November 20th, 2005, 3:05 - 3:30 UT, seeing fair (4, on a scale of 0-10 with 10 being best, or IV on Antoniadi's scale) with high clouds that occasionally obscured the view, transparency 4.2. Central Meridian 87.52° degrees, Declination of Earth: -17.74. P.A. of axis: 321.31, Diameter: 18.58", Phase: 0.9904%, magnitude: -1.98.

TMB 7" f/8 refractor on Astro-Physics 800 mount. Magnification 170x to 298x with Baader binocular viewer. Filters used: none, Baader red, yellow, Neodymium Moon & Skyglow. The Moon & Skyglow filter is similar to a Magenta (W30, W32) filter in that it enhances both the surface and atmospheric detail.

In this sketch south is at the top, north at the bottom, following on the right (east), preceding on the left (west), with the planet rotating from right to left.

The fair seeing and high clouds limited the amount of fine detail visible during this observation. Also surface features in the Southern Hemisphere did not seem as prominent as during my last observing session. Sky & Telescope reported that this is do to a thin haze of dust in the Martian atmosphere seems to have reduced contrast somewhat.

In the southern polar region the South Polar Cap (SPC) was very small. Mare Australe and Bosporos Gemmatus were visible to the north of the SPC, while Mare Sirenum was on the following limb. Further north Solis Lacus appeared elongated with Coprates and Aurorae Sinus visible, while Mare Erythraeum and Protei Regio were visible on the preceding limb and appeared somewhat mottled.

Limb clouds were visible along the preceding limb, and in the northern portion of the globe Niliacus Lacus was visible. The North Polar Hood (NPH) was blue in color.