Try a polarizing filter. Mercury's crescent phase, sketched as seen through twilight in a 60mm refractor at 79x. It shines reddish, but presents to the telescope only a small disk. At this time, it is near its closest approach to Earth and thus appears brighter and larger than at other times. Only around the time of opposition can surface features be observed.
Some oppositions are better than others.
Because Mars's orbit deviates significantly from a circle, it will be closer to Earth at some oppositions than at others. Every 18 years, Mars is as close to Earth as it ever can be. During these oppositions, Mars's brightness exceeds that of Jupiter, and its disk is large enough to permit users of small telescopes to pick out its polar ice caps and the dark markings on its surface. Of the three remaining planets in our solar system, Uranus can be seen in binoculars or even with the naked eye. The problem is distinguishing Uranus from the many other stars which are of the same brightness.