Tag Archives: Solar System

Planets of the Month: March 2025

By Erich Karkoschka

Mercury is well visible in the west around 7 pm until the 13th. A telescope shows its crescent shape. It passes Venus 7 degrees to the south on the 8th.

Venus is an evening star until the 19th and a morning star starting on the 21st. It moves 8 degrees north of the ecliptic. No other major planet gets so far from the ecliptic. It shows a 60 arc-second wide crescent during the second half of March. Unlike the lunar crescent, it wraps around the disk more than half way around. During this time, the illuminated fraction gets down to one percent.

Jupiter is high in the southwest during early evening. It is slowly separating from Aldebaran.

Mars at zero magnitude transits 83 degrees high around 8 pm. It slowly passes Pollux. Its disk of 10 arc-second diameter still shows good detail in a telescope.

Uranus is still visible in binoculars 6 degrees south of the Pleiades.

Vesta (4) rises around 10 pm in Libra at magnitude 7.

A Total lunar eclipse happens just before midnight on the 13th. The partial phase starts at 10:09 pm (Tucson time; 01:09 am on the 14th EDT, UTC – 7), followed by totality from 11:26 pm on the 13th to 12:32 am on the 14th. The partial phase ends at 1:48 am on the 14th.

Stargazing @ Historic Canoa Ranch

June 20 @ 8:00 pm 10:00 pm

Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) and Pima County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation for some stargazing at Historic Canoa Ranch.

We will observe planets, star clusters, multiple star systems, nebulae, galaxies, and lots more.

Weather dependent. For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page: Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook

FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Go to:  https://bit.ly/ticketsEE
These events fill up quickly.

Bernie Stinger

612-396-8839

Canoa Ranch

5375 S I-19 Frontage Road
Green Valley, AZ 85622 United States
View Venue Website

Stargazing at Oracle State Park

June 14 @ 8:00 pm 10:00 pm

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.
3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ 85623
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)

Bernie Stinger

612-396-8839

Canoa Ranch

5375 S I-19 Frontage Road
Green Valley, AZ 85622 United States
View Venue Website

Stargazing at Saguaro National Park – East

May 31 @ 8:00 pm 10:00 pm

Star Party – Saguaro National Park – East
3693 S Old Spanish Trail
Tucson, AZ 85730

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: Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook

Bernie Stinger

612-396-8839

Canoa Ranch

5375 S I-19 Frontage Road
Green Valley, AZ 85622 United States
View Venue Website

Stargazing at Tucson Mountain Park – Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area

May 17 @ 8:00 pm 10:00 pm

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

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

Bernie Stinger

612-396-8839

Canoa Ranch

5375 S I-19 Frontage Road
Green Valley, AZ 85622 United States
View Venue Website

Stargazing @ Picacho Peak State Park

May 3 @ 8:00 pm 10:00 pm

Truely dark skies at a scenic location – Picacho Peak State Park
Star Party is open to the Public. Event is free but park 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 at a really dark location.

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

Bernie Stinger

612-396-8839

Canoa Ranch

5375 S I-19 Frontage Road
Green Valley, AZ 85622 United States
View Venue Website

Stargazing at Oracle State Park

April 26 @ 7:30 pm 9:30 pm

Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House 

  • Star Party telescope viewing (7:30 – 9:30pm)

Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park.
3820 E Wildlife Dr., Oracle, AZ 85623
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)

Bernie Stinger

612-396-8839

Canoa Ranch

5375 S I-19 Frontage Road
Green Valley, AZ 85622 United States
View Venue Website

Stargazing at Catalina State Park

April 18 @ 7:30 pm 9:30 pm

Star Party at Catalina State Park – Tucson, AZ
Viewing Location: At the Ringtail Group Area for the Star Party. (Public parking at the Gila Monster Group Area which is a 2-minute walk from the Ringtail Group Area)
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 ((4) Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook).

Additional details will be posted here and on Facebook as we get closer to the event.

Bernie Stinger

612-396-8839

Canoa Ranch

5375 S I-19 Frontage Road
Green Valley, AZ 85622 United States
View Venue Website

Stargazing at Agua Caliente Park

April 5 @ 7:30 pm 9:30 pm

Viewing Location:  Bus Lanes @ North end of Parking Lot
Information: Great dark skies in Northeast 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.

Park gate may close before event end time, so arrive as close to start time as possible. Weather dependent.
For real-time updates, follow this event on the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Facebook Events Page: ((4) Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association | Facebook)

FREE but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. go to: https://bit.ly/ticketsEE
These events fill up fast so recommend registering early.

Bernie Stinger

612-396-8839

Canoa Ranch

5375 S I-19 Frontage Road
Green Valley, AZ 85622 United States
View Venue Website

Solar Telescope Observing @ Saguaro NP – East

March 30 @ 1:00 pm 3:00 pm

Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) and Saguaro National Park – East for some Sun gazing at the park. We will observe the Sun through telescopes with appropriate filters so you will get to see sunspots, prominences, flares, and more.
The Sun is nearing its peak in the sunspot cycle so there is lots of activity on its surface.

This event is FREE and open to the public, no reservations required.  NPS admission fees apply.

The telescopes will be set up at the Bicycle Ramada next to the Visitors Center.
This event will most likely be canceled in the event of clouds/rain.

Bernie Stinger

612-396-8839

Canoa Ranch

5375 S I-19 Frontage Road
Green Valley, AZ 85622 United States
View Venue Website