ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – March 2021

AFSIG monthly meetings will be held online, starting at 6:30 P.M. The presentation is open to the general public. To view the meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy

Constellation of the Month:

Musca

Presenter:  Doug Smith

Doug Smith will start the evening off with a presentation on the constellation Musca.

Main Presentation:

Hidden Structures of the Milky Way

Presenter:  Connor Justice

Connor Justice will be giving the main presentation on Hidden Structures of the Milky Way.

ONLINE – General Meeting – March 2021

6:30 pm – Main Public Presentation

Title:  Tuning into the Radio Universe

Speaker:  Ardis Herrold works as the Education Specialist for Vera C. Rubin Observatory, (formerly known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, and being built in Chile to survey the night-sky with unprecedented depth and detail). A lifelong amateur and educator, Ardis established and advised a high school club, the Radio Astronomy Team (the RATs) for nearly three decades at Gross Pointe North High School in Michigan, where she taught. She and many of her former students have a long-established relationship with the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia, home of the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope.

This talk will provide a brief introduction to how radio telescopes operate, what sort of observations can be made with them, and the advantages and disadvantages of radio observing. Amateur astronomers can build and operate radio telescopes. Ardis will look at some of the different types of radio telescopes that can be constructed, and what resources are available for those interested in learning more or getting started in radio astronomy.

 

Solar System

Planets of the Month: JANUARY

By Erich Karkoschka

planet-of-the-month-venusVenus. After the start of morning twilight, Venus rises, but does not come up very high before dawn gets too bright. By the end of the month, Venus will appear dim. On the 11th, the think Moon illuminated only 3 percent, will be just 4 degrees from Venus.

planet-of-the-month-jupiterPlanet Parade Evening Sky (Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Moon). Jupiter and Saturn will still be closer than 2 degrees from each other until the 8th. The 7th or 8th is the last day Saturn is visible by naked eye. But don’t neglect these planets the following days! On the 9th, Mercury will be only 1.5 degrees from Saturn. To spot
Mercury, you might also need binoculars, but the close trio is easy to find because of bright Jupiter. The planet-of-the-month-saturn

following evening, Mercury will be closer to Jupiter than to Saturn and probably visible by naked eye. After the 10th, you will see Mercury and Jupiter separating very quickly. On the 13th, the Moon will be next to planet-of-the-month-mercuryJupiter and Mercury, but Saturn will be too low to add to the small configuration. Jupiter will eave the scene at the middle of the month, while Mercury will hold out until the end of the month.

 

planet-of-the-month-marsAfter these three planets have set, Mars remains up until after 1 am It moves from Pisces into Aries in an area without bright stars. With Mars transiting 70 degrees high around 7 pm, it is placed conveniently to be viewed in a telescope. It still shows features at 10 arc-seconds diameter, but not like in October when it was twice as large. On the 21st, Mars passes 1.7 degrees planet-of-the-month-uranusnorth of Uranus, a good opportunity to easily find Uranus in binoculars.

 

 

planet-of-the-month-neptune

Neptune is further west and lower. It is also fainter and more difficult to find.

 

 

Vesta, minor planet number 4, is magnitude 7 in Leo and getting ready for naked eye visibility in February and March.

planet-of-the-month-sunriseDuring January, sunset shifts by 26 minutes. It further shifts for the following five months, but the shift each month will be less than in January. On the other hand, sunrise on the 31st will be only 7 minutes earlier than on the 1st, far eclipsed by the 38 minute shift during March.

 

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – February 2021

AFSIG monthly meetings will be held online, starting at 6:30 P.M. The presentation is open to the general public. To view the meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy

Constellation of the Month:

Musca

Presenter:  Doug Smith

Doug Smith will start the evening off with a presentation on the constellation Musca.

Main Presentation:

Hidden Structures of the Milky Way

Presenter:  Connor Justice

Connor Justice will be giving the main presentation on Hidden Structures of the Milky Way.

 

ONLINE – General Meeting – February 2021

TAAA’s general member meeting will be held on February 5 and be conducted online. The meeting will start at 6:30 P.M. All presentations at this meeting are open to the public, to give potential new members a chance to learn more about TAAA. These will be followed by members-only open discussion and breakout rooms at approx. 8:30 P.M. To view the meeting,  please visit       https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/

6:30 pm – Main Public Presentation

Title:  Astronomical League (AL) observing programs

Speaker:  Douglas Smith

Douglas Smith will present a general summary of the new Astronomical League (AL) observing programs and status of our club’s AL membership and awards. The AL, comprised of over 240 amateur societies from across the USA, is dedicated to promoting the science of astronomy.

