Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association

Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic Area Star Party
2018-01-27 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Phoenix) | 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/).

Catalina State Park
2018-01-20 18:30 - 21:30 | Catalina State Park, 11570 N Oracle Rd, Catalina, AZ, United States
Star Party-Catalina State Park
Tucson, AZ
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 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 star party on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/).

Agua Caliente Park
2018-01-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
Star Party-Agua Caliente Park
Tucson, AZ (Northeast)
Setup: 6 PM
Observing: 6:30- 8:30 PM
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. Weather dependent. For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/).

Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – January 2018
2018-01-11 18:30 - 20:30 | U.S.G.S. Building, 520 North Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
At the January meeting Doug Smith will discuss “Variable Stars”. The “Constellation of the Month” is Perseus, presented by Jim Schrode.

General Meeting – January 2018
2018-01-05 18:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
6:30 pm – Introductory Presentation
Title: Objects of the Quarter
Presenter: Dr. Mary Turner, TAAA’s Chief Observer and Adjunct Professor of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona
In her latest popular sky talk, Mary Turner takes us on a tour of the winter night sky. With the use of astronomical data, images, and mythology, Mary provides an overview of what to expect in the sky during the coming months.
7:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: The Latest News About Water On Mars
Presenter: Dr. Shane Byrne is an Associate Professor at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at UA. He is a co-Investigator on the HiRISE and CaSSIS cameras at Mars and a Guest Investigator on the Dawn mission at Ceres. Dr. Byrne is also the director of the Space Imagery Center, a NASA Regional Planetary Image Facility that archives planetary spacecraft and telescopic data and conducts many outreach events.

Dr. Byrne will talk about the search for water on Mars. It remains a major unifying theme of Mars exploration because water is required for Martian life as well as for future human exploration. Evidence for liquid water has waxed and waned over the years for both modern and ancient Mars. Dr. Byrne will describe the ups and downs of this quest for Martian water, and how every few years new observations overturn old theories.

Star Party - Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic Area
2017-12-16 18:00 - 20:00, 2017-11-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Ironwood Picnic, 7300 W Hal gras Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85735, United States
Star Party-Pima County NRPR @ Tucson Mountain Park (Ironwood Picnic)
WEST TUCSON
Setup: 5:30 pm
Observing: 6 – 8 pm
Viewing Location: Ironwood Picnic area near 2nd restroom facilities (right side) approximately .6 miles in on Hal Gras Road.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes to view some amazing solar system and deep-sky celestial objects.

Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – December 2017
2017-12-14 18:30 - 20:30 | U.S.G.S. Building, 520 North Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
At the December meeting Connor Justice will discuss “Black Holes”. The “Constellation of the Month” is Pegasus, presented by Bill Yohey.

Bloom Farm & Art Market
2017-12-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Bloom Farm & Art Market, 8881 N Coachline Blvd, Tucson, AR, 85741, United States
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes set up to observe the wonders of the night sky during the Market Festival. Observing will be from 6 – 8 PM.

Star Party - Agua Caliente Park
2017-12-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2017-11-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
Star Party-Pima County NRPR @ Agua Caliente Park
NORTHEAST TUCSON
Setup: 5:30 pm
Observing: 6 – 8 pm
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 – December 2017
2017-12-01 18:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
7:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: How the CATE Experiment Advances Solar Studies
Presenter: Dr. Matt Penn, astronomer at the National Solar Observatory and principal investigator for the Total Solar Eclipse CATE Experiment.

Dr. Penn will speak about CATE (Citizen Continental-America Telescopic Eclipse Experiment), the national citizen astronomer experiment with 68 telescopes and 250 volunteers capturing images of the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse along the 2500 mile-long path of totality. The goal was to collect data only available during a total solar eclipse for studying the sun’s corona and polar plumes. Learn about CATE’s early successes and about the 90-minute movie being produced from some 45,000 solar coronal images. For more information, visit citizencate.org.

Star Party-International Wildlife Museum
2017-11-25 18:00 - 21:00 | International Wildlife Museum, 4800 W Gates Pass Rd., Tucson, AZ, 85745, United States
International Wildlife Museum.
FAR WEST TUCSON
Setup: 5:30 pm
Observing: 6 – 9 pm
Viewing Location: TBD outside of Museum
Estimated # Participants: 100
Age/Grade: All Ages
# Scopes Required: 3
Other Activities: Museum Wildlife Activities, Planetarium
TAAA POC: Jim Knoll

Tucson Parks & Recreation Family Festival in the Park (Reid Park)
2017-11-18 10:00 - 14:00 | Reid Park, 900 S Randolph Way, Tucson, 85716, United States
Tucson Parks & Recreation will be hosting a Family Festival in the Park (Reid Park) from 10 AM to 2 PM. There will be plenty of family friendly activities. Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several Solar Telescopes to safely view the Sun and will have other Astronomy Information and interactive activities.

Tumacacori National Park Star Party
2017-11-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Tumacacori National Historical Park, 1891 E Frontage Rd, Tumacacori, AZ, 85640, United States
Join Tumacacori National Historical Park and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for an evening of Astronomy Star Gazing from 6 – 8 PM. You will see planets, nebulae, star clusters, double stars, and lots more. Weather dependent — Follow the event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Page to get weather and real-time updates.

Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – November 2017
2017-11-09 18:30 - 20:30 | U.S.G.S. Building, 520 North Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
Stephen Ferris will discuss Star Clusters. The “Constellation of the Month” will be determined later.

General Meeting – November 2017
2017-11-03 18:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Total Solar Eclipse Night! Everyone’s invited. From 6:30 P.M. to 9:00 or so, the entire meeting is devoted to TAAA members sharing photos and experiences from the great Total Solar Eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017.

