Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association

Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party
2020-06-13 18:00 - 2020-06-20 20:30 (America/Phoenix) | ONLINE
VIRTUAL. VIRTUAL. VIRTUAL.
This year’s Grand Canyon Star Party will be Virtual and streamed from the Grand Canyon National Park Facebook page. Here are links to the Grand Canyon News Release and Facebook Page. Follow the Facebook event for any updates:

Schedule/Information 2020 Virtual GCSP

·
TAAA Members: Please attend as many events as possible and help us out
by assisting in answering chat questions of visitors, encouraging their interest
in the sky, and mentioning the 2021 GCSP!
Grand Canyon National Park
https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/newsreleases.htm/
Grand Canyon’s 2020 Star Party will be Hosted Virtually
[A night sky with red lighting in the forefront highlights telescopes looking at the sky. The words “Welcome to the Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party 2020!” are superimposed over the image.]
The 30th annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held virtually June 13-20, 2020. While the on- site event at Grand Canyon National Park has been cancelled on both rims due to concerns over
COVID-19 this year, the park hopes to bring the wonders of the night sky into the virtual realm
through a series of video premieres on Grand Canyon’s official Facebook account.
https://www.facebook.com/events/252511419184647/
Go to Facebook to participate in event. Or go to Facebook and set up a personal reminder.
JUN 13 AT 6 PM – JUN 20 AT 8:30 PM
Online Event
Public · Hosted by
Grand Canyon National Park
Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party 2020
Welcome to the Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party 2020!
Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon Conservancy invite you to the Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party 2020, June 13-20…

https://www.facebook.com/GrandCanyonNationalPark/
Schedule
Saturday, June 13, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Dark Skies in Isolation: Why Protecting the Night Sky is More Important Than Ever by Dr. John Barentine
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party: Session 1 by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy
Association
Sunday, June 14, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Lions, Vultures, and a Scorpion, Oh My! A Summer Jaunt through Arabian Skies by Dr.Danielle Adams
7:00PM – 8:30PM
Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party: Session 2 by Focus Astronomy
Monday, June 15, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
A Tour Through the Universe by Dean Regas
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party: Session 3 by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy
Association
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Infant Galaxies to Alien Atmospheres: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope by Dr. Amber Straughn
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party: Session 4 by Focus Astronomy
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The Art of Photographing Dark Skies by Shreenivasan Manievannan
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party: Session 5 by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy
Association
Thursday, June 18, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
One Giant Leap: Apollo Astronaut Training in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Schindler
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party: Session 6 by Focus Astronomy
Friday, June 19, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Astrophotography for Beginners by Bettymaya Foott
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party: Session 7 by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
Saturday, June 20, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Planetary Defense: Surveying the Sky for Killer Asteroids by Professor Vishnu
Reddy
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party: Session 8 by Focus Astronomy
Definitely Also SEE Additional Information on NPS Web Page
Including info on 2021 GCSP:
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm/

Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and the National Park Service for the 30th annual Star Party. The Star Party will be June 13 – 20, 2020. You will see Solar System planets, Galaxies Far Far Away, Star Clusters — some with several hundred thousand stars, Nebulae, multiple star systems (some with as many as 6 stars), and lots more. The skies are so dark you can clearly see the band of the Milky Way overhead. We start with a talk in the Visitor Center Auditorium about an astronomy topic at 8 pm. Observing at the telescopes goes from sunset (about 8 pm) to 11 pm. This event is free and open to anyone inside the Grand Canyon (park entrance fee required). For additional information, check out our Grand Canyon Star Party Webpage at: http://tucsonastronomy.org/upcoming-events/grand-canyon-star-party/.

Virtual Moon Stories
2020-06-27 14:00 - 15:00 | ONLINE
The Moon Stories activity will be streamed on TAAA Facebook Live starting 2 pm (Arizona/PDT) Saturday June 27. This is a great event for families and students. For additional information or to print out activity documents, go to: http://tucsonastronomy.org/community-services/teachers-corner/.

