Cienega Creek Natural Preserve Stargazing

EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER.

EVENT MOVED TO CIENEGA CREEK NATURAL PRESERVE parking lot at 16000 E Marsh Station Road from 7 – 9 pm. Fire at Agua Caliente Park currently has the park closed for a short time.

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON at CIENEGA CREEK NATURAL PRESERVE.

Viewing Location:  Parking Lott
Information: Great dark skies in SOUTHEAST 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: https://www.eventbrite.com and search Agua Caliente Park Tucson. Fills up fast so recommend registering early.

Agua Caliente Park Stargazing

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.

Agua Caliente Park Stargazing

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.

Agua Caliente Park Stargazing

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. Eventbrite Registration

32 inch Cassegrain Project, Astronomical Events, General Astronomy, Solar System

Planets of the Month: AUGUST

By Erich Karkoschka

Mercury will start its visibility at dusk, but will never get very obvious. It remains close to the Sun.

Venus is the evening star during dusk. It passes Beta Virginis on the 13th at only 7 arc minutes in distance, similar to the distance between Jupiter and Saturn during the last winter solstice. But the faintness of the star will probably require binoculars to see it.

Saturn comes to opposition on August 2nd, when it rises at sunset. Around that time, its rings are very bright as compared to the planet.

Jupiter also comes to opposition this month on August 22nd. The evening before, the Full Moon will be right next to Jupiter.

On the evening of August 18th, the Moon occults Nunki, the second brightest star of the teapot asterism in Sagittarius. In Nogales, it will last from 7:47 to 8:01 pm, but in Tucson the Moon will not quite make it, although it will get very close to the star. In between there is a grazing occupation which is rare for such a bright star to get so close to us.
August is meteor month. The Perseids will peak on the night of August 11-12 when the Moon is next to Venus which sets early. It cannot be much better than that!! Look toward the east late evening or early morning toward the constellation Perseus.

The Art of Planetary Science Solar

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

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.

Reid Park Zoo Summer Safari Nights

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.

Astronomical Events, General Astronomy, Solar System

Planets of the Month: JULY

By Erich Karkoschka

Venus is the “Evening Star” during dusk. Seven degrees ahead in the ecliptic is Mars, but 6 magnitudes fainter than Venus. On the 12th, Venus passes Mars only .5 degrees north. On the 20th, Venus passes Regulus at 1 degree distance. Mars follows behind Venus and passes Regulus on the 29th at only .6 degrees distance. Since they set at 8:30 pm, one has to watch this when it is still bright outside. Regulus should be visible. Mars is half magnitude fainter and will come into view then too.

Mars is close to Venus this month.

Saturn rises once it is dark and it stays up all night. Its opposition will be August 1st.

20 degrees east of Mars is Jupiter. Both planets form a large triangle with Fomalhaut well below them. This is best viewed in the morning when they are higher. The shape of this triangle will change as the distance between Jupiter and Saturn decreases over the summer. The right angle at Jupiter will become a larger angle.

Uranus and Neptune are morning planets.

Mercury has a short showing until July 22. It rises at 4 am below Castor and Pollux and does not come up high before twilight gets bright.

The Moon shortly after New Moon might be barely visible on the 10th. The next day, it will be beautifully paired with Venus to its left and Mars very close to Venus. Even on the 12th, the view will be worthwhile.