Transparency 4-5/5. T = -1°.

Mars on 1961 February 8/9 at 18:00 local time (23:00 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. C.M. 255°. 6" refractor at 450x. Seeing 5-6/10. Transparency 3/5. T = -1°.

Mars on 1961 January 4/5 at 21:05-21:20 local time (02:05-02:20 UT) as sketched by Kenneth Chalk. C.M. 255°. 6" refractor at 220x. Seeing 3-4/10. Transparency 5/5. T = 1°.

Mars on 1961 February 15/16 at 22:05 local time (03:05 UT) as sketched by T.F. Morris. C.M. 250.48°. 6" refractor at 220x. Seeing 4/10. T = -1°.

Mars on 1961 January 3/4 as sketched by K.R. Brasch. 8" reflector at 300x. T = 1°.

Left: At 19:30-20:00 local time (00:30-01:00 UT). C.M. 243°. Seeing 7. Transparency 2-3. Amber filter used alternately. Haze covered planet causing poor transparency.

Right: At 21:00-21:15 local time (02:00-02:15 UT). C.M. 262°. Seeing 6-7. Transparency 4-5.  Haze cleared resulting in very good transparency, & continuous fine seeing. Amber filter used alternately. Superb view of intensity + colour of different areas:

Mars on 1961 January 11/12 at 23:40-23:50 EST (04:40-04:50 UT) as sketched by Kenneth Chalk. C.M. 231°. 6" refractor at 150-220x. Seeing 6-5 (deteriorated)/10. Transparency 4/5. T = 0°.

Mars on 1961 February 11/12 at 17:45-18:15 local time (22:45-23:15 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. C.M. 228°. 8" reflector at 375x. Seeing 6-7/10. Transparency 4-5/5. Superb seeing revealed most minute detail. Dark band near north polar cap especially prominent. T = -1°.

Mars on 1961 January 3/4 at 18:25-18:45 local time (23:25-23:45 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. C.M. 226°. 8" reflector at 300x. Seeing 5-(7). Transparency 2-3. Haze covered whole sky at time of observation. During short period of very good seeing (7) canal features seen as diffused lines. Best view of planet so far attained impossible to record all minute detail. T = 1°.

Mars on 1961 January 11/12 at 23:05-23:15 local time (04:10 UT) as sketched by G. Gaherty, Jr. C.M. 222°. 6" refractor at 150x. Seeing 3-0. Transparency 4. Drawing terminated due to poor seeing. T = 0°.

Mars on 1961 February 15/16 at 18:45-19:00 local time (23:45-00:00 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. C.M. 203°. 6" refractor at 450x. Seeing 3-5/10. Transparency 4/5. T = -1°.