The mission of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Assn (TAAA) includes providing opportunities for the community to learn about and share the joy and excitement of astronomy. In keeping with that mission the TAAA makes its facility in Cochise County available to explore the night skies with the help of TAAA volunteers, at no charge to qualified educational groups.

Through the TAAA Astronomy Camp program, TAAA provides an outstanding opportunity for students to be inspired by of the pristine skies of Southern Arizona. The programs include hands on use of telescopes for observing and imaging at our very dark site. Students can take advantage of the Chiricahua Astronomy Complex using a variety of TAAA and volunteer owned equipment.

Groups provide their own transportation to the site, arrange for parent hosts, and are responsible for brining and preparing food.

TAAA provides the site, with up to 7 observatories including visual and imaging telescopes, a classroom, kitchenettes with microwaves and refrigerators, grills, restrooms and sleeping rooms for students and hosts. TAAA also provides knowledgeable guides to the night sky to facilitate either the group’s evening program or various programs TAAA can organize for the group. The TAAA organization works closely with its participating groups to ensure an enriching and rewarding experience at the site, while operating within the rules of safely working with minors.

TAAA recently expanded its site to include new amenities for hosting students. The completed facilities, with rooms to sleep 17 students and teachers, space for classroom activities, access to the club’s 7 telescopes including 4 on the Stinger Learning Pad.  With this infrastructure in place TAAA has the capability of taking its former school observing night program to a new level of support and hands on involvement by students under the clear CAC skies. 

The Camps can be a single evening of viewing or a one or two night’s programs, with daytime study with potential side trips to enjoy the natural environment in and around the Chiricahua National Monument.

The Astronomy Camp program is available during the peak sky viewing seasons of the Fall, Winter and Spring. Activities include planning evening observations based on the objects available in that season’s night sky, selecting the appropriate equipment to observe the objects, instrument training leading to hands on use of telescopes and imaging equipment, and capturing celestial images for further study.

TAAA stands ready to tailor a program for any qualified group, with a focus on high school and college students. The site is reserved certain days of the month for strictly member use, and for other community events, but the calendar is otherwise flexible to respond to hosting interested groups. To discuss the possibility of your group participating in the dark sky experience of the Astronomy Camp, or exploring the programs in greater dept, contact us at AstronomyCampDirector@tucsonastronomy.org for further details.

The Grand Canyon Star Party (GCSP) is held on the South Rim in northern Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park in June every year around the time of the new moon. All amateur astronomers (must register using below information to attend) and the interested public of all ages are invited (no registration required)! Bring your telescope and enjoy the camaraderie. But you don’t have to have a telescope to come and enjoy the beautiful Arizona night skies. You DO need to reserve a room or campsite and make your travel arrangements early. See Accommodation Information for details. A visit to the breathtaking Grand Canyon is an unforgettable and fabulous vacation for families, singles, and seniors. Add a week of dark Arizona skies, lots of friends, fun, and astronomy education, and you have a recipe for perfection!

GCSP 2024

Stay tuned here for updates and information on the 2023 Grand Canyon Star Party, scheduled for June 1 – 8, 2024. PLEASE CHECK HERE as we get closer for any GCSP planning updates. The dates for each phase will be updated as we get closer. Registration will be open 3-4 months prior to the event.

Volunteer Registration form and the Campground Reservation Application links are accessible below under Volunteer Registration Information. Documents required by the National Park Service (NPS)  to be signed and brought to the event are available below and will be emailed to participants approximately 1 month prior.

For any inquires about the status or general information not listed here, please email the team at: gcsp[at]tucsonastronomy.org.  The GCSP Registrar Email address will be added under Registration Information below.

If you are an astronomer volunteering to support this event, please follow the registration instructions below. If you are a visitor to the Grand Canyon National Park at the time of the GCSP just come on out and enjoy the wonderful nights with us under the high desert skies. Again, no registration is necessary for visitors, but astronomer participants will need to register in order to receive further instructions and entry information.

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions for more information. Also visit the excellent National Park Services star party site. And here is a time lapse video taken by TAAA member Dean Ketelsen at the 2011 event and a GCSP 2022 Timelapse from Bob Rose.

FOR MORE VOLUNTEER INFORMATION – CLICK HERE