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Mark grew up in the space age watching moon landings, NOVA programs and Sci-Fi movies on TV. “Space was always there as long as I can remember, so it should be no surprise that I wound up studying Plasma Physics in Grad School, where I discovered the hobby of amateur astronomy.” As a side note, it was also here that Mark built one of the first ever ion beam probes, a powerful tool used to probe the interior of hot plasmas. One moment in particular that sparked his interest in astronomy, was when he got to witness his first comet. “Haley’s comet was approaching, and a fellow grad student showed me how to make a “barn door tracker” so I could image the comet with my 35mm camera. That was all it took, I was hooked - and an astrophotographer to boot. With that one simple act, my bank account had been cursed for life.” When we asked Mark what it was about observing the night sky that sparked his interest the most, he gave us the following response. “The night sky is many things to me. It sparks my sense of wonder at what is out there, how it came to be, and why. But it also reminds me of my place in the cosmos, what’s important, and what’s not. Perspective, wonder, awe, what more could one ask for?”
Since Haley’s comet got Mark started, comets remain a fascination of his. He explained that “unlike other objects in the sky, they are transient, and are usually once in a lifetime. Even when they are predictable (i.e. known period returning comets), they are still unpredictable. That makes them extra fun.” Mark added that M42 (the Orion Nebula) also holds a special place for him because it was one of the few objects, he could actually locate in his first scope (a Meade 4” SCT on a little fork mount). Mark bought this scope through mail order from an NY camera store, out of a magazine. “It was quite a lot of money for a grad student, but it was small and portable enough that I could take it on my motorcycle. Since I didn’t own a car, that was a huge selling factor. Being a budget scope, it used 3 small screw-in legs on the base (1 adjustable for elevation alignment). Unless you had a concrete table, you were observing on the ground. I have fond memories of lying on the cold ground at my friend's ranch and marveling at M42.”
We wanted to know when Mark first discovered Stellarvue and how that has made a difference for him. He responded saying, “my first encounter with Stellarvue was ordering a finder scope in 2010. The scope was great, but I called because I thought a part was missing…turns out I had failed to specify an option. It was my error, but Stellarvue still overnighted the correct part to me! I was sold at that point. I still own that finderscope. When Vic announced Stellarvue would be grinding optics in house for a 130 Triplet, I immediately ordered one. I used that scope for 8 years and just recently sold it to buy an SVX152T. I also own an SV080ST. All amazing scopes that have significantly enhanced my enjoyment of astronomy.” We then asked Mark to tell us how his love for astronomy has contributed to who and where he is today. He said “astronomy has always given me a sense of perspective, reminding me that there is a much bigger picture out there than the events in my life. It has provided a sense of balance and purpose that I did not anticipate.”
To wrap up our interview with Mark, we asked him what advice he would give to “up and comers” pursuing astronomy or astro-imaging? He left us with the following note of wisdom. “Start slow and simple. Enjoy the ride. You can have a lot of fun and take great images, even with basic gear.” This is tremendous advice for those who are just getting started in astronomy, as they endure the learning curve ahead. We are happy to share Mark’s story with our readers and hope they enjoyed his astronomy journey, as well as his outlook on the night sky and pursuit of its endless beauty.
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