Gilly,

I had my scope out last Friday night. Mars was HUGE! The last couple of years, Mars was either too small or covered with dust storms to see much. My scope is a little bigger, and my viewing conditions may be better so I saw the polar cap and some nice surface detail. Go here for a Mars previewer to see what Mars should look like at any particular time, and it will help you pick out detail. Seeing detail on Mars and Jupiter are the holy grails of telescopedom and it takes fine optics, a sturdy mount and great conditions.

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/article_997_1.asp#


glenmore
1991 300CE