Stargazing at Agua Caliente Park
2025-01-17 18:30 - 21:30, 2025-04-05 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Phoenix) | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
Viewing Location: Bus Lanes @ North end of Parking LotInformation: 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: ((4) Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook)

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

Stargazing at Catalina State Park
2025-01-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Catalina State Park, 11570 N Oracle Rd, Catalina, AZ, United States
Star Party at Catalina State Park – Tucson, AZViewing 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 ((4) Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook).

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

Stargazing at Saguaro NP – East
2025-01-31 19:00 - 21:00 | Saguaro National Park EAST, 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ, 85730, United States
Star Party – Saguaro National Park – East3693 S Old Spanish TrailTucson, 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

HYBRID – General Meeting – February 2025
2025-02-07 18:30 - 20:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
TBD

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – February 2025
2025-02-13 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Main Presentation: Galaxy Classification Part 2

Presenter: Connor Justice

This month, Connor Justice will be presenting Galaxy Classification Part 2.

Stargazing @ Picacho Peak State Park
2025-02-14 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-03 20:00 - 22:00 | Picacho Peak State Park, 15520 Picacho Peak Rd, Picacho, AZ, 85141
Truely dark skies at a scenic location – Picacho Peak State ParkStar 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

Stargazing at Tubac Presidio State Historical Park
2025-02-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Tubac Presidio, 1 Burruel St, Tubac, Arizona, 85646
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!

For more information check out: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 Oracle State Park
2025-02-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Oracle State Park, 3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ, 85623, United States
Star Party telescope viewing (7:00 – 9:00pm)

Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park.3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ 85623Star 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)

Stargazing at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
2025-02-28 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-03-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, 10 Organ Pipe Drive, Ajo, Arizona, 85321, United States
Join us at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument for an evening of stargazing under extremely dark skies at a historic location. Few locations in the U.S. have skies this dark!

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

Star Party is free but national park admission fees apply.

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 Saguaro NP – East
2025-03-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Saguaro National Park EAST, 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ, 85730, United States
Star Party – Saguaro National Park – East3693 S Old Spanish TrailTucson, 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, no registration required, 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

Stargazing at Tucson Mountain Park – Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area
2025-03-07 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 AreaTucson, 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/ticketsEEThese events may fill up early.

HYBRID – General Meeting – March 2025
2025-03-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Main Presentation at 7:30 PM

Following the lecture, the 21” Raymond E White, Jr Telescope will be open, weather permitting.

Title: THE ACCELERATING EXPANDING UNIVERSE: DARK MATTER, DARK ENERGY, AND EINSTEIN’S COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT

Dark energy is the leading candidate for the mechanism that is responsible for causing the cosmological expansion to accelerate. In this non-technical talk, Professor Bharat Ratra will describe the astronomical data which persuade cosmologists that (as yet undetected) dark energy and dark matter are by far the main components of the universe’s current energy budget. He will review how these observations have led to the development of a quantitative “standard” model of cosmology that describes the evolution of the universe from an early epoch of inflation to the complex hierarchy of structure seen today. Professor Ratra will also discuss the basic physics, and the history of ideas, on which this model is based.

Biography:

Bharat Ratra, distinguished professor of physics at Kansas State University, earned his Master of Science at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and his doctorate at Stanford University. In 1988, Ratra and Jim Peebles proposed the first dynamical dark energy model. Ratra joined Kansas State University in 1996. He is best known for his work on dynamical dark energy and on the quantum-mechanical generation of energy density and magnetic field fluctuations during inflation. Recipient of many awards, his most recent is the American Physical Society’s 2025 Julius Edgar Lilenfeld Prize, which recognizes outstanding contributions to physics and exceptional skills in lecturing to diverse audiences.

CANCELLED FOR ECLIPSE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – March 2025
2025-03-13 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
I was reminded that the Lunar Eclipse is on the same day as this months AFSIG meeting. In an optimistic outlook for the weather, I will be canceling this months meeting.

