Venus on 1961 February 11 at 17:00-17:30 local time (22:00-22:30 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. 8" reflector at 375x. Seeing 5/10. Transparency 4/5. Band structure unusually prominent with filter.
Venus on 1961 February 8 at 17:15-17:30 local time (22:15-22:30 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. 6" refractor at 220x-450x. Seeing 5/10. Transparency 4-5/5. Dark side clearly seen for first time. It seemed to not quite fill the other half. Intensity 1 to 1.5.
Venus on 1961 February 5/6 at 16:30-17:00 local time (21:30-22:00 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. 8" reflector at 375x. Seeing 5-7/10. Transparency 4/5.
Venus on 1961 January 22/23 at 16:45-17:15 local time (21:45-22:15 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. 8" reflector at 300x. Seeing 5-7/10. Transparency 1-3/5. Dichotomy reached. Superb seeing afforded best view of planet so far experienced. Detail definite with + without filter.
Venus on 1961 January 19 at 15:00-15:30 local time (20:00-20:30 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. 8" reflector at 300x. Seeing 3-1. Transparency 4. Markings fairly definite despite poor seeing.
Venus on 1961 January 16 at 15:30-16:10 local time (20:30-21:10 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. 8" reflector at 300x-375x. Seeing 2-5. Transparency 4. During best moments considerable definite detail seen, especially with filter.
Venus on 1961 January 14/15 at 16:30-17:00 local time (21:30-22:00) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. 8" reflector at 300x. Seeing 3-5. Transparency 4. Most definite view of outline of markings so far experienced, especially with violet filter, blue + green. Parallel band-like markings were very definite. Contrast exaggerated in both drawings.
Venus on 1961 January 12/13 at 16:30-16:50 local time (21:30-21:50 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. 8" reflector at 165x-300x. Seeing 3-5. Transparency 3-4. Almost nothing seen without filter, only fairly definite area 8.5. Glare of planet seems to blot out detail which becomes visible only with filters. Terminator not quite central.
Venus on 1961 January 11/12 at 16:10-16:40 local time (21:10-21:40 UT) as sketched by K.R. Brasch. 8" reflector at 165x. Seeing 4-5. Transparency 0-3. Intermittent clouds, haze + wind hampered observation. Markings fairly definite but outline very indefinite. Not much difference caused by filter except for increase in contrast.