By Erich Karkoschka

Saturn transits 40 degrees high during dusk. Its rings are still open by 15 degrees, which will not happen again until 2028.

Jupiter rules the night, 40 degrees east of Saturn. It is so bright that it can cast shadows at a very dark site. On the evening of the 2nd and 9th, Ganymede’s large shadow wanders across Jupiter’s disk.

Mars is the bright orange “star” in the east during late evenings. Its rising times change from 8 pm at the beginning of the month to before 6 pm at the end. After the first week, it is even brighter than Sirius. Its disk reaches 17 arc-seconds diameter, which shows its surface details quite well in a telescope. On the 30th, Mars is closest to Earth. Its distance is better than at an average opposition, and its altitude in Tucson reaches 83 degrees. Hard to beat!

Venus will start its evening visibility in December, with good eyesight even during the last days of November.

Uranus comes into opposition on the 9th. At magnitude 5.6 and 74 degrees high in the sky at midnight, it is within reach of naked eye visibility if you know where to look.

Neptune is visible in binoculars 7 degrees to the west of Jupiter.

Vesta is as bright as Neptune, but 20 degrees to the southwest in Aquarius.

The Leonid meteor shower might have an intense outburst around 11 pm on the 17th. This is just when the radiant rises in Tucson, which means we would only see a few meteors grazing the atmosphere. If it lasts for an hour, when the radiant will be higher, we may be in for a treat.

Check Space Availability Using the Calendar.  Click on the days you want to reserve to hold them. 

When you have found your desired dates, highlight them on the calendar, fill out your personal details, and click Send Request to reserve your dates. 

Available dates calendar

After you have SENT your request for reserved space, you need to make payment by clicking the Paypal link (This PayPal site will allow payments by Credit Card, Debit Card or via Paypal).

By Erich Karkoschka

Saturn is the first planet to rise at night, at 10 pm in early July. By the Opposition on August 14, it rises at sunset.

Jupiter is the second planet to rise, at midnight in early July. By the Opposition on September 26, it rises at sunset.

Mars is the third planet to rise, at 1 am in early July, but already at 10 pm by late September. It moves from Aries into Taurus, passing Aldebaran on September 7. It has brightened to zero magnitude. In a telescope, one can watch its diameter increasing from 7 to 12 arc-seconds.

Venus is the fourth planet to rise, at 3:30 am in early July, but close to 6 am by late September, which is not much before sunrise. This means Venus is leaving the morning sky by the Fall.

Mercury is the last planet to rise at dawn, visible until July 6. From Mercury to Saturn, all planets have been visible at dawn in the order of their distances from the Sun. All August, Mercury is visible low at dusk.

Neptune is visible in binoculars about 10 degrees west of Jupiter.

Uranus is rising at 2 am in early July, but 8 pm by late September. It moves slowly in Aries.

The Moon has two beautiful approaches to Venus, on July 26 to 3 degrees distance, and on August 25 to 5 degrees distance. The latter one is visible only in bright twilight since Venus rises late.

Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) for the release of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) images throughout the summer and fall. Our first event is scheduled for Saturday July 23rd at the Sunsites Library in Pearce AZ (210 N Ford St) from 1:30 – 2:30 pm. Keep an eye on our calendar for upcoming events.

By Erich Karkoschka

Saturn is the first planet to rise at night, first at midnight and almost at 10 pm by the end of June.

Jupiter is the second planet to rise, two hours after Saturn. It is up 45 degrees by sunrise.

Mars is the third planet to rise, only 2 degrees from Jupiter at the beginning of June, increasing to 19 degrees by the end of June.

Venus is the fourth planet to rise at 3:20 am. It displays the same phase as Mars in a telescope but is 50 times brighter.

Mercury is the last planet to rise at 4 am. It is just visible with naked eyes starting on the 11th and better visible between the 20th and the 30th.

Neptune is visible in binoculars about 10 degrees west of Jupiter.

Uranus is too close to the Sun at the beginning of June. On the 11th it can be found 1.5 degrees above Venus.

The Moon occults eta Leonis on June 5th between 8:05 and 9:06 pm. It is a 3rd magnitude star just above Regulus. The moon then passes the five bright planets, Saturn on the 18th, Jupiter on the 21st, Mars on the 22nd, Venus on the 26th, and Mercury on the 27th. Note that the order of the five bright planets is in the same order as their distance from the Sun. On the 23rd, 24th, and 25th, this is valid even if you include the Moon. The only day one cannot see the Moon is the 28th, although a sighting on the 29th around 8 pm is challenging at it is only 24 hours after New Moon.

Vesta is an easy binocular object at 7th magnitude, between Jupiter and Saturn. Thus the morning parade of all planets even extends to the brightest asteroid.

I have been into Astronomy for most of my life. Started when I was 5 with a 3 inch Tasco refractor. Have been into Amateur Astronomy ever since. More than 50 years.

Several clubs. First club was the Warren Astronomical Society which meets at the Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. This is where the Astronomical League started. I have always been involved in the AL.

I am currently the ALCOR for TAAA. Second time at that position. I have been ALCOR for other clubs also. Also Program Coordinator for the AL Analemma Observing Program. I have my AL Master Observing Award.

I have several undergraduate and graduate degrees, including MS in Physics. I did several years of undergraduate and graduate studies in Astrophysics.

I am an Engineer at Raytheon with 37+ years’ experience.

● From Chicago area. BS Business U of Montana, MS Computer Information
Systems, Regis University. Two adult kids, two step kids. Married to Pam. Live on far northeast side of Tucson.
● Airline Pilot: People Express Airlines, Continental Airlines, United Airlines
(mergers). Retired in 2016 on international 767 from Washington Dulles.
● Chair of the TAAA Nominations and Volunteer Resource Committee (four years).
● MemberPlanet Manager. Editor Desert Skies Bulletin.
●2 5 years of astronomy public outreach including teaching LLI astronomy classes.
● Currently have 25″ dob and 7″ refractor in my private observatory.
● Docent at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Folk and bluegrass musician. Hiking. Skiing.

●Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Penn State, Married with 2 grown children, Tucson resident for 28 years. TAAA awards: Bok Award 2004 & Service Award 2006.
●Various levels of engineering responsibilities including management with GTE Sylvania for 23 years and Rain Bird for 13 years.
● TAAA positions: MAL, Vice-President and President (1998 – 2001). Developed and ran Astronomy Services program (paid star parties) for 17 years. Supported development of the TIMPA observing site.
● Chiricahua Astronomy Complex: One of the four Perseus Group members who donated the property, CAC Site Construction Coordinator from 2008 – 2018 (Phases 1 – 6), CAC Site Director from 2010 – 2017, currently construction Coordinator for Member Observatories project. TAAA member for 28 years