ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – July 2021
2021-07-08 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Phoenix) | 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:
None
Presenter: None

No constellation of month.
Main Presentation:
Research Results from the Professional Astronomy Community
Presenter: to be determined

This month’s main topic will be recapping several research results from the professional astronomy community that will be covering new discoveries about planetary formation, supernovas, as well as Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus.

Reid Park Zoo Summer Safari Nights
2021-07-24 17:30 - 20:30 | Reid Park, 900 S Randolph Way, Tucson, 85716, United States
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will be supporting the Reid Park Zoo for their Dog Days of Summer Astronomy at the Zoom from 5:30 – 8:30 pm. If the weather cooperates, we will have an hour or so of Solar Observing before sunset. We will show pictures of astronomy objects and be available to talk about astronomy in Tucson.

ONLINE - General Meeting – August 2021
2021-08-06 18:30 - 21:00 | ONLINE
TAAA’s next general member meeting will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021, and available online. The Main Presentation starts at 6:30 P.M and is open to the public. A Members Only Meeting will follow. Non-members may attend the Main Presentation via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/. Members should attend the meeting via Zoom.
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: Preparing for Artemis: Understanding the Moon’s most important resource
Presentation: Dr. Casey Honniball, from Goddard Space Flight Center is featured in this pre-recorded presentation about NASA’s Artemis program given to the Night Sky Network in May 2021. NASA’s Artemis program will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. Innovative technologies will allow the Artemis crew to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. A sustainable presence on the lunar surface requires in-depth knowledge of the Moon’s available resources. Perhaps the most important of these is water. In preparation for Artemis, the lunar water cycle is being studied to understand the source, transport and retention of water across the Moon. Dr. Honniball will discuss how we study water on the Moon from Earth-based observatories and how water may be used in future Artemis missions.
Presenter: Dr. Casey Honniball is a research fellow in the NASA Postdoctoral Program at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Her current research focuses on characterizing water on the Moon and testing field portable instruments for use by astronauts during an extravehicular activity on planetary surfaces. She earned her Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Science from the University of Hawaii in 2019. Recently Dr. Honniball and her team announced the direct detection of water molecules on a sunlit portion of the Moon using the air-borne telescope SOFIA. Since then, she has made numerous media and outreach appearances to talk about lunar water.
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ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – August 2021
2021-08-12 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Come join us for a presentation from the fundamentals of amateur astronomy. Learn your way around the night sky to add to your observing enjoyment. Meetings are on the second Thursday of each month.
Contact: Connor Justice
Email: fundamentals[at]tucsonastronomy.org
Constellation of the Month:
Fornax
Presenter: Doug Smith

Doug Smith will be discussing Fornax as the constellation of the month.
Main Presentation:
NGC 2000.0: The Complete New General Catalogue
Presenter: Connor Justice

Our main topic will be on the NGC catalog by Connor Justice.

From Google Books: “This essential amateur astronomer’s reference is an updated and expanded edition of J. L. E. Dreyer’s famous New General Catalogue, providing visual data and notes for 13,226 deep-sky objects.”

Desert Skies Virtual Star Party Stargazing
2021-08-27 19:30 - 21:00 | ONLINE
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a Virtual tour of the Night Sky using three telescopes. We will explore planets Jupiter and Saturn, Nebulae, Star Clusters, Galaxies, and much more. The event will be streamed live to our Facebook Page (TAAA Facebook). You can follow our Facebook event for any weather and other updates. FREE.

ONLINE - General Meeting – September 2021
2021-09-03 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
TAAA’s next general member meeting will be held on Friday, September 3, 2021, and available online. The Main Presentation starts at 6:30 P.M and is open to the public. A Members Only Meeting will follow. Non-members may attend the Main Presentation via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/. Members should attend the meeting via Zoom.
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: NEO Surveyor Mission: Why Does It Matter?
Presentation: University of Arizona astronomer and professor Dr. Amy Mainzer will talk about the new NASA mission she is leading; the Near Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission. NEO Surveyor is an infrared space telescope designed to expand our ability to find, track, and characterize asteroids and comets that may pose a threat to Earth. Objects are considered NEOs if they come within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit. By identifying these objects when they are decades away, we will potentially be able to mitigate their danger by pushing them out of the way.
Presenter: Dr. Amy Mainzer serves as the Principal Investigator for NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission, an Earth-orbiting satellite that uses infrared sensors to characterize asteroids and comets. She is also leading NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission, currently in development, which will carry out a comprehensive survey of the most potentially hazardous NEOs. Dr. Mainzer is currently the Chair of the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS), the world’s largest professional society of planetary scientists. She also serves as the Chair of NASA’s Planetary Advisory Committee (PAC). She was the science consultant, co-executive producer, and on-camera host of the PBS Kids television show Ready Jet Go!, which aimed to teach basic physics, Earth science, and astronomy to children ages 3-8. She was in the 2016 documentary, “For the Love of Spock”, directed by Adam Nimoy (Leonard Nimoy’s son) and several episodes of the History Channel’s “The Universe” series.

