Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association

HYBRID – General Meeting – March 2024
2024-03-01 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Phoenix) | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Presentation: From Planet to Pictures

We all have seen images of each planet in our solar system until they’re ingrained in our culture’s collective psyche, but how did we get those images? In “From Planet to Pictures,” Max Lipitz will take the audience on a grand tour of the solar system, and do far more than just repeat the usual statistics about the planets, moons, asteroids, and whatever Pluto is now. Max’s presentation will be about the robotic emissaries we sent to learn about these celestial objects, the journey they undertook and the discoveries they made.

Biography: Maxmilian (Max) Lipitz could best be described as a strange amalgamation of NASA obsession, photographic prowess, and insatiable curiosity. He’s a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technologies Imaging Science Program; a highly interdisciplinary field that combines physics, math, computer science, and engineering. And whether he’s developing image processing algorithms to turn people into Simpsons characters or restoring a 31-year-old digital camera just because, Max puts his whole heart into everything he does. In the past he’s worked with Dr. Robert Kremens to develop next-generation probes (“Kremboxes”) to monitor wildfires in the thermal and visible spectrum, providing valuable data that could save thousands of lives. Currently Max works as a scientist at Tucson-based GEOST.

Desert Skies Virtual Star Party
2024-02-29 19:00 - 21:00 | AZ
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for our quarterly Desert Skies Virtual Star Party. It will be streamed live to our Facebook Page and will be available a few days later on our YouTube Channel. We will observe Galaxies, millions of light years away, Star systems, star clusters, star forming nebulae, star death nebulae, and lots more.
TAAA Facebook
TAAA YouTube

Stargazing at Tucson Mountain Park – Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area
2024-02-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area, 2000 N Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ, 85743, United States
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
FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Go to this link to register: https://bit.ly/ticketsEE
These events may fill up early.

Stargazing at Saguaro NP – East
2024-02-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Saguaro National Park EAST, 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ, 85730, United States
Star Party – Saguaro National Park – East
Tucson, AZ
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: TAAA Facebook Events page

Stargazing at Oracle State Park
2024-02-10 18:30 - 21:00 | Oracle State Park, 3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ, 85623, United States
Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House

NOTICE: This star party have been cancelled due to bad weather on site

Star Party telescope viewing (7 – 9pm)

Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park.
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:
Star Party at Oracle State Park | Oracle State Park (azstateparks.com)

Solar and Night Stargazing at Catalina State Park
2024-02-09 14:00 - 21:00 | Catalina State Park, 11570 N Oracle Rd, Catalina, AZ, United States
Star Party @ Catalina State Park
Tucson, AZ
Viewing Location: Parking lot for Bridle Trailhead at end of State Park road inside the park.
Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Catalina State Park. Star Party open to the Public. Admission fees for entrance into Catalina State Park apply.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have Solar telescopes for daytime Solar viewing and later Standard telescopes (10 or more) for nighttime astronomical viewing.
Solar viewing from 2pm to 4pm (Same Trailhead location)
Nighttime viewing from 7pm to 9pm (Same Trailhead location)
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:
TAAA Facebook Events page
Additional details will be posted here and on our Facebook page as we get closer to the event.

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – February 2024
2024-02-08 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Astronomer of the Month: Carl Sagan
Presenter: Stephen Ferris
This month Stephen Ferris will be presenting Carl Sagan for our astronomer of the month.
Main Presentation: Dark Matter
Presenter: Doug Smith
Doug Smith will be presenting Dark Matter for our main topic.

Tucson Star Party
2024-02-03 13:00 - 21:00 | Pima Community College East, 8181 E Irvington Rd, Tucson, AZ, United States
Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) in conjunction with Editors from the Astronomy Magazine and Pima Community College (PCC) – East Campus for some interesting astronomy talks, solar observing, and evening stargazing.
PCC – East is located at 8181 E Irvington Rd, Tucson AZ
Satellite Radio Demo (at the Observatories) – 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Astronomy Talks and Safe Solar viewing of the Sun 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
(All Talks in Room (M5-102)

Talks:
– Michael Bakich — 2023 & 2024 Annular & Total Solar Eclipses – 1:30 pm
– Alan Goldstein – “The Grand Canyon of the Sky” Correlating distance objects in the sky with the history of life on the Earth — 2:30 pm
– David J Eicher: Astronomy magazine — Astronomy and the Civil War – 3:30 pm
– David Levy — Legacy of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, 30yrs later – 4:30 pm
Planet Walk & Tour – (Starting at the Observatories) – 5;30 p.m.
Solar Observing (at the Observatories) – 2 – 5 p.m.
Night Sky Telescope Viewing (at the Observatories) 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Evening observing of planets, star clusters, multiple star systems, nebulae, galaxies, and lots more through several telescopes.
Solar & Night observing, Planet Walk, & Satellite Radio Demo will be at the south end of the PCC East Campus near the astronomy domes.
Follow our Facebook event for any real-time updates or adjustments due to weather at: TAAA Facebook Events page

HYBRID – General Meeting – February 2024
2024-02-02 18:30 - 20:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Presentation: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 and Jupiter after thirty years: A retrospective of what happened and what we learned

On March 23, 1993, Carolyn and Gene Shoemaker and David H. Levy discovered a comet that had been fragmented into more than 21 pieces. Two months later they learned that the comet would collide with Jupiter. The collision happened between July 16 and July 21, 1994, thirty years ago. David H. Levy’s presentation will offer a retrospective of what happened, and what humanity learned about comets, about Jupiter, and about the origin of life.

