Sean Walker sent out the following extremely sad news this morning;
It is with a heavy heart I share with the group that our friend and long-time planetary observer, Donald C. Parker, has passed away this evening in Miami, Florida.
Sean Walker
Don was a pioneering planetary imager, his work inspired generations of new planetary imagers to this field of astrophotography. Planetary Science has lost an icon and we are all the poorer for his passing.
Sad news. I met him once at Siding Springs when I was much younger. He took time to spend an evening with me under the stars and I still remember that night.
That is certainly a bit of a shock. Don's images were at one point a bench mark many of us aspired toward. His contribution to planetary imaging is certainly well known and appreciated.
I received some very sad news from Masatsugu Minami of the OAA Mars section earlier today.
Planetary photographer and observer Don Parker passed away on the 22nd February.
Don was indeed THE pioneer of planetary imaging and was instrumental in implementing many of the techniques that was use today. To those of us that knew him, he was always a genuine, true gentleman. He will be sorely missed.
sad news , a real inspiration to all astro photographers , one of the pioneers .
