General Meeting

Next TAAA Monthly Meeting: Friday, November 1, 2024

TAAA’s next general member meeting will be held on Friday, November 1, 2024. The Main Presentation will start at 6:30 P.M. This will be a hybrid meeting (both in person and on social media). TAAA members will receive a Zoom link should they wish to attend remotely. The public may attend in person or public streaming is available at: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/. It will be posted to YouTube afterwards.
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Planets of the Month: October 2024

By Erich Karkoschka

Venus is setting at 7:30 pm. Its visibility increases as the sun is setting earlier. On the 5th, the moon is 4 degrees from Venus. On the 25th, Venus passes Antares 3 degrees north.

Saturn is prominent all evening. Its rings are 10 times narrower than their 43 arc-seconds extent. Views of its six brightest satellites are best at the current geometry.

Jupiter becomes the brightest evening star as its rising times moves from 10 pm to 8 pm. It is at its northernmost location in Taurus, transiting 80 degrees high.

Mars rises just before midnight. Its motion in Gemini can be seen as the triangle with Pollux and Castor constantly changes shape. With magnitude 0 and 9 arc-second size, it becomes a worthwhile object in telescopes.

Uranus and Neptune are visible in the evening sky between Saturn and Jupiter. Uranus is easy to locate 5 degrees south of the Pleiades.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) is magnitude 2 with a 5 degree tail. Starting on the 11th, it becomes visible and moves higher in the early evening sky, but fades rapidly towards the end of the month. The best compromise between altitude and magnitude may occur around the 16th, while the best dark sky without moonlight will start on the 19th. It moves from Virgo through Serpens into Ophiuchus at 7 degrees per day first, slowing to 2 degrees per day later. Its fast motion can be seen in a telescope within a minute.

The Draconid meteor shower may have a special high peak for half an hour around midnight of the 7th.

TIMPA Dark Site Reservations

CAC Dark Site Reservations

The TAAA Dark Sites are for members and their guests. Each site has days scheduled around the new moon that are hosted by a trained member, during which members are always welcome.

The TIMPA dark site in Tucson, AZ is open at times to members on the days we have a host in residence.

Reservations for the TIMPA site are required and should be submitted on this website any time within 90 days of the date being reserved. This site allows members of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association to register to observe on a pad or, if you are a certified user, reserve a telescope viewing.

Members can reserve:

    Click the areas below to check available dates for your desired type of Visit and complete your request.

    Tel

    If you do NOT receive a response confirming your reservation within 24 hours from the CAC Reservations Manager, you may follow-up with an email to:

    cac-reservations[at]tucsonastronomy.org.

    IMPORTANT RESERVATION CANCELLATION/MODIFICATION PROCESS: Go here to MODIFY/CANCEL an existing reservation for a place to stay or equipment you have reserved. If you cannot keep your reservation due to weather or other issues, PLEASE CANCEL it so others may be able to use the site and we know who is on the site. Repeated failures to cancel may result in losing reservation privileges.

    If you are unsure about your reservation status, contact the CAC Reservations Manager directly at: cac-reservations[at]tucsonastronomy.org

    We encourage suggestions and comments about the reservation system to also go to the Reservations Manager.

    Stargazing at Oracle State Park

    November 30 @ 6:00 pm 8:00 pm

    Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House 

    • Star Party telescope viewing (6:00 – 8:00pm)

    Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park.
    3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ 85623
    Star Party open to the Public. Admission fees for entrance into Oracle State Park apply.

    Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes for astronomical viewing. We will be observing the Moon + Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, and Star Clusters.
    Great opportunity to look through a wide variety of telescopes. Weather dependent.

    For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook event page:  TAAA Facebook Events page

    Also: Check the Oracle State Park website for additional information and activities that day:
    Star Party at Oracle State Park | Oracle State Park (azstateparks.com)

    Bernie Stinger

    612-396-8839

    Oracle State Park

    3820 E Wildlife Dr.
    Oracle, AZ 85623 United States

    Stargazing @ Canoa Ranch

    November 23 @ 6:30 pm 8:30 pm

    Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) and Pima County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation for some stargazing at Historic Canoa Ranch.

    We will observe planets, star clusters, multiple star systems, nebulae, galaxies, and lots more.

    Weather dependent. For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page: Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook

    FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Go to:  https://bit.ly/ticketsEE
    These events fill up quickly.

