ONLINE – General Meeting – May 2024

Zoom Only General Meeting – May 2024

TAAA’s next general member meeting will be held on Friday, May 03, 2024. The Main Presentation will start at 6:30 P.M. This will be a ZOOM ONLY meeting. TAAA members will receive a Zoom link should they wish to attend remotely. The public may attend online through our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/. It will be posted to YouTube afterwards.

Presentation:  TAAA Member Image Sharing

Our May 2024 meeting features TAAA members sharing presentations of astronomy interest. Among these will be several April 8th eclipse experiences, (from the sublime to the disappointing), with visuals. If you would like to participate, please contact Jim Knoll by April 30th at jimknoll@tucsonastronomy.org. Also, contact him with any questions.

Election:

 At this meeting we will also have results of our 2024 Leadership Election (online ballots to be sent out on April 26).

Credit: Voxvine.com for NASA April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

Stargazing at Saguaro NP – East

Star Party – Saguaro National Park – East
Tucson, AZ

Great dark skies on the East side of Tucson at Saguaro National Park – East.
Star Party is open to the Public. Event is free but NPS admission fees apply.

The 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: TAAA Facebook Events page

Stargazing at Oracle State Park

Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House 

  • Star Party telescope viewing (8:00 – 10:00pm)

Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park.
Star Party open to the Public. Admission fees for entrance into Oracle State Park apply.

Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have several telescopes for astronomical viewing. We will be observing the Moon + Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, and Star Clusters.
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 event page:  TAAA Facebook Events page

Also: Check the Oracle State Park website for additional information and activities that day:
Star Party at Oracle State Park | Oracle State Park (azstateparks.com)

Stargazing at Anamax Park, Sahuarita AZ

Star Party – Anamax Park, Sahuarita, AZ
Viewing Location: Field 4 in the middle of the soccer field
Great dark skies just South of Tucson.
Star Party open to the Public.

Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have telescopes for astronomical viewing.
We will observe Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Star Clusters and lots more.

Weather dependent.  For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page (https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/).

Planets of the Month – April 2024

by Erich Karkoschka

The New Moon on the 8th brings a partial solar eclipse in Tucson during late morning It is total on a path from Mazatlan in Mexico, through Texas, to the Great Lakes. The following day, the thin crescent can be seen just before 8 pm.

Venus rises during the dawn and may be visible naked eye, at least during the first half of the month.

Mars is rising earlier, but it still is not very high when dawn starts.

Jupiter is visible in the west after dusk. By the end of the month it sets at 8 pm, just as it gets dark.

Saturn starts the month just to the lower left of Mars. On the 10th, both planets are only half a degree apart from each other. Both have the same brightness, but not the same color. By the end of the month, Saturn is much higher than Mars, and its rings are quite narrow.

Uranus gets passed by Jupiter on the 20th when they will be only half a degree apart from each other.

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is in the vicinity of Jupiter and may be fifth magnitude. It is heading south and is getting really low after mid-month.

Stargazing at Tucson Mountain Park – Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area

Star Party @ Tucson Mountain Park – Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area
Tucson, AZ (right next to Sonoran Desert Museum)

Viewing Location: Small side loop on East side of main loop.
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: TAAA Facebook Events page

FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Go to this link to register:  https://bit.ly/ticketsEE
These events may fill up early.

Stargazing at Saguaro NP – East

Star Party – Saguaro National Park – East
Tucson, AZ

Great dark skies on the East side of Tucson at Saguaro National Park – East.
Star Party is open to the Public. Event is free but NPS admission fees apply.

The 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: TAAA Facebook Events page

Stargazing at Catalina State Park

Star Party-Catalina State Park – Tucson, AZ
Viewing Location: Trailhead Picnic area at end of road inside the park.
Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Catalina State Park.
Star Party open to the Public.  Admission fee for entrance into Catalina State Park.

Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have approximately 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 Tumacacori National Historical Park

Join TAAA and the National Park Service for an evening of stargazing at Tumacacori National Historical Park .  Address below.
The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) will have several telescopes with operators for astronomical viewing.
We will observe Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Star Clusters and lots more. Great opportunity to look through a variety of telescopes.
Event is free but NPS admission fees apply.
Weather dependent, check back here prior to event for possible updates on day of event.