6:30 pm – Introductory Presentation
Title: Seasonal Night Sky Objects
Presenter: 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 use of astronomical data, images, and mythology brings the seasonal changes in the sky to life.,
7:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: Gravitational Waves and Things that Go Boom in the Night or The Start Of The Age of Multi-Messenger Astronomy
Presenter: Dr. David Sand. Dr. Sand received his undergraduate degree in Physics from UCLA and his PhD in Physics from Caltech. He is now an Assistant Professor in Astronomy at the University of Arizona, and an observational astrophysicist with many interests. He is particularly interested in time domain astronomy (how astronomical objects change in time), especially in the progenitors of supernova. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors with his wife Debbie and daughter Delilah .
In his presentation, Dr. Sand talks about the ‘time domain’ revolution in astronomy, and how we are finding new ways to study stars that merge, burp and explode by looking at their imprints on space-time via gravitational waves. He will highlight recent results on the gravitational wave detection of the merger of two neutron stars, and look to the future of this field. Dr. Sand’s interest in things that go bump in the night led to his team’s search for electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational waves.
Main Presentation:
Hands on German Equatorial Mount
Presenter: Conner Justice
Come join us for a presentation from the fundamentals of amateur astronomy. Conner Justice will present “Hands on German Equatorial Mount”.
Constellation of the Month:
Lupus
Presenter: Rob Hallberg
The “Constellation of the Month” is “Lupus”, presented by Rob Hallberg.
6:30 pm – Introductory Presentation
Title: TAAA Grand Canyon Star Party; its value and current need
Presenter: Jim O’Connor, TAAA Grand Canyon Star Party South Rim Coordinator
Learn about this year’s TAAA Grand Canyon Star Party (GCSP) on June 9-16, 2018. Thanks to planning by the GCSP South Rim Coordinator and the National Park Service Ranger Leader, and the many participants who attend, the public gains a rich education in astronomy and environmental awareness. Jim will discuss our current need for his successor as TAAA GCSP Coordinator, and share some stories that highlight the joys of participating in astronomy outreach. As he says, “you never know what life you’ll touch, or who might touch yours.” Further information about TAAA and the Grand Canyon Star Party can be found at https://tucsonastronomy.org/upcoming-events/grand-canyon-star-party/.
7:30 pm – Main Presentation
Title: Volcanic Activity in the Solar System and the Frontier of Exovolcanology
Presenter: Dr. Christopher Hamilton, Assistant Professor, Lunar and Planetary Lab, University of Arizona
Volcanic activity on Earth is primarily controlled by plate tectonics, with additional Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) fed by mantle plumes. LIPs are common on terrestrial bodies throughout the Solar System, but without plate tectonics, volcanism differs vastly on extraterrestrial worlds. Dr. Hamilton’s presentation compares and contrasts styles of volcanism within our Solar System, and their implications for our detecting and understanding highly volcanic exoplanets in other solar systems.
Solar Observing supporting Reid Park Zoo STEM.
Solar Viewing and Night Sky Network Toolkit Exhibit for Annual International Wildlife Museum Outdoors Day and 30th Anniversary.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) will be part of the Marana “Camping” under the Stars event. We will have solar and evening telescopes setup for participants to view some amazing deep-sky objects.
Join Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and the Chiricahua National Monument for an exciting evening of Stargazing under some incredibly dark skies. Observing will be at either the Faraway Ranch or Echo Canyon from 7:30 – 9:30. There will also be a talk at the Campground starting about 6:45 PM. We’ll get some amazing views of planets, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and lot more.
Evening Telescope observing supporting SARSEF Future Innovators Night. Telescopes will be set up near the gate shack at the entrance to the south parking lot.
Join the TAAA as well as many other organizations who are taking part in the UA Science City which is part of the Tucson Festival of Books. There will be lots of hands-on science stuff for kids (and adults) to do. Admission is free.
Join the TAAA as well as many other organizations who are taking part in the UA Science City which is part of the Tucson Festival of Books. There will be lots of hands-on science stuff for kids (and adults) to do. Admission is free.
