The next Evening Under the Stars at the TAAA Chiricahua Astronomy Complex (CAC) is scheduled for Saturday April 13, 2024
The gate will be open at 6:30 pm with the program starting at 7 and we will be observing until around 9:30. If you are still thinking whether to attend, this is a fantastic opportunity to view celestial objects under some incredibly dark skies using several large telescopes. We have a 40″ mirror Dobsonian, a 9″ lens Refractor, and a 14″ mirror Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope that will be open for observing. We will also have several other telescopes open to observe through.
You will see galaxies millions of light years away, star clusters, multiple star systems, nebulae, and lots more. Many of these are visible to the naked eye under our dark skies.
Definitely a family event that is a great opportunity for kids. Although it is a bit of a drive from Tucson, you can spend the day at the Chiricahua National Monument, grab something to eat, then come over to our Chiricahua Astronomy Complex (CAC) for an evening of telescope observing. CAC is only about 15 miles from the Chiricahua National Monument.
There is no cost to attend but reservations are required so we can notify you by email how to get to CAC and let you know if there are any weather issues. Please email John Kalas to make reservations:euts[at]tucsonastronomy.org not later than Wednesday April 10th (PROVIDE number of attendees, vehicles, and contact email for notification of any event changes). We will also post any updates on our Evening Under the Stars Facebook Event page, so follow the event for any real-time updates. Hopefully we will see you at CAC!
Preparing for evening viewing through the 9 inch refractorThe 40 inchGathering to hear the observing plans for the evening
Mary Turner, TAAA’s appointed Chief Observer, takes us on a tour of the summer night sky. As usual in her popular talks, Mary’s use of astronomical data, images, and mythology brings the seasonal changes in the sky to life.
7:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: From Stars to the Laboratory: Stardust in the Solar System
Speaker: Pierre Haenecour, currently a Postdoctoral research associate, will join the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in Fall ‘19 as an Assistant Professor. Pierre holds a B.S. and M.S. degree in Geochemistry from the Free University of Brussels (Belgium, 2010) and obtained a Ph.D. degree in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Washington University (St. Louis, 2016). His research background is in geochemistry and cosmochemistry, with his main focus being the building blocks and early history of the Solar System and the origin of life.
About 4.6 billion years ago, our Solar System formed from the collapse of a large molecular cloud composed of interstellar gas, ice, and dust. Although most of the original dust grains were destroyed during the Solar System’s early formation, a small portion remained intact inside asteroids and comets, and can be found today on Earth in some meteorite samples. These tiny pre-solar grains or stardust, formed in the ‘envelopes’ around stars or in material ejected by certain stellar explosions before the Solar System formed, are the only remnants of its original building blocks. Pierre will talk about pre-solar grains and present a case study on how coordinated laboratory analysis of these specks of dust provide constraints on their parent stars and formation histories.
Meeting Location
More About Location: This building is one block West of Steward Observatory. Go to West side of the round Observatory at Steward. Face West. You will be looking across a green mall area. The building on the West (direction you are facing) side of that green area is Modern Languages. It is a long building. Cross the green mall and proceed toward the South.
Evening Under the Stars Observing at the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) Chiricahua Astronomy Complex. Want to stargaze from a dark site where the band of the Milky Way is clearly visible across the sky? You see so many stars it is hard to pick out the constellations. Twice per year, we open our TAAA Chiricahua Astronomy Complex (Turkey Creek area near Chiricahua National Monument) to the public for an observing session. You can observe through a telescope with a 40″ mirror and see galaxies over 100 million light years away. We will have several large telescopes to observe with.
Our Spring “Evening Under the Stars” will be Saturday June 8th 2019. The gate will be open at 7:15 pm with activities starting 7:30 pm. Come join us for an exciting evening of astronomical observing. The site is about 90 minutes SE of Tucson near the Chiricahua National Monument. If you have friends/family that live in that area, let them know. The event is weather dependent. Reservations are required. Please email John Kalas at jckalas[at]cox.net by Tuesday June 4th for reservations and directions.