ONLINE - General Meeting – July 2020
2020-07-03 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
ONLINE: Friday, July 3, 2020
6:30 – 8:00 pm
TAAA is continuing to hold its first Friday Member meetings online. The July 3rd meeting at 6:30 P.M. is open to the general public. To view it live, please go to https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: The Latest Cutting-Edge Analysis of Apollo Lunar Samples
Speaker: Jessica Barnes is an Assistant Professor at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona. She completed her undergraduate and Ph.D. training in her native UK, and was a postdoctoral fellow at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Jess’s research background is in lunar mineralogy and geochemistry. Her current research centers on the origin and evolution of inner solar system volatiles.
In preparation for future lunar missions in the 2020s and beyond, it is important to maximize the science derived from samples returned by the Apollo Program. By applying cutting-edge analytical techniques to Apollo samples we address both longstanding and new scientific questions. NASA’s Apollo sample collection includes a subset of samples that were specially curated in 1972 and have remained untouched and unstudied since then. The Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) initiative was designed to examine these pristine samples. Jess will talk about the preliminary examination of a never-before-studied lunar drill core and plans for the analyses of a frozen piece of lava from the Moon.
7:15 pm (Approx) – Second Presentation
Title: Seasonal Night Sky Object
Speaker: Mary Turner
Mary Turner, TAAA’s appointed Chief Observer, takes us on an tour of the summer night sky. As usual in her popular talks, Mary’s use of astronomical data, images, and mythology brings the seasonal changes in the sky to life.

ONLINE - General Meeting – August 2020
2020-08-07 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
ONLINE: Friday, August 7, 2020
6:30 – 8:00 pm
TAAA is continuing to hold its first Friday Member meetings online. The August 7 meeting at 6:30 P.M. is open to the general public. To view it live, please go to https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter & Remote Astrophotography
Speakers:
• Vannessa Gressieux is the Program Coordinator for the Mt Lemmon SkyCenter SkyNights program, a NASA / JPL Solar System Ambassador, and an OSIRIS REx Ambassador. She supports a variety of Tucson community-based events at schools and public outreach events, and coordinates tours and outreach for the Richard F Caris Mirror Lab. Originally from the East Coast, Vannessa fell in love with the dark skies of the Western US. sky. She encourages everyone to look up!
• Travis Deyoe began working for the SkyCenter as an undergraduate at the UA studying Astronomy. He graduated in May 2015 and has recently taken on an increased role in leading outreach programs. As a student, he worked for the Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium as a Planetarium Operator, and as a Telescope Operator at Steward Observatory’s 61-inch Kuiper Telescope on top of Mount Bigelow. Travis enjoys imaging the night sky with his DSLR and taking planetary images through SkyCenter telescopes.
Tonight’s presentation will be a light overview of the history of the SkyCenter, with a focus on their Remote program. In 2008, Adam Block and the University of Arizona College of Science launched the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter at Steward Observatory’s Field Station. The mission of the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter is to engage people of all ages in interdisciplinary scientific exploration at research facilities in the Sky Island environment for a deeper understanding of our Earth and our place within the Universe. The SkyCenter’s educational activities include a public evening observing program, summer Sky Island programs, workshops, camps, remote observing, and special educational events. Our presentation will focus on remote astrophotography capabilities of the Schulman Telescope, and weather permitting, include a live demo of the astrophotography possible.
7:15 pm (Approx) – Second Presentation
Title: Election of Officers
Speaker: none
Elections will be held following the presentation. To vote, TAAA members will be requested to register to attend the meeting using a link that will be emailed to them. Following registration approval, you will receive a Zoom link unique to only to you for joining the meeting.

Virtual Star Party
2020-08-15 20:30 - 22:00 | ONLINE
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a Virtual tour of the Night Sky. We will explore planets, Nebulae, Star Clusters, Galaxies, and much more. The event will be streamed on our Facebook page as a Facebook Premiere (TAAA Facebook). It will also air on our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com). Search Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association.