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – September 2021
2021-09-09 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Constellation of the Month:
Hydrus
Presenter: David Evans

David Evans will be highlighting the southern constellation Hydrus.
Main Presentation:
Astronomer William Herschel
Presenter: Connor Justice
Connor Justice will be providing the main topic on astronomer William Herschel, who discovered Uranus.

Agua Caliente Park Stargazing
2021-09-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
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 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/).
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. The event is FREE but register at: https://september_stagazing_aguacalientepark.eventbrite.com

Oracle State Park Stargazing
2021-09-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Oracle State Park, 3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ, 85623, United States
Star Party-Oracle State Park
Tucson, AZ
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 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 (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/). There is generally a talk and other events also taking place. Check the Oracle State Park website for additional information. Check TAAA Facebook Page or here for any updates as we get closer.

The Art of Planetary Science
2021-09-24 19:00 - 21:00 | UA Mall, 1601 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will participate in the Lunar and Planetary Lab Art of Planetary Science with evening observing on the UA Mall September 24 and some Solar Observing (time TBD) on Sunday September 26. More to follow as we get closer.

The Art of Planetary Science Solar
2021-09-26 13:00 - 15:30 | UA Mall, 1601 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States

ONLINE - General Meeting – October 2021
2021-10-01 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: Searching for Earth-Twin Exoplanets with the NEID Spectrometer
Over the past three decades astronomers have discovered a menagerie of exoplanets around nearby stars, and it is now clear that planets form with a breadth of characteristics barely hinted at by the planets in our solar system. The goal of finding and characterizing rocky, Earth-like planets remains paramount, but until recently has been hampered by astronomical instruments lacking the sensitivity required to detect signals from these small bodies. A new class of spectroscopic instruments, including the NASA and NSF (National Science Foundation) funded NEID spectrometer at the 3.5 meter WIYN telescope on Kitt Peak, is now coming online, and for the first time will start probing nearby stars for Earth twins.
NEID is dedicated to high precision radial velocity (RV) observations of exoplanets. The RV (or Doppler) effect depends on a planet causing a tiny gravitational pull on the star it orbits, causing the star to “wobble” which can be noted as changes in its spectrum. In his talk, Dr. Chad Bender will describe the technology enabling these new searches, and what is to come over the next few years as astronomers push the limits of sensitivity lower and lower towards the goal of finding planets like our own.
Presenter: Dr. Chad Bender is an instrument builder and observational astronomer, studying how planets and planetary systems form and evolve. He has spent the past decade designing and building two extreme precision radial velocity (RV) spectrometers that are now in operation. Earlier this summer, his team completed construction of NEID, which is now the most precise RV spectrometer in the United States, and which has begun a survey of nearby Sun-like stars to search for Earth-like planets. Dr. Bender received his Ph.D. in 2006, and is currently an Associate Astronomer at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory.
7:30 pm (approximately) – Seasonal Night Sky Presentation
Dr. Mary Turner will present her popular Fall Night Sky Presentation.

Chiricahua National Monument Stargazing
2021-10-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Chiricahua National Monument, 12856 E Rhyolite Creek Rd, Willcox, AZ, 85643, United States
TAAA Stargazing to view amazing solar system and deep sky objects from the Dark Sky Park. You will see planets, nebulae, star clusters, double stars, and lots more. We will have several telescopes for public viewing. Observing location will either be Echo Canyon Trailhead or the Faraway Ranch just inside the entrance gate. A talk may be scheduled before observing at Bonita Campground Amphitheater. 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 Facebook closer to the event for any updates.

Catalina State Park Stargazing
2021-10-09 18:30 - 21:30 | Catalina State Park, 11570 N Oracle Rd, Catalina, AZ, United States
Star Party-Catalina State Park
Tucson, AZ
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 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 (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/).
Additional details will be posted here and on Facebook as we get closer to the event.

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – October 2021
2021-10-14 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
We do not have a constellation of the month for this meeting, so our only topic for the night will be on Historical Women in Astronomy, by Doug Smith.

International Observe the Moon
2021-10-16 | Arizona
International Observe the Moon is October 16, 2021. If there are not any specific events scheduled, get out a pair of binoculars or just go out and observe the Moon with your eyes. The Moon will be a Waxing Gibbous, between First Quarter and Full.
We have several telescopes available to check out from the Pima County Library. This is a great use of the telescope, having fun observing the Moon with your family or friends. For more information on our Library Telescope program and how to check one out, visit our webpage at Library Telescope.

Chiricahua Astronomy Complex Observing
2021-10-16 19:00 - 21:00, 2021-11-26 18:30 - 20:30 | Chiricahua Astronomy Complex, 9315 E Perseus Way, Pearce, AZ, 85625, United States
Come join us for an evening of observing at our Chiricahua Astronomy Complex (CAC), 100 miles southeast of Tucson near the Chiricahua Mountains. CAC is an incredibly dark site with several large telescopes. The number of telescopes used will depend on the number of participants. Cost is only $50/adult and $25/child under 15. For reservations and additional information, visit our Tucson Stargazing Adventures or select Star Parties, Tucson Stargazing Adventures, Observing at our very dark site.

