by Erich Karkoschka
Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – April 2019
Constellation of the Month:
Centaurus
Presenter: Kay Lehman
Kay Lehman will start the night with a talk about the southern constellation Centaurus.
Main Presentation:
Astronomy and The Onion
Presenter: Doug Smith
For our main topic, Doug Smith will be discussing Astronomy and The Onion.
General Meeting – April 2019
6:30 pm – Introductory Presentation
Title: Seasonal Night Sky Objects
Speaker: Mary Turner
Mary Turner, TAAA’s appointed Chief Observer, takes us on a tour of the spring night sky. As usual in her popular talks, Mary’s uses astronomical data, images, and mythology to bring seasonal changes in the sky to life.
7:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: An Introduction to Slit-less Grating Spectroscopy
Speaker: Rhode Island native and retired Astronomy and Physics Professor David Iadevaia, has taught middle school/high school physical science/physics up through university astronomy. In 1983, he became Instrument Specialist for the Echelle spectrograph at the MMT on Mt. Hopkins. The next year, he began a 30-year teaching career at Pima Community College. His accomplishments there include designing the Professor Pima Portable Planetarium Program, and establishing Pima’s East Campus Observatory, the first teaching observatory in Arizona. In 1986, he received the Tucson Trade Bureau Outstanding Faculty Award. David has been a lifelong amateur astronomer and as a retiree he’s returning to his astronomy roots.
David will present an introduction to low resolution, slit-less grating spectroscopy. He’ll begin with a brief overview of the nature of light with such concepts as Wien’s Law and the Doppler Effect as they apply to spectroscopy. Spectra taken with a slit-less grating spectroscope will be shown, along with an explanation of how to interpret the data in spectra. David will talk about the equipment needed to capture spectra, and the software available to reduce a spectrum’s data for research. A brief overview of the growing international community of spectroscopists will be included.
Vail Stargazing
Star Party supporting Vail community 4th of July Celebration. Observing will be behind the Vail Lutheran Church.
School, Non-Profit, & Public Events
Planets of the Month: February 2019
by Erich Karkoschka
Tucson Hebrew Academy
Solar Observing & NSN Toolkit for the annual Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) event.
THA STEM Event is open to the public.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have a couple telescopes to safely view the Sun throughout the event. We may also have an astronomy interactive activity as part of the STEM event.
Tucson Festival of Books
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes to safely view the Sun as well as interactive exhibits for families. Activities will be in the Science City Tent. Interactive activities will focus on the Moon and the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 Landing.
Activities from 8:30 am to 5 pm each day.
Tucson Festival of Books
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes to safely view the Sun as well as interactive exhibits for families. Activities will be in the Science City Tent. Interactive activities will focus on the Moon and the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 Landing.
Activities from 8:30 am to 5 pm each day.
Astronomy Fundamentals Meeting – March 2019
THIS MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE UA EDUCATION NORTH BUILDING (ADDRESS AND MAP BELOW).
DETAILED LOCATION, PARKING AND ACCESSIBILITY INFO AVAILABLE ON THE AFSIG MAIN EVENT PAGE (FOUND ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE TAAA WEBSITE).
Constellation of the Month:
Carina
Presenter: Doug Smith
Doug Smith will be presenting Carina as the constellation of the month.
Main Presentation:
Black Holes
Presenter: Connor Justice
Connor Justice will be discussing Black Holes.