ONLINE - General Meeting – September 2020
2020-09-04 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
TAAA’s next monthly meeting will be held online. We will have a 6:30 P.M. presentation open to the general public. This will be followed at approximately 7:15 P.M. by some activities for TAAA members only. To view the meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: Using Stars to Understand Saturn’s Atmosphere
Speaker: Zarah Brown is a 4th year graduate student at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. She studies Saturn’s upper atmosphere using Cassini data with her adviser, Tommi Koskinen, and did her undergraduate research on Saturn’s rings. She has degrees in both astrophysics and fine arts and helps run LPL’s annual Art of Planetary Science show.
The upper atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus are all hotter than would be expected if they were heated in the same way that Earth’s upper atmosphere is heated—a longstanding unanswered question in planetary science called the “energy crisis.” In the months before the Cassini spacecraft’s final plunge into Saturn, it made a series of observations of Saturn’s upper atmosphere to try and understand the origin of the additional heat. In a technique called stellar occultation, Cassini used the passages behind Saturn’s upper atmosphere of stars in Orion and Canis Major to provide detailed information about the ringed planet’s density and temperature. This unique set of observations has shed light on the outer planet energy crisis and was published in Nature Astronomy this April.
7:15 pm (Approx) – Other Activities
Title: TBD
Speaker: none
To be determined

ONLINE - Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – September 2020
2020-09-10 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Constellation of the Month:
Lacerta and Vulpecula
Presenter: Connor Justice

Connor Justice will be opening up the meeting with a presentation on the constellations Lacerta and Vulpecula.
Main Presentation:
Astronomer Johannes Kepler
Presenter: Doug Smith

Afterwards, Doug Smith will be following up with our main topic on the astronomer Johannes Kepler.

Astronomy Day & International Observe the Moon
2020-09-25 17:00 - 2020-09-27 15:00 | ONLINE
VIRTUAL
Join the Lunar & Planetary Laboratory and Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a weekend of International Observe the Moon. LPL will be hosting virtual events Friday evening, Saturday afternoon & evening, and Sunday morning & afternoon. TAAA will host some Solar Observing as part of this weekend event on Sunday at 10 am. These events will be streamed via Webinar. To register, go to: https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/art/2020.

Virtual Solar Observing
2020-09-27 10:00 - 11:00 | ONLINE
We will be doing a Virtual Solar Observing session with the Lunar & Planetary Laboratory. To view the event, register at: https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/art/2020.

ONLINE - General Meeting – October 2020
2020-10-02 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
TAAA’s first Friday monthly meeting will be held online on Friday, Oct. 2. We will have two presentations, starting at 6:30 P.M. and open to the general public. To view the meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: Highlights in the Next Quarter Century of Solar Eclipses
Speaker: 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 eight books on astronomy, including Atlas of Solar Eclipses: 2020-2045.
No less than 56 solar eclipses will occur in the next 25 years. But which ones should an eclipse chaser target? The longest? The closest? In this illustrated talk, former Astronomy magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich will describe highlights to expect from the next quarter-century run of nature’s most fantastic spectacle.
7:15 pm (Approx) – Second Presentation
Title: Fall Night Sky Objects
Speaker: Mary Turner, PhD, TAAA’s appointed Chief Observer.
Dr. Turner takes us on a tour of the fall night sky. Her use of astronomical data, images, and mythology will bring seasonal changes in the sky to life, as always in her popular quarterly talks.

ONLINE - Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – October 2020
2020-10-08 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Constellation of the Month:
Aries
Presenter: Connor Justice

Connor Justice will be opening the meeting with a presentation on the northern constellation Aries.
Main Presentation:
Mars
Presenter: Stephen Ferris

Afterwards, Stephen Ferris will discuss the planet Mars, which is approaching Opposition later this month.

Virtual Star Party
2020-10-09 19:00 - 21:00 | ONLINE
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a Virtual tour of the Night Sky. We will explore planets, Nebulae, Star Clusters, Galaxies, and much more. The event will be streamed on our Facebook page (TAAA Facebook).