Biography: TAAA member, David H Levy, is arguably one of the most enthusiastic and famous amateur astronomers of our time. Although he’s never taken an astronomy class, he has written over three dozen books, has written for three astronomy magazines and has appeared on television programs featured on the Discovery and the Science Channels. Among David’s accomplishments are 23 comet discoveries, (the most famous being Shoemaker-Levy 9), a few hundred shared asteroid discoveries, an Emmy for the documentary Three Minutes to Impact, five honorary doctorates in Science and a PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2010) which combines astronomy and English Literature. Currently, he is the editor of the web magazine Sky’s Up!, and has a monthly column, Skyward, in the local Vail Voice newspaper. David continues to hunt for comets and asteroids, and lectures worldwide.

Stargazing @ Canoa Ranch
2024-01-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Canoa Ranch, 5375 S I-19 Frontage Road, Green Valley, AZ, 85622, United States
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.
FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Go to: https://bit.ly/ticketsEE
These events fill up quickly, so recommend registering as early as possible.

Stargazing at Agua Caliente Park
2024-01-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
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.

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – January 2024
2024-01-11 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Main Presentation: Choosing your First Telescope
Presenter: Connor Justice
Our first presentation of the year is Choosing your First Telescope by Connor Justice.

Solar Telescope Observing @ Saguaro NP – East
2024-01-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Saguaro National Park EAST, 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ, 85730, United States
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.

Stargazing @ Picacho Peak State Park
2024-01-06 18:30 - 20:30, 2023-11-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Picacho Peak State Park, 15520 Picacho Peak Rd, Picacho, AZ, 85141
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/).

HYBRID – General Meeting – January 2024
2024-01-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Presentation: THE BIG EVENT: Total Solar Eclipse, April 8, 2024

Get ready for 4½ minutes of darkness — in the middle of the day! On April 8, the path of a total solar eclipse will track from Texas through Maine. And it’s not that far from Tucson. But where should we go? What should we look for? And, most importantly, what do the climate statistics say about our plans? Michael Bakich’s talk will cover the details about an event that won’t happen again in the 48 states until 2044.

Biography: Michael E. Bakich was Senior Editor of Astronomy magazine for 17 years before retiring in 2019. He and his wife, Holley, then realized their lifelong dream and moved to Tucson. Michael continues work for the magazine as Contributing Editor. He has authored 14 books on astronomy, including Atlas of Solar Eclipses: 2020-2045.

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – December 2023
2023-12-14 18:30 - 20:30 | ONLINE
Main Presentation: Eyepieces and their essentials
Presenter: Stephen Ferris
Stephen Ferris will be giving a presentation on Eyepieces and their essentials, which should help out anyone that is looking for some holiday gift ideas.
Second Presentation: Solar Observing
Presenter: Doug Smith
Doug Smith will be giving our second topic on Solar Observing.

Stargazing at Oracle State Park
2023-12-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Oracle State Park, 3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ, 85623, United States
Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House
Ugly sweater night. Wear your ugliest sweater and view the stars!
Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park.
Star Party open to the Public. Admission cost for entrance into Oracle State Park may 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 Events Page: (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/)
Also: Check the Oracle State Park website for additional information:
Ugly Sweater Star Party | Oracle State Park (azstateparks.com)

Stargazing at Tucson Mountain Park – Ironwood Picnic Area
2023-12-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-11-11 18:30 - 20:30 | Ironwood Picnic, 7300 W Hal gras Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85735, United States
Star Party-Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic Area
Tucson, AZ (West)
Viewing Location: Second Restroom area approximately 3/4 of the way in on Hal Gras Road.
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: (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/).
FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Go to this link (Eventbright) and search for: “Stargazing” and “Ironwood Picnic Area”, location: “Tucson” (event may not show up until about two months prior). These events may fill up early.

Stargazing at Saguaro NP – East
2023-12-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-11-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Saguaro National Park EAST, 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ, 85730, United States
Star Party – Saguaro National Park – East
Tucson, AZ
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: (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/).

HYBRID – General Meeting – December 2023
2023-12-01 18:30 - 20:30 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Presentation: Researching Dark Matter and Dark Energy with the Euclid Space Telescope

On July 1st, the Euclid space mission launched from Cape Canaveral on a Falcon 9 rocket. Euclid is the first space telescope designed to study the still-mysterious accelerated expansion of the Universe. A broad community of scientists from around the world eagerly anticipates the insights Euclid will ultimately yield on the nature of that acceleration, and the dark energy that presumably powers it. In his talk, Dr. Eric Huff will discuss the recent public release of the first science images, and explain how the Euclid mission will go about making measurements of dark energy and dark matter over the next few years.

