We were working late into the evening at home last night, but about 12:30 we stopped and I lugged the telescope outside to take a look at Mars, which was well up in the South-East sky by that time. We got a fabulous view, certainly the best I’ve ever seen it. The 9mm eyepeice resolved the planet into a small pink disc, with one of the polar ice caps clearly visible.

It’s a shame that Mars rises so late, because it’s a great sight and most people aren’t going to stay up to enjoy it, or get up early enough to see it setting.