Chiricahua National Monument Night Sky Talk
2020-10-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Chiricahua National Monument, 12856 E Rhyolite Creek Rd, Willcox, AZ, 85643, United States
Due to Covid-19, we will not have any actual telescope viewing. But, we will have a laser guided talk about the night sky. This will be held at the Echo Canyon Trailhead parking area so everyone can maintain social distancing without congregating around any telescopes. We also ask that you wear a mask. The talk will go from 7 to around 8 pm.

Registration is required because there is limited parking and to maintain physical distancing. Call the visitor center staff at 520-824-3560 x9302 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm to register for this special event.

Participants should dress warmly and wear face coverings, bring a portable chair or blanket to sit upon, drinks, snacks, binoculars, and a flashlight with a red filter, if possible.

Chiricahua National Monument website: https://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm.

TAAA & LPL Virtual Star Party
2020-10-24 19:00 - 21:00 | ONLINE
Join TAAA and the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory for a Solar System exploration, shared via Webinar: https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/art/2020.

ONLINE - General Meeting – November 2020
2020-11-06 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
TAAA’s first Friday monthly meeting will be held online. The November meeting will have a 6:30 P.M. presentation open to the general public. This will be followed at approximately 7:15 P.M. by a members-only meeting. To view the next meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: From Tucson to Tokyo: Building a Global Movement for Dark Sky Protection
Speaker: Ruskin Hartley joined the International Dark-Sky Association in February 2019. He brings 20 years of conservation experience to IDA’s work to protect the night from light pollution. Ruskin’s passion is protecting precious natural resources. He served as Executive Director of Save the Redwoods League, a non-profit dedicated to protecting and restoring the redwood forest; as CEO of Heal the Bay in Los Angeles; and as Vice President of Resource Development at Fair Trade USA. Originally from the United Kingdom, Ruskin holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge and a master’s degree from the University of East Anglia. Ruskin loves to head out on the trail with his wife and kids or cook-out under the stars..
On October 23, 1987, two Tucson Doctors—one M.D. and one PH.D.—incorporated the International Dark-Sky Association devoted to the “protection and restoration of dark nighttime skies through application and promotion of proper lighting practices.” What started as an astronomical-driven venture in Tucson is now a broad movement active on all continents. While light pollution has increased in the intervening years, Tucson continues to lead the way and show what is possible. Ruskin will explore emerging themes in dark sky conservation, discuss the global perspective, and share IDA’s strategy for accelerating dark sky protection worldwide.
7:15 pm (Approx) – Second Presentation
Title: Members-only Meeting
Speaker: none
The main presentation will be followed by a members-only meeting.

ONLINE - Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – November 2020
2020-11-12 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Constellation of the Month:
None
Presenter: none

We do not have a constellation of the month for this meeting.
Main Presentation:
Venus
Presenter: Doug Smith

Our only presentation this month will be Doug Smith discussing the planet Venus .

ONLINE - General Meeting – December 2020
2020-12-04 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
TAAA’s first Friday monthly meeting will be held online. The December meeting will have a 6:30 P.M. Main Presentation open to the General Public. This will be followed at approximately 7:15 P.M. by a Members-only meeting, at which TAAA’s David Rossetter will present proposed Constitution and Bylaw changes. To view the next meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: Fun with Fermi AGN – A Quick Stroll Through a Lethal Photon Field
Speaker Bio: Paul Smith was born in Rochester, NY, during the year Sputnik circled the planet, and numerous atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted, as the two dominant global powers rattled sabers. Dr. Smith muses it might have been the high tensions of the era, or the elevated radiation levels that pulled him into science, particularly astronomy, by grade 4. He earned a B.S. in physics from Saint Louis University, and a Ph.D. in the same field from the University of New Mexico, before moving to Tucson in 1986. For most of the past 35 years, Dr. Smith has been at Steward Observatory, and has been successively involved with the Hubble, Spitzer, and Fermi space observatories. His main research interest is the polarized light emitted from quasars and other types of active galactic nuclei (AGN).
Presentation: Dr. Smith’s presentation centers around NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the decade-long effort to support this important science mission by using telescopes in the Tucson area to observe the most active quasars. While extremely active quasars, or blazars, represents a small percentage of the population of known active galactic nuclei (AGN), it makes up over 70% of the objects detected by Fermi in the high-energy gamma-ray sky. Blazars are highly variable in brightness and polarization on short time scales (less than a day), enabling us to study relatively small regions that produce enormous amounts of energy. Many observations at different wavelengths are needed to understand the physics of these systems. Dr. Smith’s presentation will take us to the cutting edge of science.
7:15 pm (Approx) – Second Presentation
Title: Members-only Meeting – Constitution and Bylaw changes
Speaker: David Rossetter
The main presentation will be followed by a members-only meeting, at which David Rossetter will present proposed Constitution and Bylaw changes.

