Here's the additional information I promised re: Mars observation.
There's a free downloadable software package available at the link
below. It not only automatically draws the correct face of Mars for
any given evening and time, but it also allows you to generate the
image as it would show in a Refractor, Newtonian or
Schmidt-Cassegrain. I find it very useful in identifying features you
are seeing, or finding out if you are imagining things or not... you
can find it at:
Also note, the May 2001 issue of Sky & Telescope has a couple of
excellent articles on the subject, incuding useful maps for naming
various features you see, starting on page 102 of that issue. It also
had more details on which kind of filters to use with which kinds of
telescopes.
Happy Mars-Watching over the next few months!
Photonman
