Tag Archives: Solar System

Catalina State Park Stargazing

Star Party-Catalina State Park
Tucson, AZ
Viewing Location: Trailhead Picnic area at end of road inside the park.
Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Catalina State Park.  Star Party open to the Public.  Admission cost for entrance into Catalina State Park.  Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will have 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.

Oracle State Park Stargazing

Star Party-Oracle State Park
Tucson, AZ
Viewing Location: Kannally Ranch House
Information: Great dark skies just north of Tucson at Oracle State Park.  Star Party open to the Public.  Admission cost for entrance into Oracle State Park may apply.  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 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/). There is generally a talk and other events also taking place. Check the Oracle State Park website for additional information. Check TAAA Facebook Page or here for any updates as we get closer.

Astronomical Events, General Astronomy, Solar System

Planets of the Month: JULY

By Erich Karkoschka

Venus is the “Evening Star” during dusk. Seven degrees ahead in the ecliptic is Mars, but 6 magnitudes fainter than Venus. On the 12th, Venus passes Mars only .5 degrees north. On the 20th, Venus passes Regulus at 1 degree distance. Mars follows behind Venus and passes Regulus on the 29th at only .6 degrees distance. Since they set at 8:30 pm, one has to watch this when it is still bright outside. Regulus should be visible. Mars is half magnitude fainter and will come into view then too.

Mars is close to Venus this month.

Saturn rises once it is dark and it stays up all night. Its opposition will be August 1st.

20 degrees east of Mars is Jupiter. Both planets form a large triangle with Fomalhaut well below them. This is best viewed in the morning when they are higher. The shape of this triangle will change as the distance between Jupiter and Saturn decreases over the summer. The right angle at Jupiter will become a larger angle.

Uranus and Neptune are morning planets.

Mercury has a short showing until July 22. It rises at 4 am below Castor and Pollux and does not come up high before twilight gets bright.

The Moon shortly after New Moon might be barely visible on the 10th. The next day, it will be beautifully paired with Venus to its left and Mars very close to Venus. Even on the 12th, the view will be worthwhile.

General Astronomy, Musings, Solar System

Planets of the Month: MAY

by Erich Karksochka

Mercury and Venus are visible low in the west at dusk.  Mercury is almost 10 degrees higher than Venus and easier to see.  After
mid-month. their separation decreases and Venus appears far brighter than Mercury.  Mercury is visible naked eye until the 26th.  
On the 28th, as Mercury is stationary,  Venus passes by
at only half a degree distance.  In a telescope, their two disks
match in size, but Venus is 300 times brighter and 98 %
illuminated, Mercury only
13 % illuminated.
Mars is still an early evening planet, wandering through Gemini.
Jupiter rises before 2 am and comes about 30 degrees high during dawn. It is separated from Saturn by about 18 degrees.
Saturn rises before 2 am and comes about 30 degrees high during dawn. It is separated from Jupiter by about 18 degrees.
Vesta is still 7th magnitude in Leo, an easy object for binoculars.
During the morning of the 26th, the moon has its first total
eclipse in two years.  Totality is only 18 minutes long, just barely
getting fully into the Earth’s umbra, from 4:10 to 4:28, just as
dawn starts.  The setting moon partially eclipsed around
5:25 should be beautiful.
The moon is only a degree from Venus on the evening of the 12th.
Venus is easier to find than the moon since the moon is only 1 %
illuminated, Venus is essentially full.  If it is clear in the west,
the moon will be just barely visible naked eye.  Three days later, the
moon will be almost as close to Mars.