Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association

Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – November 2016
2016-11-10 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Phoenix) | U.S.G.S. Building, 520 North Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
To be determined.

Star Party-Agua Caliente Park
2016-11-05 18:30 - 20:30, 2016-10-08 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
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes to view some amazing solar system and deep-sky celestial objects.

General Meeting – November 2016
2016-11-04 18:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Introductory Presentation – 6:30 PM
Title: Seasonal Night Sky Objects
Speaker: Mary Turner, PhD
Main Presentation – 7:30 PM
Title: Making Pluto Great Again
Speaker: Don McCarthy is an Astronomer/Lecturer, and Distinguished Outreach Professor at Steward Observatory.

Star Party-Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic Area
2016-10-22 18:30 - 20:30, 2016-09-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Ironwood Picnic, 7300 W Hal gras Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85735, United States
Viewing Location: Ironwood Picnic area near restroom facilities.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes to view some amazing solar system and deep-sky celestial objects.

Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – October 2016
2016-10-13 18:30 - 20:30 | U.S.G.S. Building, 520 North Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
Paul and Cathy Anderson will discuss “Astronomical Dimensions”.

The “Constellation of the Month”, Capricornus, will be presented by Bill Yohey.

General Meeting – October 2016
2016-10-07 18:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Night Sky Network Toolkits: Fun, Educational, and Easy To Use
Time: 6:30 pm
Speaker: Terri Lappin, Past President of TAAA and Director of TAAA’s Starry Messengers Outreach Group
Terri will introduce our selection of 13 NASA-sponsored Night Sky Network Outreach Toolkits that are available for TAAA members to use at TAAA Star parties and other events
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Kitt Peak National Observatory
and the Tohono O’odham Nation:
Over 50 years together
Time: 7:30 pm
Speaker: Dr. Katy Garmany, retired NOAO astronomer, who has spent much time in recent years working with the Tohono O’odham nation.
Dr. Garmany reports on the history behind Kitt Peak’s location on I’iokam Duag, a mountain belonging to the Tohono O’odham nation.

TIMPA Star Party 10/1/2016
2016-10-01 18:00 - 23:00 | TIMPA
Members only.

Star Party-Catalina State Park
2016-09-24 18:30 - 21:30 | Catalina State Park, 11570 N Oracle Rd, Catalina, AZ, United States
Setup: 6 PM
Observing: 6:30 – 9:30 PM
Viewing Location: Trailhead Picnic area at end of road inside the park.
Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Catalina State Park. Star Party open to the Public. Admission cost for entrance into Catalina State Park. Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have 10 telescopes for astronomical viewing. We will also have a talk about what is up in the night sky and how it relates to ancient times.

TIMPA Star Party 9/23/2016
2016-09-23 18:00 - 23:00 | TIMPA

Star Party-Oracle State Park
2016-09-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Oracle State Park, 3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ, 85623, United States
Setup: 6 pm. Observing: 7 – 9:00 pm
Viewing Location: Sidewalk along the Kannally Ranch House parking lot and on the Ranch House upper patio.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes to view some amazing solar system and deep-sky celestial objects.

Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – September 2016
2016-09-08 18:30 - 20:30 | U.S.G.S. Building, 520 North Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
Dean Ketelsen will “demo an alt-az mount I put together myself, and it’s just about the best mount I’ve ever used for daytime use, if not at night as well. I’ve blogged about it at: http:// theketelsens.blogspot.com/2014/06/new-mount-for-new- scope.html”
The “Constellation of the Month” will be presented by Paul Anderson. He will discuss Vulpecula and review the Summer Triangle

General Meeting – September 2016
2016-09-02 18:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Astronomy Essentials Presentation – 6:30 PM
Two Topics: (1) Report on Factory Tour of Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain Production and Test Facility; (2) Practical Applications for Use and Care of SC Telescopes
Speaker: TAAA member and NASA Solar System Ambassador Mike Magrass
Main Presentation – 7:30 PM
10 Years of Operating the HiRISE Camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Speaker: Anjani Polit, HiRISE Uplink Operations Lead, UA Lunar and Planetary Lab

Lunar & Planetary Laboratory Open House
2016-08-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Lunar & Planetary Laboratory, 1629 E University Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory’s annual open house is going to be on Saturday, August 27 from 10:00am – 4:00pm in the Kuiper Space Science Building. The feature will be OSIRIS-REx, which will be launching a few weeks later.

