HYBRID – General Meeting – September 2022

6:30 pm – Main Presentation

TITLE:  The James Webb Space Telescope: observing from the Solar System to the Earliest Universe

PRESENTATION:  This talk will describe the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), its instruments, and what we have learned so far in its mission. The 10 billion dollar telescope, now situated a million miles from Earth, was launched on December 25, 2021. With its sensitivity in the infrared spectrum, (which can’t be seen by the human eye), it promises to reveal much valuable new information about the universe in which we live. Its first images, released to the public on July 12, 2022, give a hint of what’s to come. Learn about them, JWST’s future, and how to keep up on JWST news.  

BIO:  Christopher Willmer is an astronomer at Steward Observatory (University of Arizona). He’s been part of the JWST Near Infrared Camera (NIRcam) team since 2007. His professional interest is mapping the distribution of galaxies in space and understanding how these systems evolve over time.

Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival

TAAA will participate in the annual Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival. We will have Solar Observing from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival

TAAA will participate in the annual Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival. We will have Solar Observing from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.

JWST Image Discussion & Star Party

TAAA and Cochise County Library will be hosting a discussion of the Images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and a star party at the Elfrida Library.

JWST First Image Discussion

TAAA and Cochise County Library will be hosting another discussion of the first release images from the James Webb Space Telescope at the Sunizona Alice Woods Library. TAAA will present the images for discussion and Q&A.

32 inch Cassegrain Project

Planets of the Month: July – September 2022

By Erich Karkoschka

Saturn is the first planet to rise at night, at 10 pm in early July. By the Opposition on August 14, it rises at sunset.
Jupiter is the second planet to rise, at midnight in early July. By the Opposition on September 26, it rises at sunset.
Mars is the third planet to rise, at 1 am in early July, but already at 10 pm by late September. It moves from Aries into Taurus, passing Aldebaran on September 7. It has brightened to zero magnitude. In a telescope, one can watch its diameter increasing from 7 to 12 arc-seconds.
Venus is the fourth planet to rise, at 3:30 am in early July, but close to 6 am by late September, which is not much before sunrise. This means Venus is leaving the morning sky by the Fall.
Mercury is the last planet to rise at dawn, visible until July 6. From Mercury to Saturn, all planets have been visible at dawn in the order of their distances from the Sun. All August, Mercury is visible low at dusk.
Neptune is visible in binoculars about 10 degrees west of Jupiter.
Uranus is rising at 2 am in early July, but 8 pm by late September. It moves slowly in Aries.
Vesta is an easy binocular object in Aquarius at 6th magnitude. Its Opposition is August 22.
The Moon has two beautiful approaches to Venus, on July 26 to 3 degrees distance, and on August 25 to 5 degrees distance. The latter one is visible only in bright twilight since Venus rises late.

Sunsites Library @ Community Center

Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and Cochise County Libraries for an evening of stargazing. We will observe planets, galaxies, stars, star clusters, nebulae, and lots more. Bring a comfortable chair and layers to dress warmly.

32 inch Cassegrain Project

James Webb Space Telescope

Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) for the release of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) images throughout the summer and fall. Our first event is scheduled for Saturday July 23rd at the Sunsites Library in Pearce AZ (210 N Ford St) from 1:30 – 2:30 pm. Keep an eye on our calendar for upcoming events.

James Webb Image Release

Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) will be participating with several events over the summer and fall to highlight and discuss the images  from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Our first event will be at the Sunsites Library @ 1:30 pm. Stop by and check it out. Here is some additional information about the event.

The earliest science images from the James Webb Space Telescope will be presented, including a discussion of their significance and any questions you may have about them. Learn how infrared energy will be Webb’s window on the Universe!

Event Location:

Sunsites Community Center
1216 Treasure Rd
Pearce, AZ 85625

Saturday July 23rd
1:30 – 2:30 pm

More Information: James Webb Space Telescope

 

32 inch Cassegrain Project

Planets for June 2022

By Erich Karkoschka

Saturn is the first planet to rise at night, first at midnight and almost at 10 pm by the end of June.
Jupiter is the second planet to rise, two hours after Saturn. It is up 45 degrees by sunrise.
Mars is the third planet to rise, only 2 degrees from Jupiter at the beginning of June, increasing to 19 degrees by the end of June.
Venus is the fourth planet to rise at 3:20 am. It displays the same phase as Mars in a telescope but is 50 times brighter.
Mercury is the last planet to rise at 4 am. It is just visible with naked eyes starting on the 11th and better visible between the 20th and the 30th.
Neptune is visible in binoculars about 10 degrees west of Jupiter.

Uranus is too close to the Sun at the beginning of June. On the 11th it can be found 1.5 degrees above Venus.

The Moon occults eta Leonis on June 5th between 8:05 and 9:06 pm. It is a 3rd magnitude star just above Regulus. The moon then passes the five bright planets, Saturn on the 18th, Jupiter on the 21st, Mars on the 22nd, Venus on the 26th, and Mercury on the 27th. Note that the order of the five bright planets is in the same order as their distance from the Sun. On the 23rd, 24th, and 25th, this is valid even if you include the Moon. The only day one cannot see the Moon is the 28th, although a sighting on the 29th around 8 pm is challenging at it is only 24 hours after New Moon.
Vesta is an easy binocular object at 7th magnitude, between Jupiter and Saturn. Thus the morning parade of all planets even extends to the brightest asteroid.