Virtual Star Party Stargazing
2020-12-05 19:00 - 20:30 | AZ
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a Virtual tour of the Night Sky. We will explore planets, Nebulae, Star Clusters, Galaxies, and much more. The event will be streamed Live from our Facebook Page (TAAA Facebook)

ONLINE - Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – December 2020
2020-12-10 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Constellation of the Month:
None
Presenter: none

We do not have a constellation of the month for this meeting.
Main Presentation:
Open Floor Discussion
Presenter: none

This month, instead of presentations, we will be doing an open floor discussion on topics brought up by attendees.

Virtual Jupiter/Saturn Conjunction Stream
2020-12-21 18:00 - 19:15 | ONLINE
Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a live telescope stream of the Jupiter/Saturn Conjunction. This is a once (or twice if you are young) in a lifetime event. The planets will get to within .1 degree on December 21st. They are actually separated by distance as Jupiter is 551 million miles from Earth and Saturn is about twice as far at just over 1 billion miles from Earth. They will be close enough to be a challenge to separate with just your eyes. Observing with a pair of binoculars or a telescope is ideal. The last time they were this close together and were observable was in 1226 (794 years ago). The next conjunction that will be this close will be in 2080. The pair starts December about 2 degrees apart. The distance decreases by about .1 degree every day, so observe them every evening and watch them get closer to each other. On the 21st, join us to view them through a refractor telescope.
The Conjunction will be streamed live to our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy

ONLINE - General Meeting – January 2021
2021-01-08 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
TAAA’s first Friday monthly meeting will be held online. The meeting will have a 6:30 P.M. Main Presentation open to the General Public. This will be followed, at approximately 7:15 P.M., by a Members-only meeting, which will feature our popular Seasonal Night Sky Presentation by Mary Turner. We’ll also have voting on proposed Constitution and Bylaw changes. To view the next meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy
6:30 pm – Main Public Presentation
Title: Volcanism and Cyrovolcanism in the Solar System: Examples from Earth, Mars, and Europa
Speaker Bio: Joana Voigt received a B.S. and M.S. in Geological Sciences from the Free University Berlin, Germany in 2015 and 2017 respectively and an M.S. in Planetary Sciences from the University of Arizona in 2020. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at UA’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. A planetary geologist, she is primarily interested the eruption products on Earth, Mars, the Moon, to better understand the thermal dynamic evolution of planetary bodies.
Volcanism includes eruptions of silicate magma on terrestrial bodies, as well as in cryovolcanic (icy volcanic) deposts, which form on exceptionally cold outer solar system regions, where water can behave like magma. In Voigt’s presentation, she will discuss examples of silicate volcanism on Earth and Mars, and evidence of cryovolcanism on Jupiter’s moon Europa.
The 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption produced the largest lava flow-field in Iceland in over two centuries. This eruption helps us understand the dynamics of large silicate lava flows on Earth and on other planetary bodies. Voigt will discuss the Icelandic Holuhraun eruption, and evidence of similar, geologically recent eruptions on Mars that suggest it may still be a volcanically active world. Voigt will also discuss the remains of a cryovolcanic eruption on Jupiter’s moon Europa. She will explain how an impact-induced melting of its crust can generate small brine pockets that lead to a cryovolcanic eruption of salty water onto the surface. Such an eruption—triggered by an impact, not a deep interior process—is fundamentally different from traditional forms of silicate volcanism.
7:15 pm (Approx) – Members-Only Meeting
Title: Seasonal Night Sky followed by voting on Constitution and Bylaw changes
Speaker: Mary Turner
The main presentation will be followed by a Members-only meeting, which features our popular Seasonal Night Sky presentation by Mary Turner. We’ll also have voting on proposed Constitution and Bylaw changes
MEMBERS SHOULD MAKE SURE TO USE THE ZOOM LINK, IN ORDER TO BE INCLUDED.