Agua Caliente Park Stargazing
2021-10-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
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 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/).
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please visit the following link to register for the event: https://october_stagazing_aguacalientepark.eventbrite.com.

Virtual Star Party Stargazing
2021-10-29 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)

ONLINE - General Meeting – November 2021
2021-11-05 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
TAAA’s next general member meeting will be held online, on Friday, November 5, 2021. The Main Presentation starts at 6:30 P.M. NON-MEMBERS may attend via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/. MEMBERS should attend the meeting via Zoom.
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: David Levy’s two astronomy careers: Rewards and Challenges
Presentation: Over the course of the last 60 years, David Levy has followed two different paths to the night sky. In his own words, “One is the observing, the search for comets, which includes the discoveries of 21 comets including Shoemaker-Levy 9. The other relates the night sky to English Literature. This lecture will cover the joys and the challenges of this double-pronged approach to the night sky, in which the first grabs my heart, and the second touches my soul.”
Presenter: David Levy is arguably one of the most enthusiastic and famous amateur astronomers of our time. Although he has never taken a class in astronomy, he has written over three dozen books, written for three astronomy magazines and 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 that collided with Jupiter in 1994, a few hundred shared asteroid discoveries, an Emmy for the documentary Three Minutes to Impact, five honorary doctorates in Science and a PhD 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 Vail Voice community newspaper. David continues to hunt for comets and asteroids, and lectures worldwide.

Empire Ranch Solar
2021-11-06 10:00 - 2021-11-07 16:00 | Empire Ranch, E Empire Ranch Road, Sonoita, AZ, United States
Saturday November 6 and Sunday November 7 — SE TUCSON [SONOITA] (SOLAR (all day)
Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival
Highyway 83 SE of Tucson approximately 20 miles
Age/Grade Level: All Ages
# Participants: 300
Solar Observing throughout the day / Other Festival activities.
Nearest Moon Phase: N/A
Directions: East on I-10 to Highway 83. South on Highway 83 approximately 18 miles to paved road on left between miles post 40 & 39 (watch for brown Historic Empire Ranch sign). East on raod and follow for 3 miles to Empire Ranch House.
Viewing Location: TBD.

Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic Stargazing
2021-11-06 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/).
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Check back here for the link as we get closer.

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – November 2021
2021-11-11 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Constellation of the Month:
Libra and Norma
Presenter: Peter Hermes

Peter Hermes will be presenting Libra and Norma for the constellation of the month.
Main Presentation:
None
Presenter:

We do not have a main topic presenter this month.

Stargazing at Elfrida Library, Cochise County
2021-11-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Elfrida Library, 10552 N Hwy 191, Elfrida, AZ, 85610, United States
Join TAAA and the Elfrida Library for an evening of stargazing at the Elfrida Library, Elfrida, AZ. We will have a couple TAAA telescopes and the Library will have their tabletop library telescope available for patrons to get familiar with so you can check it out in the future.

Agua Caliente Park Stargazing
2021-11-27 18:30 - 20:30, 2021-12-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
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 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/).
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Check back here for the link as we get closer.

ONLINE – General Meeting – December 2021
2021-12-03 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: Constructing SAM; a Mars Habitat at Biosphere 2
Presentation: Kai Staats, Director of the Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM) will talk about this hermetically sealed habitat being built at the University of Arizona Biosphere 2 to simulate living conditions on Mars. The SAM pressure vessel incorporates a greenhouse and crew quarters with workshop, kitchen, common area, sleeping accommodations and airlock into the adjacent Mars yard. The greenhouse provides hydroponic and soil-based growing environments, controlled lighting, humidity, heating and cooling. Other support systems provide clean air and water. The adjacent half acre is a replica of a Martian landscape. Pressure suits, rovers, and drones can be tested over varied terrain and obstacles. The first teams are scheduled for May 2022. Kai will describe SAM’s core science research objectives, and share photos and stories about the construction process.
Presenter: Kai Statts, science researcher, filmmaker, and writer and a veteran developer of platforms for research and science education. He was co-founder and CEO of the world-renowned Yellow Dog Linux (YDL) operating system for ten years. The YDL platform was used in Department of Energy, NASA, and University research across a full spectrum of sciences. Kai wrote the machine learning algorithm Karoo GP which has been used at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) for classification of glitches and supernovae; and was principal designer of the Mt. Meru Astronomical Observatory in Tanzania, the first of its kind in East Africa.
At Arizona State University Kai led the development of SIMOC, a research-grade computer simulation and educational interface hosted by National Geographic that enables citizen scientists to explore the complexity of a human habitat on Mars. At Biosphere 2, Kai and his team are taking the next big step by building SAM.
Of special interest to TAAA, many years ago, Kai was president of the Phoenix Astronomical Society where he first met David Levy, who remains a dear friend today.

Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic Stargazing
2021-12-04 18:00 - 20:00 | 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/).

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – December 2021
2021-12-09 18:30 - 20:00 | ONLINE
Constellation of the Month:
None
Presenter:

We do not have a constellation of the month for this meeting.
Main Presentation:
Classifying Star Types
Presenter: Connor Justice

Our only topic for the night will be Classifying Star Types by Connor Justice.