Star Party-Desert Museum
2016-08-13 19:00 - 21:00, 2016-07-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Desert Museum, 2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85743, United States
Star Party-Sonoran Desert Museum
FAR WEST TUCSON
Setup: 6:00 pm
Observing: 7 – 9 pm
Viewing Location: TBD
Estimated # Participants: 250
Age/Grade: Grades All Ages
# Scopes Required: 2
Other Activities: Desert Museum Cool Summer Nights program
TAAA POC: Jim Knoll

Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – August 2016
2016-08-11 18:30 - 20:30 | U.S.G.S. Building, 520 North Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
TOPIC FOR THE AUGUST MEETING IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED.

General Meeting - August 2016
2016-08-05 18:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Our August 5th speaker will be Dr Vishnu Reddy from the Planetary Science Institute and the UA Lunar and Planetary Lab. He will present an overview of the Dawn mission and key science results from Vesta and Ceres. He’ll also tell us how amateur astronomers can help monitor variations on Ceres between now and perihelion.

TIMPA Star Party 7/29/2016
2016-07-29 18:00 - 23:00 | TIMPA
Waning crescent (New -4)
Members Only

Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting - July 2016
2016-07-14 18:30 - 20:00 | U.S.G.S. Building, 520 North Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
Equipment Presentation: Push-to Dobsonian
I have added the altitude encoder and the controller box to my 8 inch Orion SkyQuest Dobsonian. I will demonstrate how a “Push to”, sometimes called “Digital Setting Circles”, mount works.
Constellation of the Month
The “Constellation of the Month”, TBA, will be presented by Joe Grisillo. I am looking for people to present future “Constellation of the Month”, whether it is a favorite or a constellation you would like to learn more about.

TIMPA Star Party 7/8/2016
2016-07-08 18:00 - 23:00 | TIMPA
Waxing crescent (New +4)
Members Only

TIMPA Star Party 7/2/2016
2016-07-02 06:00 - 23:00 | TIMPA
Waning crescent (New -2)
Members Only

General Meeting - July 2016
2016-07-01 18:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Astronomy Essentials Presentation – 6:30 PM
Summer Night Sky
Mary Turner, our appointed Chief Observer, will take us on a tour of the Summer night sky. We may be entering the monsoon season but the sky usually does clear once the storms pass through. Mary uses astronomical data, images and mythology, to bring the summer night sky to life.
Main Presentation – 7:30 PM
A Tale of a Tipping Moon, Recorded in Lunar Ice
James T. Keane, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Science, University of Arizona

Grand Canyon Star Party
2016-06-11 20:00 - 23:00, 2016-06-10 20:00 - 23:00, 2016-06-09 20:00 - 23:00, 2016-06-08 20:00 - 23:00, 2016-06-07 20:00 - 23:00, 2016-06-06 20:00 - 23:00 | Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023, United States
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, in conjunction with the National Park Service, will sponsor a week-long Star Party at the Grand Canyon.
Observing will be from Dusk to about 11 pm. Telescopes will be set up behind the Visitor Center. There will also be nightly talks @ 8 pm in the Visitor Center Auditorium. There will be Solar Observing throughout the day at various locations around the Park.
We will observe a wide variety of Celestial Wonders under some very dark and pristine skies. Come join us for some astronomy fun at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World!
For further information, contact:
Jim O’Connor
South Rim Coordinator, Grand Canyon Star Party
gcsp [at] tucsonastronomy.org
P, O. Box 457
Cortaro, AZ 85652
Home: (520) 546-2961
Cell: (520) 405-6551