ONLINE - Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – January 2021
2021-01-14 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
AFSIG monthly meetings will be held online, starting at 6:30 P.M. The presentation is open to the general public. To view the meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy

Constellation of the Month:
Serpens Cauda
Presenter: none

Our constellation of the month is Serpens Cauda.
Main Presentation:
Open Floor Discussion
Presenter: multiple

Our main topic will be an open floor discussion on any upcoming events in astronomy such as pending telescope launches and planet alignments.

ONLINE - General Meeting – February 2021
2021-02-05 18:30 - 21:00 | ONLINE
TAAA’s general member meeting will be held on February 5 and be conducted online. The meeting will start at 6:30 P.M. All presentations at this meeting are open to the public, to give potential new members a chance to learn more about TAAA. These will be followed by members-only open discussion and breakout rooms at approx. 8:30 P.M. To view the meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/
6:30 pm – Main Public Presentation
Title: Astronomical League (AL) observing programs
Speaker: Douglas Smith
Douglas Smith will present a general summary of the new Astronomical League (AL) observing programs and status of our club’s AL membership and awards. The AL, comprised of over 240 amateur societies from across the USA, is dedicated to promoting the science of astronomy.
7:15 pm (Approx) – Open to Public
Title: Update on Chiricahua Astronomy Complex
Speakers: Jim Knoll, Mike McDowell and Ed Foley
Jim Knoll, Mike McDowell and Ed Foley will provide an update on Chiricahua Astronomy Complex, TAAA’s dark-sky observing site about 100 miles SE of Tucson near the Chiricahua Mountains. The 16 acres, with incredibly dark skies, provide an opportunity for members to observe extremely faint and distant deep-sky objects. We have several large telescopes and observing pads for member use and are in the process of building a state-of-the-art Learning Center with classroom facilities and a building with sleeping rooms for overnight accommodations. This will allow us to provide first class astronomy education outreach to schools and youth groups throughout Southeastern Arizona and enhance our member observing experience. Join us for an update on this member benefit.
Title: Annual Treasurer’s Report
Speaker: Treasurer Mike McDowell
Treasurer Mike McDowell will give the Annual Treasurer’s Report.

ONLINE - Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – February 2021
2021-02-11 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
AFSIG monthly meetings will be held online, starting at 6:30 P.M. The presentation is open to the general public. To view the meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy
Constellation of the Month:
Musca
Presenter: Doug Smith

Doug Smith will start the evening off with a presentation on the constellation Musca.
Main Presentation:
Hidden Structures of the Milky Way
Presenter: Connor Justice

Connor Justice will be giving the main presentation on Hidden Structures of the Milky Way.

Virtual Star Party Stargazing
2021-02-12 19:00 - 21:00 | ONLINE
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a Virtual tour of the Night Sky. We will explore planets, Nebulae, Star Clusters, Galaxies, and much more. The event will be streamed from our Facebook Page (TAAA Facebook Live)

ONLINE - General Meeting – March 2021
2021-03-05 18:30 - 21:00 | ONLINE
6:30 pm – Main Public Presentation
Title: Tuning into the Radio Universe
Speaker: Ardis Herrold works as the Education Specialist for Vera C. Rubin Observatory, (formerly known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, and being built in Chile to survey the night-sky with unprecedented depth and detail). A lifelong amateur and educator, Ardis established and advised a high school club, the Radio Astronomy Team (the RATs) for nearly three decades at Gross Pointe North High School in Michigan, where she taught. She and many of her former students have a long-established relationship with the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia, home of the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope.
This talk will provide a brief introduction to how radio telescopes operate, what sort of observations can be made with them, and the advantages and disadvantages of radio observing. Amateur astronomers can build and operate radio telescopes. Ardis will look at some of the different types of radio telescopes that can be constructed, and what resources are available for those interested in learning more or getting started in radio astronomy.