Star Party - Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic Area
2017-10-28 18:30 - 20:30 | Ironwood Picnic, 7300 W Hal gras Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85735, United States
Star Party-Pima County NRPR @ Tucson Mountain Park (Ironwood Picnic)
WEST TUCSON
Setup: 6 pm
Observing: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Viewing Location: Ironwood Picnic area near 2nd restroom facilities (right side) approximately .6 miles in on Hal Gras Road.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes to view some amazing solar system and deep-sky celestial objects.

Pima County Library Astronomy
2017-10-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Joel D. Valdez Library (Main Branch), 101 N Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85701, United States
An event supporting the main branch (Joel V Valdez) of the Pima County Library. The event is called: Observe the Moon Costume Party. This is open to the public and we hope you will wear a costume. Also, the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will donate a small telescope to the Library to be available for checking out. Come join us and the Pima County Library for a fun evening of observing the moon with their new telescope.

Star Party - Agua Caliente Park
2017-10-21 18:30 - 20:30 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
Star Party-Pima County NRPR @ Agua Caliente Park
NORTHEAST TUCSON
Setup: 6 pm
Observing: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
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.

Star Party-Chiricahua National Monument
2017-10-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Chiricahua National Monument, 12856 E Rhyolite Creek Rd, Willcox, AZ, 85643, United States
Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and the Chiricahua National Monument for an exciting evening of Star Gazing under some incredibly dark skies. Observing will be at the Visitor Center from 6 to 9 PM. We’ll get some amazing views of planets, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and lots more.

Star Party - Catalina State Park
2017-10-14 18:30 - 21:30 | Catalina State Park, 11570 N Oracle Rd, Catalina, AZ, United States
Star Party-Catalina State Park
Tucson, AZ
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.

Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – October 2017
2017-10-12 18:30 - 20:30 | U.S.G.S. Building, 520 North Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
Come join us for a presentation from the fundamentals of amateur astronomy. At the October meeting Dennis McMacken will demonstrate the Collimation of a Dobsonian Telescope.

The “Constellation of the Month” will be Pegasus. Bill Yohey will do the presentation.

General Meeting – October 2017
2017-10-06 18:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
6:30 pm – Introductory Presentation
Title: The Fall Night Sky
Presenter: Dr. Mary Turner
TAAA’s Chief Observer, Mary Turner, takes us on a tour of the fall night sky, with a quarterly look at celestial objects and some skylore.
Main Presentation: 7:30 P.M.
Title: A Tale of Epsilon Eridani – How Debris Disks Tell Us about Exoplanetary Systems
Presenter: Dr. Kate Su, astronomer from Steward Observatory
Epsilon Eridani, a young solar-like star—at a distance of 10.5 light years from the Sun—is one of the closest stars with a planetary system. Dr. Su’s talk will focus on how astronomers use the emission from orbiting dust to reveal the underlying planetary architecture of Epsilon Eridani. Her main research—with the goal of understanding the origin and evolution of our own solar system—involves interpreting data obtained from ground-based telescopes around the globe, as well as from space telescopes and the airborne observatory SOFIA.

Star Party - Tucson Mountain Park @ Ironwood Picnic Area
2017-09-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Ironwood Picnic, 7300 W Hal gras Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85735, United States
Star Party-Pima County NRPR @ Tucson Mountain Park (Ironwood Picnic)
WEST TUCSON
Setup: 6:30 pm
Observing: 7 – 9 pm
Viewing Location: Ironwood Picnic area near 2nd restroom facilities (right side) approximately .6 miles in on Hal Gras Road.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes to view some amazing solar system and deep-sky celestial objects.

Star Party - Oracle State Park
2017-09-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Oracle State Park, 3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ, 85623, United States
Star Party-Oracle State Park.
ORACLE
Setup: 6:30 pm. Observing: 7 – 9 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.

Star Party - Agua Caliente Park
2017-09-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
Star Party-Pima County NRPR @ Agua Caliente Park
NORTHEAST TUCSON
Setup: 6:30 pm
Observing: 7 – 9 pm
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.

Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – September 2017
2017-09-14 18:30 - 20:30 | U.S.G.S. Building, 520 North Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
Branden Dickerson will provide us with “A Non-Mathematical Introduction to Relativity”. The “Constellation of the Month”, will be Sagittarius. Bill Yohey will do the presentation, delayed from August.

General Meeting – September 2017
2017-09-01 18:30 - 21:00 | Steward Observatory Lecture Hall (Room N210), 933 N Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Introductory Presentation: More Eclipse Tales
Presenter: Alex Filippenko
We will show the second Alex Filippenko lecture called “More Eclipse Tales,” from his Understanding the Universe DVD course. Following that, we’ll hear some members share their Total Solar Eclipse 2017 experiences. (Members’ photos of the eclipse will be shown in November. We’ll talk about how to participate.)
Main Presentation: Satellite Galaxies and Dwarfs in the Local Group
Presenter: Ekta Patel
Ekta will begin by reviewing the current classification system used by astronomers to identify different types of galaxies. She will then present an overview of satellite galaxies, including what they are, how they were discovered, and how astronomers use them to understand the evolution and formation of our own Milky Way galaxy and the neighboring Andromeda galaxy. She will explain the current research she is conducting using computer simulations of the Universe to further study satellite galaxies in a context beyond the scope of what observations alone can teach us.

Partial Solar Eclipse
2017-08-21 09:00 - 12:00 | AZ
There will likely be several Astronomy events throughout Tucson to observe the Partial Solar Eclipse. The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association does not have a specific location planned, but will likely support UA or other agencies with some solar telescopes.
