The members of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association are fortunate to have access to two dark sites. One 100 miles to the South East of Tucson and one conveniently over the Tucson Mountains about 25 miles from the city at the site of the Tucson International Modelplex Association fields or TIMPA. The TIMPA site has provided members with an observing location protected from the city lights but accessible for an evening of viewing for many years.
The site includes restrooms, parking close to concrete observing pads, a 14 inch Meade telescope for trained member’s use, and on site telescopes available for loan to members, protected in a storage container.
The site is owned by the City of Tucson, and has been used by agreement by TAAA for over 25 years. It has been the site of Star Parties, Astro Imaging sessions, hosted our Astronomy Fundamentals Classes, and the ideal location for us to host observing Programs leading to awards earned by members through the Astronomical League. More details about TIMPA are available under TAAA Resources/Observing Sites
COMING SOON to the site will be a wonderful addition to the instruments at the site – a large 16 inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.
