Frank J Melillo(Celestron 203mm Schmidt Starlight Xpress MX-5)
Mercury was imaged successfully on Oct. 13th at 15:20 UT. It was about 8 1/2 degrees away from the sun! Under the crystal blue sky, Mercury was visible easily at -1.2 magnitude! The seeing was average but there were some fine moments.
I have tried to resume my Mercury studies and capture what is like to image it at nearly a full phase 95% illuminted. It was my first time to image that close to the sun. Still safe and the telescope was in the shade for at least 15 minutes.
At CM - 165 degrees, there is some dark markings just south of the equator. They have been visible throughout the whole morning apparition. Solitudos Helli and perhaps Matae are prominent in this angle. Mercury hasn't rotated much and it looks the same as other images and drawings from earlier in this apparition.
[Frank J Melillo Holtsville NY U.S.A]
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