Planets of the Month – October 2022
By Erich Karkoschka
Jupiter is the most obvious planet, shining brightly at magnitude minus 3 all night. It just had its closest opposition in 50 years.
Saturn is 40 degrees to the west of Jupiter. It is first magnitude in an area of the sky without bright stars.
Mars rises at 10 pm and later in the month by 9 pm. It outshines all surrounding stars of the winter constellations until Sirius rises in the morning. It becomes interesting to observers with a telescope as its diameter reaches 15 arc-seconds, sufficient to see its surface detail.
Uranus rises after dusk in the constellation of Aries. It can be found naked eye if you know exactly where to look and have fairly dark skies.
Neptune is a binocular object 10 degrees to the west of Jupiter.
Mercury is visible during dawn in the first three weeks of October. It is often a challenge when it becomes visible, but around the center of its visibility period it should be quite obvious around 5:30 am low in the eastern sky.
Vesta is at 7th magnitude and thus even brighter than Neptune. It finishes its retrograde opposition period in Capricornus.
The Moon covers two planets. It occults Uranus on the 11th from 9:54-10:29. Ingress and egress take about 12 seconds due to the 4 arc-second disk of Uranus. On the 24th, it occults Mercury after sunrise. Only specialists will be able to locate Mercury in their telescope, and the moon will be invisible as it is not illuminated. Mercury will suddenly dim over 10 seconds and then be gone.
Orionid Meteor Shower. Parent Comet: Halley’s Comet. Peak is the early morning hours of October 21st around 3 am. Some may be visible late evening on the 20th. Comets will appear to radiate from the constellation of Orion. Will need a dark sky to see very many (10-20 per hour).
Tucson Star Party
Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) in conjunction with Editors from the Astronomy Magazine and Pima Community College (PCC) East for some astronomy talks, solar observing, and evening stargazing.
Astronomy Talks and Safe Solar viewing of the Sun 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
(All Talks in the Observatory area, Room EC-M102)
Talks:
— Galaxies — David J Eicher, Astronomy magazine 2 p.m.
— 2023 & 2024 U.S. Solar Eclipses — Michael Bakich 3 p.m.
— (Topic TBD) — Alan Goldstein 4 p.m.
Campus Information & Tours 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Solar Observing at the Observatories 2 – 5 p.m.
Night Sky Viewing at the Observatories 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Evening observing of planets, star clusters, multiple star systems, nebulae, galaxies, and lots more through several telescopes.
Observing will be at the south end of the PCC East Campus near the astronomy domes.
Follow our Facebook event for any real-time updates or adjustments due to weather at: TAAA Facebook Events page
Stargazing Canoa Ranch
This Star Party is cancelled for tonight. The cloud cover is forecast to increase as the evening progresses to the point that it needs to be cancelled.
Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) and Pima County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation for some stargazing at Historic Canoa Ranch. We will observe planets, star clusters, multiple star systems, nebulae, galaxies, and lots more.
FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Go to Eventbright and search for stargazing Canoa Ranch. May fill up quickly, so recommend registering as early as possible (event may not show up in Eventbright until about two months before).
Stargazing Catalina State Park
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.
Virtual Stargazing
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a Virtual tour of the Night Sky. We will explore planets, Nebulae, Star Clusters, Galaxies, and much more using cameras connected to telescopes. The event will be streamed to our YouTube channel (TAAA YouTube). You can follow our Facebook event for any weather and other updates and the link to our YouTube Channel. FREE.
Check Facebook or back here closer to the event for any updates.
Stargazing Agua Caliente Park
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/).
FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. go to:Eventbright and search for “Stargazing” and location “Tucson”. These events fill up fast so recommend registering early. Event may not show up until about two months out.
Stargazing Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic Area
Cancelled due to lingering cloud cover.
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/).
FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Go to this link and search Stargazing Ironwood Picnic Area (event may not show up until about two months prior): Eventbright
Event may fill up early.
Stargazing Tucson Mountain Park Ironwood Picnic Area
This event has been cancelled due to cloud cover.
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/).
FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Go to this link and search Stargazing Ironwood Picnic Area (event may not show up until about two months prior): Eventbright
Event may fill up early.
Oracle Star Party
Viewing will be at different locations around the town of Oracle with telescopes looking at different types of objects. Locations:
Ore House Hilltop Tavern and Restaurant – Star Clusters
Nonna Maria’s Restaurant – Nebulae.
Oracle Patio Cafe & Market – Planets.
Oracle Community Center – Galaxies.
Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park. Star Party open to the Public. Events will be held around the town of Oracle. Stay tuned here for additional details. 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/). Check the Oracle State Park website for additional information. Check TAAA Facebook Page or here for any updates as we get closer.