Mars is still magnitude 1, 40 degrees high at dusk, sets at 11 pm. It is moving toward Taurus with Aldebaran of similar brightness and color. The last week of March it is 3 degrees south of the Pleiades.
Uranus is visible in binoculars below Mars.
Jupiter transits at dawn.
Venus is further east and stays low at dawn.
Saturn is 26 degrees east of Jupiter, the closest since 2001.
Mercury is visible at dusk till the 5th and at dawn starting on the 30th.
The moon is close to Venus on the morings of March 2 and 3. The moon will be back in the evening sky on the 7th as a very thin crescent low in the west.
Mercury has the best evening apparition of 2019, visible after the 12th in the west at dusk, best around the 24th.
Mars is still magnitude 1, 50 degrees high at dusk, sets after 11 pm. It is moving toward Aries and Taurus with Aldebaran of similar brightness and color.
Uranus is 1 degree south of Mars on February 12. Although Mars is 100 times as bright as Uranus, both are of similar sizes, 6 arcsec versus 4 arcsec, but very different colors.
Jupiter rises at 3 am and is 30 degrees high at dawn.
Venus rises 4:30 am and is 20 degrees high at dawn. Venus and Jupiter are only separated by 10 degrees at the beginning of the month.
Saturn rises after Venus in early February. On the 18th, it is within 1 degree of Venus. Saturn and Jupiter are separated by 30 degrees, the closest since 2001.
The moon will be back in the evening sky on the 6th, possibly on the 5th, very low in the WSW in bright twilight. Binoculars may be needed to spot it depending on the atmospheric conditions.
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE January 20: 8:34-11:51 pm, totality 9:41-10:44 pm. High in sky, near Castor and Pollux. Southern limb of moon gets very close to the center of the umbra at mid eclipse (10:12 pm).
Mars at magnitude 1, 60 degegrees high at dusk, sets after 11 pm.
It is moving fast through the faint stars of Pisces.
Uranus and Neptune on both sides of Mars visible in binoculars.
Venus rises 4 am at brillant magnitude -4.5, high during dawn,
naked eye visibility after sunrise.
Jupiter at magnitude -2 rises first at 5 am. Jupiter and Venus approach each other.
Closest on 21st, 2.5 degrees separation, spectacular around 6 am!
Comet Wirtanen, magnitude 5 and dimming, moves fast from Lynx to
Ursa Major, circumpolar.
The moon will be close to Mars on the 12th and close to Venus on
the 31st.
Saturn is still visible at dusk very low in the southwest until Dec 15.
Mars at magnitude 0 transits at 6pm and sets at midnight. It is moving fast through Aquarius.
Neptune is easy to find on Dec 7 when it is only 15 arc-minutes from Mars.
Uranus transits at 9pm 68 degrees high in Pisces.
Venus is magnitude -4.9, the brightest possible, high during dawn.
Mercury is visible well below Venus from Dec 4 to Jan 4.
Jupiter joins Mercury starting Dec 9 first below Mercury. On Dec 21, the pair is only 1 degree apart. Afterwards, Jupiter will be higher than Mercury by 1 degree per day.
The moon will be first visible on Dec 8 as a very thin crescent next to Saturn. On Dec 14 it shines below Mars.
The Geminids meteors will be very active on Dec 13 an 14.
Winter solstice occurs on Dec 21. The length of the day stays near 10 hours all month, but sunrise and sunset both get delayed by about a quarter of an hour during December.
The first Friday of each month the members of TAAA meet at the auditorium of the Steward Observatory on the campus of the University of Arizona. We have wide range of programs during the year. We have presentations from members and member groups, seasonal observing tips, and monthly planet reports. Being at the center of the nation’s astronomy industry, and in proximity of so much astronomy talent, TAAA host speakers from all over the discipline often to share cutting edge work in the field.
Volunteering
TAAA offers opportunities for its members to become active contributors to STEM education. We actively offer education to our own members and encourage those members to inspire students and the community by sharing their knowledge of the sky during events we host throughout the year.
Special Interest Groups
Sub-groups formed to study areas of special interest.
Holds monthly meetings on topics of interest to the budding astronomer and the seasoned veteran. This multifunctional group presents a basic astronomy course; sponsors workshops and guided observing programs.
Members meet monthly to share their images and discuss astro imaging, hardware & software, and the issues that may arise.
Dark Sites
Access to each of our two dark sites – one to the west of the Tucson Mountains and one south-southeast of Tucson in Pearce, AZ – available to members and their guests.
We have telescopes and accessories that members can borrow. This allows members to use telescopes at the dark sites, or to test the various equipment types before buying. The available TELESCOPES link.
TAAA Forum
Participate in the discussion forum to share topical issues in the Astronomy world. Members share observations, astronomy related stories, astro-photos, and ideas on equipment.
Affiliation with National Organizations
Opportunity to meet and associate with astronomy professionals and share your astronomy knowledge with others.
Members Bulletin
Members receive a monthly Desert Skies Bulletin, listing current activities and astronomy related articles of interest. Log into Member Planet (through Members Only Portal) to view the latest Bulletin. Members will also receive an email link for each new Bulletin.
Members have access to apparel from shirts to hats, shorts to active wear all sporting the TAAA logo in the Apparel Catalog.
Magazine Discounts
Periodically, Members will get club discount on Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazine subscriptions.
Access to Club Library
Our club library contains many books and CD’s that are available to our members. [Read More]
Specialty Workshops
Guided projects to build astronomy equipment. Our current projects include building white light solar filters and lamps which help preserve night vision. The upcoming Classes are listed at this LINK.
