I have the XL1S with stock 16x lens. Is it possible to get anything next week?

Heh, I tried getting the moon once. Not a chance. Mars is merely a bright red star, nothing like the size of the moon.

I have a couple of astronomer associates, they use telescopic lenses (very strong, the 16x lens is a puppy in comparrison) and can rig them to video cameras. Very expensive equipment.

I've photographed the moon with the stock lens. So it is possible but Mars?

http://www.keithloh.com/video/moon.html

Keith,
You may want to take a look at the following site, they are primarily telescope related but there are many posts on taking photos (digital and film) through telescopes. Someone there may be able to give you an answer about the possibility of using your 16x lens on the XL1s.

The site is : www.cloudynights.com .

Some of the pictures those folks are getting with digital cameras is amazing.

Good luck, Nick

You'll need an EOS EF 500mm lens and the EF XL adapter. That will get you about 70x magnification. At that magnification, Mars will appear about as large as the moon does, to the unaided eye.