7:15 pm (Approx) – Open to Public

Title: Update on Chiricahua Astronomy Complex

Speakers:  Jim Knoll, Mike McDowell and Ed Foley

Jim Knoll, Mike McDowell and Ed Foley will provide an update on Chiricahua Astronomy Complex, TAAA’s dark-sky observing site about 100 miles SE of Tucson near the Chiricahua Mountains. The 16 acres, with incredibly dark skies, provide an opportunity for members to observe extremely faint and distant deep-sky objects. We have several large telescopes and observing pads for member use and are in the process of building a state-of-the-art Learning Center with classroom facilities and a building with sleeping rooms for overnight accommodations. This will allow us to provide first class astronomy education outreach to schools and youth groups throughout Southeastern Arizona and enhance our member observing experience. Join us for an update on this member benefit.

Title:  Annual Treasurer’s Report

Speaker:  Treasurer Mike McDowell

 Treasurer Mike McDowell will give the Annual Treasurer’s Report.

ONLINE – Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – January 2021

AFSIG monthly meetings will be held online, starting at 6:30 P.M. The presentation is open to the general public. To view the meeting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy

Constellation of the Month:

Serpens Cauda

Presenter:  none

Our constellation of the month is Serpens Cauda.

Main Presentation:

Open Floor Discussion

Presenter:  multiple

Our main topic will be an open floor discussion on any upcoming events in astronomy such as pending telescope launches and planet alignments.

 

ONLINE – General Meeting – January 2021

TAAA’s first Friday monthly meeting will be held online. The meeting will have a 6:30 P.M. Main Presentation open to the General Public. This will be followed, at approximately 7:15 P.M., by a Members-only meeting, which will feature our popular Seasonal Night Sky Presentation by Mary Turner. We’ll also have voting on proposed Constitution and Bylaw changes. To view the next meeting,  please visit       https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy

6:30 pm – Main Public Presentation

Title:  Volcanism and Cyrovolcanism in the Solar System: Examples from Earth, Mars, and Europa

Speaker Bio:  Joana Voigt received a B.S. and M.S. in Geological Sciences from the Free University Berlin, Germany in 2015 and 2017 respectively and an M.S. in Planetary Sciences from the University of Arizona in 2020. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at UA’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. A planetary geologist, she is primarily interested the eruption products on Earth, Mars, the Moon, to better understand the thermal dynamic evolution of planetary bodies.

Volcanism includes eruptions of silicate magma on terrestrial bodies, as well as in cryovolcanic (icy volcanic) deposts, which form on exceptionally cold outer solar system regions, where water can behave like magma. In Voigt’s presentation, she will discuss examples of silicate volcanism on Earth and Mars, and evidence of cryovolcanism on Jupiter’s moon Europa.

The 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption produced the largest lava flow-field in Iceland in over two centuries. This eruption helps us understand the dynamics of large silicate lava flows on Earth and on other planetary bodies. Voigt will discuss the Icelandic Holuhraun eruption, and evidence of similar, geologically recent eruptions on Mars that suggest it may still be a volcanically active world.  Voigt will also discuss the remains of a cryovolcanic eruption on Jupiter’s moon Europa. She will explain how an impact-induced melting of its crust can generate small brine pockets that lead to a cryovolcanic eruption of salty water onto the surface. Such an eruption—triggered by an impact, not a deep interior process—is fundamentally different from traditional forms of silicate volcanism.

7:15 pm (Approx) – Members-Only Meeting

Title:  Seasonal Night Sky followed by voting on Constitution and Bylaw changes

Speaker:  Mary Turner

The main presentation will be followed by a Members-only meeting, which features our popular Seasonal Night Sky presentation by Mary Turner. We’ll also have voting on proposed Constitution and Bylaw changes

MEMBERS SHOULD MAKE SURE TO USE THE ZOOM LINK, IN ORDER TO BE INCLUDED.

Virtual Jupiter/Saturn Conjunction Stream

Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a live telescope stream of the Jupiter/Saturn Conjunction. This is a once (or twice if you are young) in a lifetime event. The planets will get to within .1 degree on December 21st. They are actually separated by distance as Jupiter is 551 million miles from Earth and Saturn is about twice as far at just over 1 billion miles from Earth. They will be close enough to be a challenge to separate with just your eyes. Observing with a pair of binoculars or a telescope is ideal. The last time they were this close together and were observable was in 1226 (794 years ago). The next conjunction that will be this close will be in 2080. The pair starts December about 2 degrees apart. The distance decreases by about .1 degree every day, so observe them every evening and watch them get closer to each other. On the 21st, join us to view them through a refractor telescope.

The Conjunction will be streamed live to our Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy

32 inch Cassegrain Project

Planets of the Month: DECEMBER

by Erich Karkoschka

RARE CONJUNCTION ALERT!!