    Bernie Stinger

    612-396-8839

    Oracle State Park

    3820 E Wildlife Dr.
    Oracle, AZ 85623 United States

    Stargazing at Saguaro NP – East

    November 22 @ 6:30 pm 8:30 pm

    Star Party – Saguaro National Park – East
    3693 S Old Spanish Trail
    Tucson, AZ 85730

    Great dark skies on the East side of Tucson at Saguaro National Park – East.
    Star Party is open to the Public. Event is free but NPS admission fees apply.

    The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes for astronomical viewing. We will observe Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Star Clusters and lots more.
    Great opportunity to look through a variety of telescopes.

    Weather dependent. For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page: Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook

    Bernie Stinger

    612-396-8839

    Oracle State Park

    3820 E Wildlife Dr.
    Oracle, AZ 85623 United States

    Stargazing at Agua Caliente Park

    November 8 @ 6:30 pm 8:30 pm

    Viewing Location:  Bus Lanes @ North end of Parking Lot
    Information: Great dark skies in Northeast Tucson.  Star Party open to the Public.  Cost: FREE.

    Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes for astronomical viewing.  We will observe Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Star Clusters and lots more.  Great opportunity to look through a variety of telescopes.

    Park gate may close before event end time, so arrive as close to start time as possible. Weather dependent.
    For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page: (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/).

    FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. go to: https://bit.ly/ticketsEE
    These events fill up fast so recommend registering early.

    Bernie Stinger

    612-396-8839

    Oracle State Park

    3820 E Wildlife Dr.
    Oracle, AZ 85623 United States

    Stargazing at Tucson Mountain Park – Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area

    November 2 @ 6:30 pm 8:30 pm

    Star Party @ Tucson Mountain Park – Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area
    Tucson, AZ (right next to Sonoran Desert Museum)

    Viewing Location: Small side loop on East side of main loop.
    Information: Great dark skies in Western Tucson.  Star Party open to the Public.  Cost: FREE.

    Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes for astronomical viewing.  We will observe Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Star Clusters and lots more.  Great opportunity to look through a variety of telescopes.  Weather dependent.
    For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page: TAAA Facebook Events page

    Event is FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Go to this link to register:  https://bit.ly/ticketsEE
    These events may fill up early.

    Bernie Stinger

    612-396-8839

    Oracle State Park

    3820 E Wildlife Dr.
    Oracle, AZ 85623 United States

    Star Party at St. Francis in the Foothills Church

    September 21 @ 7:00 pm 9:00 pm

    Join TAAA for a Star Party at St. Francis Church in the Foothills Church, Tucson AZ Located near River Rd. and Swan Rd at 4625 E. River Road, this venue is well located for many in the central Tucson and Foothills communities. Join us as we observe Planets (Saturn is now visible after many months being in the morning skies), Nebulas, Galaxies, and more! Viewing will be from 7pm to 9pm at the far north end of the parking lot. (Stay to the left all the way to the end).

    Details

    Date:
    September 21
    Time:
    7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
    Event Category:
    Event Tags:
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    Organizer

    Bernie Stinger
    Phone
    612-396-8839
    Email
    astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org

    Oracle State Park

    3820 E Wildlife Dr.
    Oracle, AZ 85623 United States

    Stargazing at the Tubac AZ Presidio State Historical Park

    Join us at the Tubac Presidio State Historical Park in Tubac AZ for an evening of stargazing under truly dark skies at a historic location.

    TAAA will have volunteer astronomers with Telescopes setup and viewing Planets,
    Nebulas, Galaxies, Star Clusters and more, under the dark skies of Southern Arizona!

    This is “Anza Under the Stars” night at the Presidio.  For more information check out October 25th at:
    Events | Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum

    Star Party is free but there is an admission fee for non-members of the Presidio.

    Weather dependent. For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/events

    Stargazing at Catalina State Park

    Star Party at Catalina State Park – Tucson, AZ
    Viewing Location: Trailhead Picnic area at end of road inside the park.
    Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Catalina State Park.
    Star Party open to the Public.  Admission fee for entrance into Catalina State Park.

    Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have approximately 10 telescopes for astronomical viewing.
    We will observe Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Star Clusters and lots more.  Great opportunity to look through a wide variety of telescopes.

    Weather dependent.  For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/).

    Additional details will be posted here and on Facebook as we get closer to the event.