Our Mission for 2024

Back in January 2024, we set outselves an extremely ambitious challenge: can we see every planet in the Solar System before the end of the year?

Completing this challenge remains the ultimate aim of this astronomy group in 2024.

From Sun-hugging Mercury, all the way out to the icy world of Neptune, over four billion kilometres from the Sun – we're hoping to see them all!

But it's almost the end of the year. We're running out of time!!!

TRAC 2024 Intro Video

Hit fullscreen and crank that volume up to max.

Video credit: GL & JM/TRAC

A short time ago on a street very, very close to home....

TRAC – EPISODE I: SOLAR SYSTEM PLANETS

On a quiet suburban road, a small band of amateur stargazers has assembled! United by their shared passion for astronomy, they have set out to explore their local star system.

An ambitious plan has been put into motion: to see every planet in the Solar System within a year.

Operating under challenging conditions, the TRAC team is patiently waiting for a clear night to make progress towards achieving their ultimate goal. But time is running out...

Progress Check

Are we on TRAC(k)?

The astronomy club is a scientific enterprise and has a zero-tolerance policy regarding cheating! Only verified telescopic planetary observations count towards our goal.

Planets we have seen

In chronological order, we observed:

• Jupiter
• Mercury
• Saturn
• Mars
• Venus

Planets we have NOT seen

• Uranus
• Neptune

So far, the two distant ice giants have alluded us.

This is kind of a bad situation

If we fail...

   ...we've let Taverners Road down,
    ...we've let the astronomy community down,
     ...we've let Rainham down,
      ...we've let the country down,
       ...we've let planet Earth down,
        ...we've let the entire Milky Way galaxy down,
         ...we've let RMGS down,
          ...we've let Fairview School down,
           ...we've let our parents down,
            ...we've let Zak down,
             ...and we've let ourselves down.

And James' Christmas will be ruined, and he will go into hibernation for the rest of the winter.

Let's stay focused and redouble our efforts in December.

The Clouds Make Me Sad

A TRAC Poem by James M

The clouds make me sad
All gloomy and grey
They're driving me mad
They won’t go away

It's really frustrating
For my astronomy guys
Who are patiently waiting
For crystal-clear skies

The clouds make me sad
And I have a suspicion
With weather this bad
We might fail our mission

We've come a long way
Despite these conditions
And we won't let them sway
Our astro ambitions

The clouds make me sad
And spoilt plans we made
I know I'll feel glad
When they finally fade

Then we’ll spring into action
Stay focused, aim high,
And observe each attraction
On display in the sky

The clouds make me sad
So let's hope next year
The poor weather we've had
Will soon disappear

And instead in its place
We'll be treated to sights
Of clear views of space
And cosmic delights!