Home | About the TAAA | Calendar | Grand Canyon Star Party
Info for Teachers | Sky Guide | Links
Desert Skies
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
Volume XLVII, Number 12, December, 2001
Contents
Beginner's Lecture: Dec. 7, 6:30 pm at the LPL Lecture Hall. This month's topic is Astronomy Related Projects In Woodworking by Steven Ratts.
General Meeting: Dec. 7, 7:30 pm at the LPL Lecture Hall. Topic is Deep Surveys: Exploring the Cosmic Infrared Background by Herve Dole, PhD.
Board of Director's Meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 11, 7:00 pm at Steward Observatory Conference room N305..
Star Parties and Events:
Newsletter Schedule: Deadline for articles: Mon, Dec. 10 Printing: Mon, Dec. 17. Folding Party: Tues, Dec. 18. Mailing: Wed, Dec. 19. The newsletter is mailed at least one week prior to the following month's General Meeting.
Office Name Phone Email
------ ---- ----- -----
President Andy Cooper 795-3585 acooper@pobox.com
Vice-President Thom Peck 327-7825 thomas.peck@optics.arizona.edu
Secretary Jane Tongate 623-4056 triton@dakotacom.net
Treasurer Terri Lappin 579-0185 tklappin@earthlink.net
Member-at-Large Robert Callanan 818-1315 tucsonbac@aol.com
Member-at-Large Bill Lofquist 297-6653 wlofquist@aol.com
Member-at-Large Steve Peterson 326-5303 swpeterson@theriver.com
Chief Observer Wayne Johnson 586-2244 mrgalaxy@juno.com
Newsletter Editor George Barber 822-2392 barbergj@flash.net
Star Parties Maggie & Jeff Buzek 760-4578 jeffbuzek@aol.com
AL Correspondent Doug Smith 797-0663 dsmith71@ix.netcom.com
Astrophoto SIG Dean Ketelsen 293-2855 ketelsen@as.arizona.edu
Computers SIG Rodger Tanner 574-3876 rtanner@seds.lpl.arizona.edu
TAAA Mission Statement
We are a resource for anyone interested in astronomy. It is our mission to nurture a person's natural curiosity about the night sky. By giving people a knowledge and understanding of astronomy, we enhance their enjoyment of the sun, moon, and stars. Through our public activities and school evening observing sessions, we bring astronomy to persons of all ages. Our regular meetings and observing sessions offer members a forum to meet others with similar interests and experiences and to learn from one another.
Membership in the TAAA
Annual Dues
Family Membership includes two adults plus minor children. Persons under 18 may join at a special Reduced Family Membership rate ($15/yr) upon parental or guardian acknowledgement of participation in TAAA activities. Call the Treasurer to request the required form.
Options (add to above membership rates)
Donations are accepted for any of the TAAA funds: SA-IDA/Light Pollution, TIMPA, Education, 30" Telescope & Land, or General Fund.
Renewal Information
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
PO BOX 41254
Tucson, AZ 85717
Mailing Address or Email Changes
Send changes to the above address or email the treasurer.
Desert Skies Publishing Guidelines
All articles, announcements, news, etc. must be submitted by the newsletter deadline noted above. Materials received after that date will appear in the next issue. The editor retains all submissions unless prior arrangements are made. Partial page submissions should be submitted in Word compatible files via e-mail or on a floppy disk. Full-page articles, artwork, and photos can be submitted camera ready. We will not publish slanderous or libelous material! Send submissions to:
c/o George Barber
15940 W. Ridgemoor Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85736
or e-mail: barbergj@flash.net
Desert Skies is published monthly by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, PO Box 41254, Tucson, Arizona 85717
As I sit here writing I am thinking more of tomorrow's Leonid meteor shower. By the time you read this it will be history and we will know if the predictions for a spectacular show were true, or a dud.
This is one of those times we get put on the spot to predict the future. So many things in astronomy can be predicted to the precise moment, we know a century ahead exactly what will happen. Eclipses, transits, or even cometary collisions are known well ahead of time. Meteors are something else, we observe past behavior, make guesses about particle size, solar wind pressure, speed of ejection from the comet nucleus, put it all into a mathematical model and make a scientific WAG (ask me later).
