Presenter: Connor Justice
Connor Justice will be opening the meeting with a presentation on the northern constellation Aries.
Main Presentation:
Presenter: Stephen Ferris
Afterwards, Stephen Ferris will discuss the planet Mars, which is approaching Opposition later this month.
Speaker: Michael E. Bakich was Senior Editor of Astronomy magazine for 17 years before retiring in 2019. He and his wife, Holley, then realized their lifelong dream and moved to Tucson. Michael continues work for the magazine as Contributing Editor. He has authored eight books on astronomy, including Atlas of Solar Eclipses: 2020-2045.
No less than 56 solar eclipses will occur in the next 25 years. But which ones should an eclipse chaser target? The longest? The closest? In this illustrated talk, former Astronomy magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich will describe highlights to expect from the next quarter-century run of nature’s most fantastic spectacle.
Speaker: Mary Turner, PhD, TAAA’s appointed Chief Observer.
Dr. Turner takes us on a tour of the fall night sky. Her use of astronomical data, images, and mythology will bring seasonal changes in the sky to life, as always in her popular quarterly talks.
by Erich Karkoschka
During early dusk, Mercury can be spotted in the southwest after the 12th, but only if you are experienced in finding it. On the 21st, Spica is only 1 degree from Mercury, seen in binoculars.
Venus is brilliant and rises before 3 am so that it is 40 degrees
high by sunrise. It races through Gemini, Cancer, and Leo, as the winter constellations take the stage nearby.
Finally, there is a special occultation of Acrab by the moon on
the 21st. Tucson is located in the middle of the visibility area.
Is it special because Acrab is a bright star, second magnitude and it is a binary separated by 14 arc-seconds. So in a telescope one can watch the events for both components happening within seconds. Disappearance will be at 6:20 pm local Tucson, which is at sunset, when Acrab is easily visible in a telescope. Reappearance will be at7:36 pm.
Full Moon: September (1); Last Quarter (10); New (17); and First Quarter (23).
Mars rises at 9 pm at the beginning of the month but already at
7 pm at the end, when it is even brighter than Jupiter. It is even
more outstanding considering that no other bright star is anywhere close to Mars. At mid month it becomes stationary and starts its opposition retrograde motion. Its diameter increases from 19″ to 22″, perfect for viewing in a telescope. After October, we will have to wait 15 years before it gets such good again. On the 5th, the moon will pass within half a degrees of Mars around 9pm.
Jupiter and Saturn are well up all evening, still setting aftermidnight. Saturn is 8 degrees east of Jupiter all month.
They are stationary mid month. Saturn’s ring is 23 degrees open this month, the last time it is so open that far for the next 10 years. Callisto’s shadow transits over Jupiter’s disk on the 13th after 11pm. Ganymede’s shadow does the same 
on the 26th from 7:30 to 11pm.
Neptune comes into opposition on the 11th. So it can be seen all night through binoculars in Aquarius. Uranus rises further east around 9pm.
Presenter: Connor Justice
Connor Justice will be opening up the meeting with a presentation on the constellations Lacerta and Vulpecula.
Main Presentation:
Presenter: Doug Smith
Afterwards, Doug Smith will be following up with our main topic on the astronomer Johannes Kepler.
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.
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a Virtual tour of the Night Sky. We will explore planets, Nebulae, Star Clusters, Galaxies, and much more. The event will be streamed from our Facebook Page (TAAA Facebook)
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for a Virtual tour of the Night Sky using three telescopes. We will explore planets Jupiter and Saturn, Nebulae, Star Clusters, Galaxies, and much more. The event will be streamed live to our Facebook Page (TAAA Facebook). You can follow our Facebook event for any weather and other updates. FREE.
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and the National Park Service for the 31st annual Star Party. The Star Party will be June 5 – 12, 2021 and will be held virtually. You will see Solar System planets, Galaxies Far Far Away, Star Clusters — some with several hundred thousand stars, Nebulae, multiple star systems (some with as many as 6 stars), and lots more. For additional information, check out our TAAA Grand Canyon Star Party Webpage at: https://tucsonastronomy.org/upcoming-events/grand-canyon-star-party/.
To view the virtual stream, visit the Grand Canyon Facebook Page. For additional information, schedule, and links to the Facebook stream, visit the Grand Canyon Star Party website: Grand Canyon Star Party
Star Party-Agua Caliente Park
Tucson, AZ (Northeast)
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.
Star Party-Agua Caliente Park
Tucson, AZ (Northeast)
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.