Presenter: Stephen Ferris
This month Stephen Ferris will be presenting Carl Sagan for our astronomer of the month.
Presenter: Doug Smith
Doug Smith will be presenting Dark Matter for our main topic.
On March 23, 1993, Carolyn and Gene Shoemaker and David H. Levy discovered a comet that had been fragmented into more than 21 pieces. Two months later they learned that the comet would collide with Jupiter. The collision happened between July 16 and July 21, 1994, thirty years ago. David H. Levy’s presentation will offer a retrospective of what happened, and what humanity learned about comets, about Jupiter, and about the origin of life.
Biography: TAAA member, David H Levy, is arguably one of the most enthusiastic and famous amateur astronomers of our time. Although he’s never taken an astronomy class, he has written over three dozen books, has written for three astronomy magazines and has appeared on television programs featured on the Discovery and the Science Channels. Among David’s accomplishments are 23 comet discoveries, (the most famous being Shoemaker-Levy 9), a few hundred shared asteroid discoveries, an Emmy for the documentary Three Minutes to Impact, five honorary doctorates in Science and a PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2010) which combines astronomy and English Literature. Currently, he is the editor of the web magazine Sky’s Up!, and has a monthly column, Skyward, in the local Vail Voice newspaper. David continues to hunt for comets and asteroids, and lectures worldwide.
If you can’t make it to Totality, seek out an event in your area to view the Partial Eclipse. The entire U.S. will at least see a partial eclipse during the event. IMPORTANT: You MUST WEAR APPROVED SOLAR GLASSES to view any part of the partial eclipse or observe using a safe solar filter on a telescope or a telescope that is made specifically to observe the Sun. Be wary of knock-off glasses. Approved Solar glasses should be marked with ISO 12312-2 or 12312-2:2015. Do not use if they have scratches or holes. Purchase only from reputable sources.
In TUCSON, we will see about an 75% Eclipse and will look about like the below image at maximum.
Don’t miss the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse! If you are able to make it to the centerline to see Totality, it is certainly worth it. The centerline is a very narrow path and the only place you can see Totality. The closer you are to the middle, the longer Totality will last. The Eclipse enters the U.S. in Texas, moves through the midwest along a NE path toward the NE U.S., and exits the U.S. in Maine. Use the links below to see the Path of Totality. The Total Eclipse will look similar to the below image.
Flandrau Science Center Eclipse Viewing
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Events Calendar
How to Photograph the 2024 Solar Eclipse – by Mike Shaw, presented to the Minnesota Astronomical Society, Jan. 2024. By permission of the MAS and Mike Shaw (www.mikeshawphotography.com).
Presenter: Connor Justice
Our first presentation of the year is Choosing your First Telescope by Connor Justice.
Get ready for 4½ minutes of darkness — in the middle of the day! On April 8, the path of a total solar eclipse will track from Texas through Maine. And it’s not that far from Tucson. But where should we go? What should we look for? And, most importantly, what do the climate statistics say about our plans? Michael Bakich’s talk will cover the details about an event that won’t happen again in the 48 states until 2044.
Biography: 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 14 books on astronomy, including Atlas of Solar Eclipses: 2020-2045.
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.
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
Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House
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:
Star Party at Oracle State Park | Oracle State Park (azstateparks.com)
Star Party @ Catalina State Park
Tucson, AZ
Viewing Location: Parking lot for Bridle Trailhead at end of State Park road inside the park.
Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Catalina State Park. Star Party open to the Public. Admission fees for entrance into Catalina State Park apply.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have Solar telescopes for daytime Solar viewing and later Standard telescopes (10 or more) for nighttime astronomical viewing.
Solar viewing from 2pm to 4pm (Same Trailhead location)
Nighttime viewing from 7pm to 9pm (Same Trailhead location)
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:
TAAA Facebook Events page
Additional details will be posted here and on our Facebook page as we get closer to the event.
Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) in conjunction with Editors from the Astronomy Magazine and Pima Community College (PCC) – East Campus for some interesting astronomy talks, solar observing, and evening stargazing.
PCC – East is located at 8181 E Irvington Rd, Tucson AZ
Satellite Radio Demo (at the Observatories) – 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Astronomy Talks and Safe Solar viewing of the Sun 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
(All Talks in Room (M5-102)
Talks:
– Michael Bakich — 2023 & 2024 Annular & Total Solar Eclipses – 1:30 pm
– Alan Goldstein – “The Grand Canyon of the Sky” Correlating distance objects in the sky with the history of life on the Earth — 2:30 pm
– David J Eicher: Astronomy magazine — Astronomy and the Civil War – 3:30 pm
– David Levy — Legacy of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, 30yrs later – 4:30 pm
Planet Walk & Tour – (Starting at the Observatories) – 5;30 p.m.
Solar Observing (at the Observatories) – 2 – 5 p.m.
Night Sky Telescope Viewing (at the Observatories) 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Evening observing of planets, star clusters, multiple star systems, nebulae, galaxies, and lots more through several telescopes.
Solar & Night observing, Planet Walk, & Satellite Radio Demo will be at the south end of the PCC East Campus near the astronomy domes.
Follow our Facebook event for any real-time updates or adjustments due to weather at: TAAA Facebook Events page
