32 inch Cassegrain Project

Planets of the Month: January 2023

by Erich Karkoschka

Venus is becoming a more obvious evening “star” since it sets past dusk by mid-month.

Saturn is higher in the southwest at dusk, but then gets passed by Venus on the 22nd at less than 0.4 degrees separation, the closest planet pair this year. The brightness difference of four magnitudes makes Saturn look unusually faint.

Jupiter follows higher with a transit (highest in the sky) just before sunset. On the 28th, Ganymede’s shadow is visible from sunset to 8:30 pm.

Uranus and Neptune are in the vicinity of Jupiter. Neptune is 8 degrees to the west of Jupiter, which is the current minimum. Uranus is 45 degrees to the east of Jupiter, but will get close to it this summer.

The month after a great occultation of Mars by the moon, we get another one with the same planet and very conveniently high in the evening sky. Mars will be occulted on the 30th from 9:44 to 10:51 pm, with the disappearance occurring at the dark limb so that the event is easy to watch naked eye. Disappearance and reappearance occurs gradually over some 15 seconds each time due to the 11 arc-second diameter of Mars. The reappearance is interesting to watch in a telescope.

Comet ZTF will get circumpolar at the end of the month and move at 6 degrees per day. Its brightness may peak at magnitude 5 at the last day of the month.

Oracle State Park

Star Party-Oracle State Park
Tucson, AZ
Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House
Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park. Star Party open to the Public. Admission cost for entrance into Oracle State Park may apply. 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/). There is generally a talk and other events also taking place. Check the Oracle State Park website for additional information. Check TAAA Facebook Page or here for any updates as we get closer.

Stargazing Canoa Ranch

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).

Chiricahua National Monument Stargazing

TAAA Stargazing to view amazing solar system and deep sky objects from a Dark Sky Park. You will see planets, nebulae, star clusters, double stars, galaxies millions of light years away, and lots more. We will have several telescopes for public viewing.

Observing location will be at Faraway Ranch just inside the entrance gate. Please try to use red light flashlights and minimize white light (to include cell phones) that will hinder your night vision.

Chiricahua National Monument website: https://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm. Weather dependent — Follow the event on the TAAA Facebook page to get weather and other updates: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/.

Check back here or on our Facebook page closer to the event for any updates.

Stargazing Tucson Mountain Park – Ironwood Picnic Area

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 (Eventbright) and search for: “Stargazing” and “Ironwood Picnic Area”, location: “Tucson” (event may not show up until about two months prior). These events may fill up early.

Tucson Astronomy Festival

Tucson Astronomy Festival at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park
Telescopes, Exhibits, Fun!

Brandi Fenton Memorial Park (Ramada #1)

ASTRONOMY FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Safe Solar viewing of the Sun – 3 to 6:30 PM

Hands-On Interactive Exhibits for Kids – 3 to 6:00 PM
Door Prizes will be given away at 6:30 PM – winners must be present
——-Grand Prize: Small Telescope——–
Other prizes for the entire family

What’s up in the night sky talk – 7 to 7:30pm
Night Sky Viewing – 7:30 PM to 9 PM
Kid-Friendly Scope viewing throughout the evening

No charge for any activities, donations will be accepted.

Bring your own telescope for help in setting it up and operating the scope.

Stargazing at 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.

Stargazing at Aqua 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 “Stargazing” and location “Tucson”. These events fill up fast so recommend registering early. Event may not show up until about two months out.

Stargazing Aqua Caliente Park

32 inch Cassegrain Project

Planets of the Month: December 2022

By Erich Karkoschka

Saturn is still high in the southwest at dusk and sets late in the evening.

Jupiter follows higher with a transit at dusk and sets just past midnight. On the 15th, we can watch Ganymede’s shadow until 8:18 pm (MST). On the 22nd, Ganymede transits Jupiter’s disk until 7 pm with its shadow following starting at 9:44 pm. On the 29th, Ganymede transits from 8:11 to 11:07 pm. All these transits occur on Thursdays.

Mars reaches opposition on the 7th, at the same time as the Full Moon occurs. Furthermore the moon occults Mars! The event lasts from 7:32 to 8:27 pm, a great sight even with just your eyes. The disappearance and reappearance of Mars lasts almost a minute. Have your telescope ready for this rare event! Mars shows a polar cap and details on its surface quite well due to its 17 arc-seconds diameter.

Venus can be found in the southwest during early dusk.

Mercury joins Venus from the 6th to the 30th, to the upper left of Venus. The prettiest sight is on the 24th when the crescent moon is next to both planets.

Uranus is just past opposition and well placed almost all night.

Neptune is still observable during the first half of the night 6 degrees west of Jupiter.