The Solar System in One Night?

I'm heading to the Algarve (Alvor) in May for 2 weeks.
The hotel I've booked is very near the ''Centro de Observação Astronómica''
or COAA which I plan on visiting for a night while there.
www.coaa.co.uk/

Ultimately I want to do my own imaging/observing and so I am bringing
my gear with me.
The people at the COAA tell me the Algarve is one of the best places
for visual astronomy in Europe because of its position with ocean tothe south and west.
Not to mention very dark skies and good seeing 70% of the time.

So, anyway,
I'm looking at my planetarium program and for some of the nights
in question and it looks like
all eight planets are due to be visible.
I'm just wondering how often this happens?

Obviously I'm stoked that I'll get (weather permitting) an excellent opportunity to observe and hopefully image some of these.
Including a look at Scorpius in its entirety.
(I feel like a kid in a sweetshop, I cant decide how to divide my time: observe or image or what!)

Have any of you had similar nights / trips?
Anyone any advice or tips?

Just after sunset: Mercury, Venus, Saturn & Jupiter about to rise.


Just before sunrise: Jupiter, (Pluto, Neptune, Uranus) & Mars

Frank,

That sounds like a great trip. I really hope you get to make the most out of it. I suppose the obvious question is what gear are you planning to bring? That will make all the difference as to what might be on your hitlist!

I do suggest that you concentrate on southerly objects that you can't see from here. Remember you can image the planets from here. Why do in portugal what you can do here anyway.

Dave,
I'm bringing exactly what I use at home which is a Meade ETX-125 PE
& a pair of 10x50's.
For imaging I'm bringing a Philips webcam, laptop & Canon350D.
All the gear is very portable I can get everything I need into 2 flight cases & a soft bag for the tripod.

The COAA have one 0.5m f4.5 Newtonian & two 0.3m f5's
and they allow you to attach your own webcam or imaging device
to whichever scope you book which is a plus.
(some examples of guests images here...)
www.coaa.co.uk/recntpic.htm

This place is just too close to my hotel not to go for a night or two!