Special Lunar Eclipse Event @ Saguaro National Park - East
2025-03-13 22:00 - 2025-03-14 01:00 | Saguaro National Park EAST, 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ, 85730, United States
Come and join us for a special event at Saguaro National Park – East (Rincon Mountains). We will be joining the Park Service for an evening of Lunar Eclipse and Star Gazing from 10pm (Star of Lunar Eclipse) to 1am (End of Lunar Ecllpse) from one of their pull-outs on the Loop Road. Along with the Eclipse several of the planets from the parade of planets will still be visible. Additional activities are also planned for the event at the visitors center.

This is a reservation only event and has a limited number of guests. Reservations can be made by calling 520-733-5153 or speaking to a park service staff member at the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center.

Additional information can be found at: Total Eclipse of the Park (East District) Event is free but Park Service entry fees apply.

Stargazing at Tumacacori National Historical Park
2025-03-21 19:30 - 21:30 | Tumacacori National Historical Park, 1891 E Frontage Rd, Tumacacori, AZ, 85640, United States
Join TAAA and the National Park Service for an evening of stargazing at Tumacacori National Historical Park . Address below.The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) will have several telescopes with operators for astronomical viewing in front of the Old Mission.

We will observe Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Star Clusters and lots more. Great opportunity to look through a variety of telescopes.

Event is free, no reservations required, but NPS admission fees apply.

Weather dependent, check back here prior to event for possible updates on day of event.

Tucson Astronomy Festival
2025-03-22 15:00 - 21:00 | Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, 3482 E River Rd, Tucson, Arizona, 85718, United States
FREE Family Fun. Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for our annual Tucson Astronomy Festival at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park in Tucson, AZ. We will have safe solar observing of the Sun in the afternoon along with family fun astronomy activities for the kids and the entire family. During the evening, we will have nighttime telescopes to observe the wonderful universe we live in. There will be a raffle around 6:30 pm of lots of fun astronomy items with the grand prize being a telescope (must be present to win). If you have your own telescope and want some help to learn how to use it, bring it in the afternoon during daylight and we will have volunteers available to help you learn how to use it. Hang around in the evening and get in some practice.

Stargazing at Chiricahua National Monument
2025-03-28 19:30 - 21:30 | 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 the Faraway Ranch parking lot just past the entrance gate about 1/2 mile. The event is free of charge, no reservations are required. 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.

Star Party at St. Francis in the Foothills Church
2025-03-29 19:15 - 21:00 | St. Francis in the Foothills Church, 4625 E. River Road, Tucson, Arizona, 85718
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 (Many of the planets are now available in the earlly evening sky), Nebulas, Galaxies, and more! Viewing will be from 7:15pm to 9pm at the far north end of the parking lot. (Stay to the left all the way to the end).

Solar Telescope Observing @ Saguaro NP – East
2025-03-30 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, no reservations required. 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.

HYBRID – General Meeting – April 2025
2025-04-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Presentation: Making Sense of Strange New Exoplanets

The number of known exoplanets (planets outside the Solar System) grows daily. Over the past few decades, dedicated missions using both ground and space telescopes have discovered over 5,000 exoplanets, many of which seem unlike anything in our own Solar System. While such discovery missions aren’t new, our ability to study these worlds in detail has only recently been enabled by the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in late 2021. Over the past four years, JWST has opened powerful new windows into the atmospheres of extra-solar worlds, yielding unexpected findings and a richer understanding of the diversity of planets in the Milky Way Galaxy. Matthew Murphy will share a few of the most exciting recent discoveries about exoplanet atmospheres by JWST, led by a world-wide team of researchers, including Murphy and others at the University of Arizona. These include what appears to be a new class of planet, nonexistent in our own Solar System. In addition to these discoveries, JWST’s unique power enables researchers to peer into exoplanet atmospheres along new dimensions, and better comprehend their complexity. Matthew will tell the exciting story of how this works, and the discovery his team made as a result on a planet (WASP-107b) considered ‘strange’ to us.