Guided Observing Programs
Include observing constellations, the sun, the moon, our solar system, and double stars. We even have a family observing program.
Link to your Website
We will provide a link from our website to yours.
Now that you have seen what we are about, you might want to consider joining with us. If you join with us, you will receive a New Member Packet which includes the following:
Welcome Letter
TAAA Privacy Policy
Star party Etiquette
Getting Started in Astronomy
Astronomy for Beginners
TAAA Lending Programs
Helpful Astronomy Product Reviews
Invitations to member social events
TAAA holds social events at the end of each in person member meeting, at our dark sites during the year, and a celebratory year end Holiday Party where you can mingle with like minded, curious members.
The Association shall be an educational, service, scientific, and technical organization devoted to the study of, and promotion of interest in, Astronomy and its related allied sciences.
We are a friendly group of individuals like you with a common interest in astronomy.
Special Interest Groups
Sub-groups formed to study areas of special interest:
Holds monthly meetings on topics of interest to the budding astronomer as well as the seasoned veteran. This multifunctional group presents a basic astronomy course; sponsors workshops and guided observing programs.
Members meet monthly to share their images and discuss astro imaging, hardware & software and the issues that may arise.
TAAA Publications
Monthly Bulletin: Members receive a monthly bulletin listing the events of the following month. The current Bulletin is available only to members.
Desert Skies Newsletter: A journal published quarterly that includes articles of interest on various astronomy topics.
What We Provide to Members:
The opportunity to learn and understand the magnificence and grandeur of the universe There are various services and programs available only to our members . Join us!
What We Provide to Tucson:
Brief glimpses of the awesomeness of the universe and the opportunity to enjoy the allure and elegance of the night sky through star parties and hands on activities. You’re invited!
A Brief History of TAAA
Founded in 1954, we quickly grew to a group of 50 people known as the Tucson Amateur Astronomers (TAA). Activities then included tracking artificial satellites from a Moon Watch station at the U of A. The Moon Watch Program, coordinated by the Smithsonian Institution, helped the early US space-flight engineers perfect their science. Our Moon Watch station was recognized as one of the top three stations in the U.S. These activities led to a name change and we became the Tucson Astronomical and Astronautical Association (TAAA), a real tongue twister.
As the Moon Watch Program came to an end in the early 70s, our emphasis moved away from astronautics and focused on astronomy, but it wasn’t until 1978 that we became the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association. [Read More About Our History]
Non-Profit Status
In 1987 we were incorporated as a 501c3 non-profit organization with the dedicated purpose of studying and promoting astronomy and its allied sciences.
Desert skies are ideal for astronomy and the Tucson Desert sky is no exception. Many seek out Tucson as the place to be. Why? Because of our night sky, but also because of all of the astronomy and scientific organizations based here. The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association is the premier amateur astronomy group by virtue of our close ties to many of the astronomy and scientific organizations as well as our educational opportunities and outreach events.
In addition to TAAA events, here are some of the things that are happening in and around Tucson:
Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak supports the most diverse collection of astronomical observatories on Earth for nighttime optical and infrared astronomy and daytime study of the Sun. Whether you wish to visit during the day to catch a guided tour, learn the constellations and view through a telescope at night, or even reserve a telescope all to yourself, there is something for you. Daytime and evening programs, some very special events, programs for schools and youth groups, tours for organized groups, exhibits, and facilities. Visit the Kitt Peak website for more information.
Flandrau Science Center
The Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium explores our universe from earth to space and everything in-between, bringing science alive for young and life-long learners alike. Changing exhibits through the year focus on biology, energy, optics and more, weaving in ground-breaking UA research and revealing the world of science careers for budding scientists. Flandrau’s Observatory is open to the public at no charge each week Thursday through Saturday from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Steward Observatory
Since September 1922, Steward Observatory has been hosting public evening lectures in astronomy. The lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. and are held in Room N210 of Steward Observatory. Following all Monday evening talks, the Raymond E. White, Jr. Reflector in the historic Steward Observatory dome will be open for public viewing of the night sky (weather permitting). All of the lectures and the use of the telescope are free of charge and open to the general public. Visit the Steward Observatory website for more information.
Mt. Lemon Sky Center
The SkyNights StarGazing Program is open to the public most nights of the year using the Southwest’s largest dedicated public telescope! This program is a unique awe-inspiring opportunity that lets you peer beyond the blue horizons of our southwestern skies and explore the astronomical wonders of the Universe.
Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory
The Visitors Center features displays and exhibits on astronomy and astrophysics, natural science, and cultural history. Located at the base of Mt. Hopkins in the Santa Rita Mountains, just within the boundary of the Coronado National Forest. For more information, visit the Whipple Observatory website.
National Solar Observatory
The National Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak welcomes visitors during the daytime. The Observatory offers various kinds of tours.
Mt. Bigelow Astronomy Camp
An opportunity for both young and old to experience the universe in a new and exciting way. Teenage students gain a cosmic perspective of the earth and themselves. Visit the Mt Bigelow Astronomy Camp website for more information.
Richard F Caris Mirror Lab
The Mirror Lab offers a 90 minute tour which provides a unique opportunity to learn how innovative engineering and optical technology melds with manufacturing techniques to produce the largest and most advanced giant (8.4 meters / 27 ft) telescope mirrors in the world on the University of Arizona campus.
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Holds monthly meetings on topics of interest to the budding astronomer as well as the seasoned veteran. This multifunctional group presents a basic astronomy course; sponsors workshops and guided observing programs.
