Biography
Steve became fascinated by astronomy at the age of nine, and never really grew up. During the ensuing acquisition of steadily larger instruments, Steve has always been interested in the technical enhancement of telescopic observation; this has included the enhancement of planetary detail through use of Kodak’s Wratten filters and (during those halcyon days prior to digital cameras!) use of specialised Kodak celluloid films for infra-red, ultra-violet and micrographic (high resolution) imaging.
In parallel with his interests in practical astronomy there runs a fascination with astronomy’s history – which has included an RAS published study of Galilean observations using an optical replica of Galileo’s third instrument. A stronger thread is an enjoyment of astronomy’s quirkier stories and many pratfalls with which the science is littered.
Steve has been writing published work since he was 15, and has since written articles for the journals of both the BAA and RAS, New Scientist, Modern Astronomer, Quest, Astronomy magazine and Astronomy Now (for whom he is currently Equipment editor).
Synopsis
The unluckiest astronomer
By the mid-18th century, astronomers had a pretty good idea of the scale of the solar system, at least proportionally. Still needed was an absolute measurement of planetary distances. Thanks to Kepler’s 3rd Law (a simple equation relating orbital periods to a planet’s distance from the Sun) a mathematical means was already available to achieve this. All it lacked was a single accurate measurement – such as the solar parallax determined by a transiting inferior planet.
A rare such opportunity was to occur in 1761 when Venus was set to transit the face of the Sun in June of that year. As part of a worldwide international effort comprised of about 120 observers, the French contribution fell to a minor French nobleman working at the Paris Observatory. The subsequent adventures of Guillaume Le Gentil led him to unarguably becoming the most tragi-comic hero in the history of astronomy.