Biography:

Matthew Murphy is a PhD candidate at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory. His work is dedicated to observing and studying the atmospheres of planets beyond our Solar System. Matthew is an expert in using the largest and most powerful telescopes around the world and in space, including the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope. He has published several scientific articles making new discoveries about exoplanets. Matthew will be graduating with his PhD later this year. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University in 2020.

Caption: Artist’s illustration of exoplanet WASP-107b

Artist: Rachael Amaro/University of Arizona

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – April 2025
2025-04-10 18:30 - 20:00 | AZ
Main Presentation: History of Black Holes

Presenter: Connor Justice

This month, Connor Justice will be presenting on the history of Black Holes.

Astronomer of the month: Henry Russel

Presenter: Pete Hermes

Pete Hermes will be discussing Henry Russel for our Astronomer of the month.

Stargazing at Catalina State Park
2025-04-18 19:30 - 21:30 | Catalina State Park, 11570 N Oracle Rd, Catalina, AZ, United States
Star Party at Catalina State Park – Tucson, AZViewing Location: At the Ringtail Group Area for the Star Party. (Public parking at the Gila Monster Group Area which is a 2-minute walk from the Ringtail Group Area)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 ((4) Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook).

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

Stargazing at Saguaro National Park – East
2025-04-25 19:30 - 21:30 | Saguaro National Park EAST, 3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ, 85730, United States

Stargazing at Oracle State Park
2025-04-26 19:30 - 21:30 | Oracle State Park, 3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ, 85623, United States
Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House

Star Party telescope viewing (7:30 – 9:30pm)

Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park.3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ 85623Star 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)

HYBRID – General Meeting – May 2025
2025-05-02 18:30 - 20:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Title: OSIRIS-REx: Bennu’s Secrets Unveiled

On September 2023, the OSIRIS-REx mission successfully delivered a pristine sample from asteroid Bennu to Earth, marking a significant milestone in planetary science. In this talk, Dr. Lauretta presents the latest findings from his team’s studies, including the sample’s mineralogical, chemical, and isotopic properties, which confirm Bennu’s rich organic content and evidence of significant aqueous alteration. These are the result of his team’s comprehensive analyses of the returned material, revealing new insights into the early solar system and the processes that shaped planetary bodies. The new data not only advances our understanding of Bennu’s formation and history, but also offers clues about the origins of life on Earth. Join him as he explores how this mission’s groundbreaking discoveries are reshaping our understanding of the solar system’s evolution and our place within it.

Biography: Dante Lauretta

Dante Lauretta grew up in Arizona and received a B.S. in physics and mathematics and a B.A. in Oriental Studies with a focus in Japanese from the University of Arizona in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Earth and planetary sciences from Washington University in St. Louis in 1997. He is currently a Regents Professor of Planetary Science and Cosmochemistry at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. Lauretta is the leader of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. The spacecraft launched in September 2016 to begin its journey to Bennu, a carbon-rich, near Earth asteroid. The spacecraft rendezvoused with Bennu in 2018, and returned with a sample of the asteroid in 2023. Dr. Lauretta leads research about Bennu, and maintains an active research program in Cosmochemistry and Meteoritics. He is Director of the Arizona Astrobiology Center.

Evening Under the Stars @ Chiricahua Astronomy Complex
2025-05-03 19:30 - 21:30 | Chiricahua Astronomy Complex, 9315 E Perseus Way, Pearce, AZ, 85625, United States
Semi-Annual Chiricahua Astronomy Complex Evening Under the Stars Saturday May 3, 2025. Address is: 9315 E Perseus Way, Pearce, AZ. We will be observing planets, galaxies, star clusters, multiple star systems, Nebulae, and lots more. Come join us for the free event. The gate will be open at 7 pm. To register for this FREE event, please email John at euts[at]tucsonastronomy.org with name, # in your party, and # of vehicles.

CANCELLED – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – May 2025
2025-05-08 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
