Mars on October 9, 2020
Mars at its Best
The dark areas Syrtis Major, Mare Tyrrhenum, Sinus Sabaeus and Sinus Meridiani
dominate the planet’s surface in this drawing. The circular impact basin Hellas is
lighter (south of Syrtis Major), but not as bright, or as red, as the great Arabia Desert
that dominates the northern hemisphere (remember South is up in the drawing). The
South Polar cap is small and bright while the North Polar Hood is more subdued but
larger (snow clouds). Rim haze (crepuscular clouds and fog) edges the planet. Mars
for the next week or so is as large as it is going to get during this opposition.
dominate the planet’s surface in this drawing. The circular impact basin Hellas is
lighter (south of Syrtis Major), but not as bright, or as red, as the great Arabia Desert
that dominates the northern hemisphere (remember South is up in the drawing). The
South Polar cap is small and bright while the North Polar Hood is more subdued but
larger (snow clouds). Rim haze (crepuscular clouds and fog) edges the planet. Mars
for the next week or so is as large as it is going to get during this opposition.