Jupiter and Saturn will get as close as .1 (1/10 of a degree) from each other on December 21st (Winter Solstice) — they are actually separated by distance as Jupiter is 551 million miles from Earth and planet-of-the-month-jupiterSaturn is abut twice as far at just over 1 Billion miles from Earth . That will be close enough to challenge being able to separate both with just your eyes. If you get a chance, observe them with your eyes, a pair of binoculars, or a telescope (great opportunity planet-of-the-month-saturnto compare both planets at high power in the same field of view). For comparison, the width of your clenched fist held at arms length is about 10 degrees. On the 21st, they set pretty shortly after sunset, so go out about 1/2 hour after sunset to view them (they will set around 7 pm). The last time they got this close together and were both observable was 1226 (794 years ago). The next conjunction that will be this close will be in 2080. The pair starts December about 2 degrees apart. The distance decreases by about .1 degree every day, so observe them every evening and watch them get closer to each other. Look for a small crescent Moon near the pair on the 16th (5 degrees below) & the 17th (10 degrees to the left).

planet-of-the-month-venusVenus rises after 5 am and is still conspicuous during dawn. Venus will be only be 1/6 of a degree from a second magnitude star (Acrab) on the morning of the 18th. This is too close to see next to bright Venus with the naked eyes, but a splendid view in binoculars.

planet-of-the-month-marsMars fades quickly this month, but is still the brightest object aside from Jupiter and Sirius after it rises late evening. Its diameter of 14 arc-seconds is still larger than its opposition diameter during less favorable oppositions, such as in 2027.

planet-of-the-month-uranusUranus is 20 degrees to the upper left of Mars at the beginning of December. It can be easily seen in binoculars but requires some practice to find it. By the end of the year, the separation to Mars is only 10 degrees.

planet-of-the-month-neptuneNeptune is well to the lower right of Mars, best observable right after dusk.

 

planet-of-the-month-moonOn the morning of December 12th, the thin lunar crescent will be only 3 degrees from Venus, most spectacular between 5:30 and 6 am. Very experienced observers may try to find them in the afternoon when the moon will occult Venus at around 2:20 pm. They will be only about 15 degrees high. The moon will definitely not be visible naked eye because it is too slim, but the view in a telescope would be good with the disappearance of Venus taking half a minute.

planet-of-the-month-meteorOn the 14th, part of Chile and Argentina will experience a total solar eclipse. Some of us had plans to observe it, but had to cancel because of travel restrictions. Instead, we can watch the Geminid meteor show the evening before without moonlight and a peak predicted to occur during that evening, the 13th. Best viewing though is the early morning hours of December 14th.

General Astronomy, Solar System

Planets of the Month: NOVEMBER

by Erich Karkoschka

planet-of-the-month-mercuryBrillant Venus outshines all the stars in the morning sky, passing Spica on the 16th.  Far below Venus is Mercury, next to Spica on the 2nd.  By the 10th at greatest elongation, it is as

 

easy to see as it can be seen planet-of-the-month-venusfrom our latitude.  It disappears at the end of the month.

 

planet-of-the-month-moonThe crescent moon stands between Mercury and Venus on the morning of the 13th, near Jupiter and Saturn on the 18th and 19th, and finally just below Mars on the 25th.

 

planet-of-the-month-marsMars is conspicuous since it is bright orange and high in the sky all evening.  It is still 20 arc-sec in diameter so that telescopes show fine detail.  However, it is receeding fast.  By the end of the
month, it is less than half as bright and only 15 arc-sec in diameter. Nevertheless, this is still better than the maximum in some oppositions.

Minor planet Flora No. 8 can be found with binoculars as magnitude 8 in Cetus, well placed in the evening sky.  It is its best showing between 1980 and 2060.

planet-of-the-month-jupiterJupiter and Saturn are well up during the early evening, transiting
just before sunset.  Saturn is 5 degrees east of Jupiter during early
November, closing to 2 degrees by the end.  We are not far from their closest

 

conjunction in centuries, on planet-of-the-month-saturnDecember 21.  On the 2nd, a telescope shows Callisto in transit as a dark spot.  On the 8th, the dark spot is the shadow of Ganymede, and on the 15th after 7pm, it is Ganymede itself.  Finally, on the 19th until 6:40 pm, it is Callisto again.

planet-of-the-month-uranusUranus and Neptune are also well up in the evening.  Neptune transits earlier than Mars.  Uranus transits at midnight in early November since it came into opposition October 31st.

 

planet-of-the-month-neptune

plutoPluto is easy to find on the 14th since it is only 41 arc-min south of Jupiter.  But it still is a challenge to identify it among hundreds
of other stars of similar magnitude, 14 mag.

 

planet-of-the-month-lunar-eclipseOn the morning of the 30th, there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse with a maximum at 2:43 am.  Since 85 % of the moon will be inside the penumbra, it will be noticeable with the northern edge significantly darkened.