General Meeting
Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting
Next (ONLINE): Thursday, October 10, 2024
6:30 – 8:00 PM
Come join us for a presentation from the fundamentals of amateur astronomy. Learn your way around the night sky to add to your observing enjoyment. Meetings are on the second Thursday of each month.
Contact: Connor Justice
Email: fundamentals[at]tucsonastronomy.org
Stargazing at Tucson Mountain Park – Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area
December 21 @ 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
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
Solar Telescope Observing @ Saguaro NP – East
December 15 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) and Saguaro National Park – East for some Sun gazing at the park. We will observe the Sun through telescopes with appropriate filters so you will get to see sunspots, prominences, flares, and more.
The Sun is nearing its peak in the sunspot cycle so there is lots of activity on its surface.
This event is FREE and open to the public. NPS admission fees apply.
The telescopes will be set up at the Bicycle Ramada next to the Visitors Center.
This event will most likely be canceled in the event of clouds/rain.
Bernie Stinger
612-396-8839
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
Stargazing @ Picacho Peak State Park
December 7 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Truely dark skies at a scenic location – Picacho Peak State Park
Star Party is open to the Public. Event is free but park 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 at a really dark location.
Weather dependent. For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/events
Bernie Stinger
612-396-8839
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
Planets of the Month: November 2024
By Erich Karkoschka
Mercury is visible during dusk until the 25th around 6 pm, but it is low and difficult to find.
Venus is 20 degrees to the upper left of Mercury, setting around 8 pm. It is finally setting well after the end of twilight so that it becomes very obvious.
Saturn transits 50 degrees high around 8 pm and earlier later this month. Its rings are 5.4 degrees open, quite thin compared to the average view. From now until next spring, the rings will close completely.
Jupiter is rising in Taurus about when Saturn transits. Its magnitude of -2.8 can cause visible shadows on the ground at very dark sites.
Mars is rising around 10 pm, so that all bright planets are visible in the evening sky this month. Its magnitude goes negative, and its size becomes larger than 10 arc-seconds this month. This is the start of the good period to observe Mars with telescopes.
Uranus and Neptune are located between Jupiter and Saturn with Uranus closer to Jupiter and Neptune closer to Saturn. Uranus is just 6 degrees south of the Pleiades.
Minor planet (15) Eunomia of magnitude 8 transits 87 degrees high in Auriga.
The Moon is new twice this month, on the first and the last day of the month. It is first visible on the 3rd near Mercury, then on the next day near Venus. On the 12th, it occults Neptune at 6:40 pm, an event that lasts around 5 seconds compared to milliseconds for occultations of stars. On the night of the 15th-16th, it occults many stars of the Pleiades, although the Full Moon makes them hard to see. On the 27th, it occults Spica for most of North America, although Tucson is a near miss with both extremely close together at 4 am at the eastern horizon.
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS moves from Ophiuchus to Aquila as it fades more and more from being visible in binoculars.
Holiday Astronomy Event at Chiricahua Astronomy Complex (December 23, 2024)
December 23 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
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
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
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
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
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
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org