September 4 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Monthly TAAA General Meeting at Steward Observatory Lecture Hall at the University of Arizona. Open to member and the public. We tap into some great astronomy and science lectures through the University of Arizona and other great sources to include our own members.
October 3 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Our free Semi-Annual family-friendly public event at our Chiricahua Astronomy Complex (CAC), about 100 miles southeast of Tucson, AZ near the Chiricahua Mountains and Chiricahua National Monument. The gate will open at 6 pm with observing from 7-9 pm. We will have several large telescopes available for observing our amazing universe. Reservations are required so we can track attendance. Please email euts[at]tucsonastronomy.org with number of people, number of vehicles, and contact email.
By Erich Karkoschka
Mercury is still visible at dawn until August 17. A poor evening visibility occurs October 1-20.
Venus is brilliant in the evening sky, but will be lower and lower at sunset. It reaches maximum magnitude of -4.8 in mid-September when it could be seen naked eye around 3 pm to the south 40 degrees high. Its last visibility at dusk is October 10. Starting October 28, it rapidly establishes a great morning visibility.
Mars is first magnitude, rising around 1 am and getting high by dawn. It moves from Taurus through Gemini to Cancer.
Jupiter is in the morning sky starting August 11. For the next 12 months, Earth is essentially in the plane of Jupiter’s equator, so that its satellites pass close to each other and often occult or eclipse each other.
Saturn is visible all night as it comes into opposition on October 4. Its rings are wider open than during the last years, 9 degrees, but are closing to 6 degrees by October due to Saturn’s retrograde motion.
Uranus is a morning object near the Pleiades.
Neptune is still close to Saturn. It is in opposition September 25th.
August 12 brings the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower.
Also on August 12, there will be a total solar eclipse that grazes the North Pole and then moves south over Greenland and Iceland to Spain
A partial lunar eclipse happens August 27th, visible conveniently almost all evening. From 9 to 9:30 pm, 96 percent of the lunar disk is red in the Earth’s umbra while a thin sliver at the upper left side of the disk glows in direct sunlight.
August 27 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
An Almost (96%) Total Lunar Eclipse will be visible in Tucson and surrounding areas the evening of August 27th, barring any cloud cover. The partial Eclipse begins 6:45 PM (Moonrise Tucson Time), Maximum eclipse at 9:12 PM (Tucson Time), Eclipse ends at 12:01 AM. Moonrise is in the ESE @102°
The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes set up on the University of Arizona Mall in front of Flandrau Science Center. Viewing will be available from 7:30 to 10 PM. For real-time updates, follow our Facebook Event page: Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook
612-396-8839
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
September 27 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) and Saguaro National Park – East District, for some Sun gazing at the park. We will observe the Sun through telescopes with appropriate filters so you will get to see sunspots, prominences, flares, and more.
The Sun is at its peak in the sunspot cycle so there is LOTS of activity on its surface.
This event is FREE and open to the public, no reservations required. NPS admission fees apply.
The telescopes will be set up at the entrance to the Visitors Center.
This event will most likely be canceled in the event of clouds/rain.
612-396-8839
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
September 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House
Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park.
3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ 85623
Star Party open to the Public. Admission fees for entrance into Oracle State Park apply.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes for astronomical viewing. We will be observing the Moon + Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, and Star Clusters.
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 event page: TAAA Facebook Events page
Also: Check the Oracle State Park website for additional information and activities that day:
Star Party at Oracle State Park | Oracle State Park (azstateparks.com)
612-396-8839
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
September 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join TAAA and the National Park Service for an evening of stargazing at Tumacacori National Historical Park . Address below.
The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) will have several telescopes with volunteer astronomers, for astronomical viewing, in front of the Old Mission.
We will observe Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Star Clusters and lots more. Great opportunity to look through a variety of telescopes.
Event is free, no reservations required, but NPS admission fees apply.
Weather dependent, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook event page: TAAA Facebook Events page for weather updates on day of event.
612-396-8839
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
September 12 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Truely dark skies at a scenic location – Picacho Peak State Park
Star Party is open to the Public. Event is free but park admission fees apply.
The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several advanced amateur telescopes for astronomical viewing.
We will observe Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Star Clusters and lots more.
Great opportunity to look through a variety of telescopes at a really dark location.
Weather dependent. For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/events
612-396-8839
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
September 11 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 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.
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: ((4) Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook)
FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
These events fill up fast so recommend registering early.
To Register go to: www.DiscoverNature.pima.gov Then Log in or Create an account. Once logged in click on the “Environmental Education Programs” square. You should get the Pop-up screen “Register for a Program”. Scroll down to the event on the list or type in “Stargazing” into the keyword search. Once you find your event click on the “Register” button to the right. You must be logged in for the Registration screen to work.
612-396-8839
astronomy-events@tucsonastronomy.org
by Erich Karkoschka
Jupiter leaves the evening sky after the first week for its conjunction with the sun on the 29th.
Venus is at its best visibility of 2026, setting around 10 pm. It passes Regulus on the 9th.
Saturn rises around midnight. Its rings are further open than during any other month in 2026 and 11 times further open than at the beginning of the year.
Mars rises between 2 and 3 am. It moves through the northern part of the Hyades.
Mercury starts its morning apparition on the 27th.
The Moon passes Mars on the 11th. After the New Moon on the 14th, it is a very thin crescent on the 15th, passes Regulus on the 16th, Venus on the 17th, and Antares on the 24th.