Monthly Archives: May 2019

Star Parties

Evening Under the Stars – at the Chiricahua Astronomy Complex (CAC) April 13

The telescope fields at the Dark Site

The next Evening Under the Stars at the TAAA Chiricahua Astronomy Complex (CAC) is scheduled for Saturday April 13, 2024

The gate will be open at 6:30 pm with the program starting at 7 and we will be observing until around 9:30. If you are still thinking whether to attend, this is a fantastic opportunity to view celestial objects under some incredibly dark skies using several large telescopes.  We have a 40″ mirror Dobsonian, a 9″ lens Refractor, and a 14″ mirror Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope that will be open for observing. We will also have several other telescopes open to observe through.

You will see galaxies millions of light years away, star clusters, multiple star systems, nebulae, and lots more. Many of these are visible to the naked eye under our dark skies.

Definitely a family event that is a great opportunity for kids. Although it is a bit of a drive from Tucson, you can spend the day at the Chiricahua National Monument, grab something to eat, then come over to our Chiricahua Astronomy Complex (CAC) for an evening of telescope observing. CAC is only about 15 miles from the Chiricahua National Monument.   

There is no cost to attend but reservations are required so we can notify you by email how to get to CAC and let you know if there are any weather issues.  Please email John Kalas to make reservations: euts[at]tucsonastronomy.org not later than Wednesday April 10th (PROVIDE number of attendees, vehicles, and contact email for notification of any event changes). We will also post any updates on our Evening Under the Stars Facebook Event page, so follow the event for any real-time updates. Hopefully we will see you at CAC!

Preparing for evening viewing through the 9 inch refractor
The 40 inch
Gathering to hear the observing plans for the evening
Astronomical Events

Planets of the Month: May 2019

by Erich Karkoschka

planet-of-the-month-mercury Mercury starts its best evening apparition of 2019 on May 30.
planet-of-the-month-venus Venus rises during dawn and remains very low before sunrise.
planet-of-the-month-moon The Moon is New on the 4th, barely visible on the 5th before 8 pm, near Aldebaran on the 6th, and near Mars on the 7th. The next first sighting of the crescent after New Moon will occur on June 4, when it will be easier to spot than on May 5th, but still be very thin.
planet-of-the-month-mars Mars is visible during the early evening near Elnathm, passing MN35 in Gemini on the 19th.
planet-of-the-month-jupiter Jupiter rises at 10 pm, when Mars sets, but by 8 pm at the end of May.
 planet-of-the-month-saturn  Saturn is 28 degrees east of Jupiter and a good morning object.
 planet-of-the-month-neptune  Dwarf planet Ceres is observable in binoculars. It is magnitude 7, moving from Ophiuchus into Scorpius.