Mercury starts its best evening apparition of 2019 on May 30.
Venus rises during dawn and remains very low before sunrise.
The Moon is New on the 4th, barely visible on the 5th before 8 pm, near Aldebaran on the 6th, and near Mars on the 7th. The next first sighting of the crescent after New Moon will occur on June 4, when it will be easier to spot than on May 5th, but still be very thin.
Mars is visible during the early evening near Elnathm, passing MN35 in Gemini on the 19th.
Jupiter rises at 10 pm, when Mars sets, but by 8 pm at the end of May.
Saturn is 28 degrees east of Jupiter and a good morning object.
Dwarf planet Ceres is observable in binoculars. It is magnitude 7, moving from Ophiuchus into Scorpius.
Title: Kitt Peak Expanded Night Programs & Docent Opportunities
Speakers: Robert Wilson is the Nighttime Programs Coordinator for Kitt Peak Visitor Center, a member of TAAA since 2000, and a former TAAA Star Party Volunteer Coordinator. Gigi Giles is the new Volunteer & Membership Coordinator for Kitt Peak Visitor Center, and also a TAAA member.
Robert Wilson will talk about the exciting new night time programs at Kitt Peak for all levels of interest and expertise in astronomy. And Gigi Giles will speak about current opportunities for enthusiastic docent volunteers to lead daily tours of Kitt Peak’s telescopes.
7:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: A History of the MMT Observatory; 40 Years of Innovation and Discovery
Speaker: Dr. Grant Williams is an astronomer and the current Director of the MMT Observatory on Mt. Hopkins, in Arizona. He holds a B.A. in Physics from the University of Buffalo (New York) and a PhD from Clemson University (South Carolina). Dr. Williams has been employed at the MMT Observatory since 2002, and began his appointment as its Director on January 1, 2011. His main research focuses on the study of high mass stars and supernovae.
The MMT telescope, located on Arizona’s Mount Hopkins, has been in operation for nearly four decades. During this time, the MMT has been a leader in developing new techniques and technologies for large observatories. The MMT was originally built with six 1.8 meter mirrors, and began operating in 1979 as the third largest telescope in the world. As castings of large mirrors became more possible, the array of small mirrors was replaced by one 6.5 meter mirror, which saw first light in 2000. With the MMT currently celebrating 40 years of astronomical usage, Dr. Williams presents the telescopes greatest innovations, both in design and in discoveries.
Mercury Transit Across the Sun. Monday November 11, 2019 (Veterans Day). This is a school holiday and a work holiday for many. Don’t pass up this “once-in-a-lifetime event”. A Mercury Transit (passing in front of) will NOT be visible again in the U.S. until May 7, 2049. Transits occur only 13-14 times per century. A Mercury Transit is too small to see without a properly filtered solar telescope. When you observe a transit, you see a small black circle (the planet Mercury) moving across the Sun. This event is visible throughout the U.S. TAAA will have several solar telescopes to safely view the Transit at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park (3482 E River Rd, River & Alvernon) on November 11 from 7:30 – 11 am (Mercury mid-transit when it is crossing the middle of the Sun is at 8:20 am Tucson time). Sunrise November 11 is 6:49 am and the Transit will already be underway. You can follow the Mercury Transit event on our Facebook page (facebook.com/tucsonastronomy) for real-time weather updates. This event requires a clear view of the Sun (no cloud cover). CAUTION: Never look at the Sun without a proper solar filter or you can damage your eyes.
TAAA Stargazing to view amazing solar system and deep sky objects. You will see planets, nebulae, star clusters, double stars, and lots more. We will have several telescopes for public viewing. Observing location is Echo Canyon Trailhead. A talk is scheduled before observing Bonita Campground Amphitheater at 6:00 pm with observing from 7 – 9 pm. 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.
