Topic – Observing the planets
Dive into the celestial odyssey with “Observing the Planets,” a captivating account that encapsulates the sheer joy of planetary observation. Authored by the passionate astronomer Mark Radice, this enthralling piece not only narrates the excitement of observing planets but also showcases Mark’s extensive collection of images and sketches cultivated over years of hands-on exploration.
The narrative reaches its zenith as Mark recounts an extraordinary night during a club trip to the IAC Observatory on Mt Teide, Tenerife. Armed with determination and a telescope resilient enough to survive airport security in hand luggage, Mark accomplished the remarkable feat of observing every planet in our solar system, along with the Moon, Sun, Earth, and a multitude of moons—all in a single night. This extraordinary adventure is a testament to Mark’s dedication and the indomitable spirit that fuels his celestial pursuits.
Speaker: Mark Radice
Introducing Mark Radice, an avid astronomer residing near Salisbury Wiltshire, just a stone’s throw from the ancient marvel of Stonehenge. Mark’s cosmic journey began with the mesmerizing sight of Comet Hyakutake gracing the skies during his stint in Canada in 1996, igniting a passion that traversed the moon, delved through the solar system, and extended into the vast expanse of deep space.
A versatile observer, Mark finds joy in a spectrum of astronomical pursuits, including visual observing, sketching, lunar and planetary imaging, solar observation, and widefield photography. His appetite for cosmic exploration knows no bounds, making him a dedicated generalist who revels in observing anything that graces the sky. Mark’s primary observational tools include a C11 on an EQ6 (a 280mm f10 Schmidt-Cassegrain) and a pair of 100mm APM binoculars stationed in his roll-off roof observatory. In the daytime, he turns to a 60mm Lunt H-alpha solarscope to explore the mesmerizing intricacies of our nearest star.