Biography: Dr. Eric Huff was raised in Bullhead City, Arizona, and followed an early passion for physics to college in Tucson and a PhD at Berkeley. He’s done original work on a variety of topics, ranging from observational cosmology to tidal modeling of surface features on Jovian moons. Dr Huff is currently a Staff Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Lab and will be giving his presentation remotely.

Picture Caption: One of Euclid’s first images: the Perseus cluster of galaxies

Stargazing at Oracle State Park
2023-11-11 18:30 - 20:30 | Oracle State Park, 3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ, 85623, United States
Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House
Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park. Star Party open to the Public. Admission cost for entrance into Oracle State Park may 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.
Events Schedule at Kannally Ranch House:
5:30 – 6:30pm Ranger-led workshop on how to use a telescope
6:30 – 8:30pm TAAA Star Party
For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page: (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/)
Check the Oracle State Park website for additional information: https://azstateparks.com/…/learn-to-scope-star-party
Check TAAA Facebook Page or here for any updates as we get closer.

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – November 2023
2023-11-09 18:30 - 20:30 | ONLINE
Astronomer of the Month: George Hale
Presenter: Pete Hermes
Pete Hermes will be providing the astronomer of the month on George Hale.
He conceived and developed the world’s largest telescopes four times in succession — Yerkes Observatory (40-inch refractor), Mount Wilson Observatory (60-inch reflector, 100-inch reflector) and Palomar Observatory (200-inch reflector). https://www.mtwilson.edu/george-ellery-hale/#:~:text=The%20sound%2Dbite%20description%20of,(200%2Dinch%20reflector).
Main Presentation: Meade GOTO System
Presenter: Jim Knoll and Bob Rose
Jim Knoll and Bob Rose will be presenting the main topic on using the Meade GOTO system.

Stargazing at Chiricahua National Monument
2023-11-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Chiricahua National Monument, 12856 E Rhyolite Creek Rd, Willcox, AZ, 85643, United States
Join TAAA for an evening of stargazing to view amazing solar system and deep sky objects from a truly Dark Sky Park. You will see planets, nebulae, star clusters, double stars, galaxies millions of light years away, and lots more. We will have several telescopes for public viewing.
Observing location will be at Faraway Ranch just inside the entrance gate. Please try to use red light flashlights and minimize white light (to include cell phones) that will hinder your night vision.
Chiricahua National Monument website: https://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm.
Weather dependent — Follow the event on the TAAA Facebook page to get weather and other updates: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/.
Check back here or on our Facebook page closer to the event for any updates.

Stargazing at Aqua Caliente Park
2023-11-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
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: Eventbright and search “Stargazing” and location “Tucson”. These events fill up fast so recommend registering early. Event may not show up until about two months out.

HYBRID – General Meeting – November 2023
2023-11-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
TAAA’s next general member meeting will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023. 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.
Presentation: The Chinese/Japanese Supernova of 1181 AD Is Weird!
In 1181 A.D., Chinese and Japanese observers reported a bright Guest Star in the constellation Cassiopeia that was unmoving and visible for 185 days. What was it? If confirmed as a supernova, it would be the fifth historical supernova to be known. In 2013, amateur astronomer Dana Patchick discovered a unique nebula surrounding a unique star, named Pa30, that was possibly the supernova remnant (SNR) of the Supernova (SN) 1181. Dr. Bradley Schaefer will talk about his research, using historical evidence, and current astronomical tools to connect SN1181 and PA30.
Bio: Dr. Bradley Schaefer received his Ph.D in 1983 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Louisiana State University. His wide range of interests include many areas of astrophysics, as well as many aspects of astronomical events in history (e.g. the Crucifixion and the Star of Bethlehem) and in literature. Dr. Schaefer was a member of the Supernova Cosmology Project which led to the discovery of Dark Energy. The paper for the project won the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics for its leader, Saul Perlmutter. And, as one of the prize-winning paper’s co-authors, Dr. Schaefer received a share of the 2007 Gruber Cosmology Prize, and the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.

Photo: Is nebula PA30 a remnant of SN 1181?
Credit: Astronomer Ron Fessen (observing at MDM on Kitt Peak)

Stargazing @ Canoa Ranch
2023-10-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Canoa Ranch, 5375 S I-19 Frontage Road, Green Valley, AZ, 85622, United States
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.
FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Go to Eventbright and search for stargazing Canoa Ranch. May fill up quickly, so recommend registering as early as possible (event may not show up in Eventbright until about two months before).

Star Hopping Workshop - Oct 19
2023-10-19 17:30 - 22:00 | TIMPA
It will teach Star Hopping. The students will be taught the proper star hopping technique and equipment usage. Each student will use the supplied equipment to locate at least 2 targets (maybe more if time permits). By the end of the workshop the student will know what equipment to use and how to use it in order to locate targets using star hopping.