ONLINE - Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – March 2021
2021-03-11 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE

Chiricahua National Monument Stargazing (Tentative)
2021-03-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Chiricahua National Monument, 12856 E Rhyolite Creek Rd, Willcox, AZ, 85643, United States
REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Call the Visitor’s Center to register: 520-824-3560, ext 9302.
Star Party at Chiricahua National Monument. We will have a Laser Walk Around the Night Sky starting 7:30. At 8:15 we will have a telescope set up to view objects through a monitor. Event will be held at Far Away Ranch, 1 mile 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/.

Agua Caliente Park Stargazing (TENTATIVE)
2021-03-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
TENTATIVE – Pending COVID-19 Status
REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED TO 30 PARTICIPANTS. If your plans change after registration, please cancel your registration so others may enjoy the event.
Star Party-Agua Caliente Park
Tucson, AZ (Northeast)
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 using monitors for astronomical viewing to practice Social Distancing for astronomical viewing. We will observe Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Star Clusters and lots more. Great opportunity to look through a variety of telescopes. Only registered participants will be allowed entry. Please arrive as close as possible to the start time. For real-time updates, check in here or follow the event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/).
Registration will required. Register after February 20, 2021 at: https://stargazing_acp.eventbrite.com

ONLINE - General Meeting – April 2021
2021-04-02 18:30 - 21:00 | ONLINE
TAAA’s general member meeting will be held on April 2 and be conducted online. The meeting will start at 6:30 P.M. It will be followed by Mary Turner’s popular Seasonal Night Sky Presentation. The main presentation and Night Sky Presentation are open to the public. A Members Only Meeting will follow. To view the meeting, please visit Tucson Astronomy Facebook Live
6:30 pm – Main Public Presentation
Title: OSIRIS-REx: Mission Update Before Final Farewell Flyby of Bennu
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission team has passed many milestones in its long journey to study near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu; overcoming unforeseen obstacles including house-sized boulders in its path, pandemics, and concerns of sample loss after successful sample collection in October 2020. This presentation will focus on recent discoveries and results of the Touch-and-Go-Sample Acquisition Maneuver (TAG event) last Oct. 20th.
Before heading back toward Earth, the team will conduct a Final Flyby of Bennu on April 7. Presenter Dolores H. Hill will explain the purpose of the flyby, as well as the important discoveries made all along both about navigating the mission, and about this “rubble-pile” asteroid’s formation and the history of the Solar System. The returned sample will reveal even more important details about Bennu, and the organic materials important to life. Join us us on Friday, April 2nd for the latest OSIRIS-REx news, and what to look forward to as well.
Presenter: Dolores H. Hill is former OSIRIS-REx Ambassadors lead and is currently a member of the sample team for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission and coordinates LPL outreach. She is co-lead of the Astronomical League’s Target NEOs! Observing Program that transitioned from OSIRIS-REx Target Asteroids! citizen science program, honored as a White House Champion of Change for Citizen Science in 2013. Since 1981 Dolores has analyzed a wide range of meteorites at UA’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in Tucson, and provided technical support to space missions and LPL laboratories. A longtime member of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, Dolores also co-founded the Sunset Astronomical Society in Midland, Michigan, and was a member of the Warren Astronomical Society in the Detroit-area. Near-Earth asteroid (164215) Doloreshill is named after her. She looks forward to seeing samples of near-Earth asteroid Bennu in 2023!