Now I must admit that the people making these guesses are getting much better lately, and have had three previous years to work on this pass of the Leonids to refine their technique. But the predictions are still likely to be wrong, wildly either way. They got last year pretty much spot on, but that was an easy one with only one meteor stream involved. This year is much more complex, with multiple streams involved.
So I read all the predictions, check the predictions for last year and how well they came out and try to make a reasonable judgment on the issue. For it is certain that everyone I know asks me about the meteors this November. Co-workers who know I know a little about astronomy, novice club members, at least a hundred e-mails over the last month, and at least two camera crews (National Geographic and an un-named New York documentary crew). I find myself prefacing every answer with "Our best estimate..." or something similar and explain that meteor prediction is not an exact science. But then I go on to explain that the potential is there for a once in a lifetime event and you really should go out to see whatever happens.
Now everyone puts the predictions to the test. For us the risk is minor, we spend a night out in the dark waiting for the show. I would probably be out anyway; it is a good dark-of-the-moon weekend to spend under the stars. For others the risk is a bit higher, we will be joined by a dozen or more fellow amateurs flying in from across the nation to see the show. For the science of astronomy the risk is even higher, it is another chance for the proverbial egg on the face that so often discredits our science in the eyes of the general public. The same public that so readily forgets the successes that just seem commonplace, and remembers failures for decades. Ask any non-astronomer friend about Halley's comet, of the two failed Mars missions two years ago.
Lets hope the wizards of meteor prediction have got it right this time.
Andrew
NOTICE!!! This month's lecture will be held in the LPL Lecture Hall! (see club news)
Beginners Lecture
Astronomy Related Projects In Woodworking
Speaker: Steven Ratts
Steven will be presenting three of his creations: a parallelogram binocular mount, a variable height observing chair and a tripod for a Nexstar 5 or other similar small scope. Plans for each of these will be included, except the first one, which is from a book. Steve will also present references to other resources on the web and in print which may be useful to amateurs who are willing and interested to try their hand at the "home made" side of our hobby.
Main Lecture
Exploring the Cosmic Infrared Background
Speaker: Herve Dole, PhD.
How did galaxies form? How have they evolved? Can we observe their formation and evolution? In order to answer these questions, astronomers have performed various deep surveys in an effort to detect the faintest (and youngest) galaxies. Recently it has become possible to carry out observations in the infrared (from space) and in the sub-millimeter part of the spectrum, where most of the galaxies actually emit photons. This lecture explores what we have learned from these surveys and why they complement the ones performed in the visible (e.g. with HST). Slides from this lecture will be available about the week after the lecture at: http://mips.as.arizona.edu/~hdole/vulgarisation/confs_hd.html
Dr Herve came to Tucson from the University Paris-South in France. Dr Herve's astronomical background is in cosmology. He arrived in Tucson about a year ago to work on the SIRTF/MIPS team at the U of A. He founded an amateur astronomy association in France and was the president for 6 years before he left. In France he enjoyed walking in the gardens at the Versailles Palace. Here in Tucson, he enjoys hiking in the desert and looking for petroglyphs. He states "as an amateur astronomer, I feel in paradise at Empire Ranch, even with my very small 90 cm ETX telescope with a piggy back camera." Dr Herve recently joined the TAAA. We look forward his lecture.
Important Notice Regarding December Meeting
There will be a Math final underway on in our normal meeting place this month. Unless you are taking the Math final, we suggest you read on...
The December meeting will be held in the lecture hall at the KUIPER SPACE SCIENCES BUILDING, ROOM 308. (This is the same place we met last June.) The Kuiper Space Sciences building (also called the Lunar and Planetary Lab) is located immediately EAST of FLANDRAU Planetarium on the north side of the University Mall. Enter the building through the front doors located at the southwest corner of the building. Take either the stairway or the elevator up one flight to the 3rd floor. Go between the elevator and the stairway (not through the double doors) and into the "Atrium" (a large lobby without plants). The entrance to the lecture hall is off the atrium. Signs will be posted to guide you to the lecture hall. The Kuiper Lecture Hall hasn't suffered the abuse that the Steward hall has; try to preserve its clean appearance by not bringing food and drinks into the lecture hall.
Handicapped access to the building is by way of a sidewalk going north from the Mall to the east end of the building, then across the front (south) side of the building, and to the front doors. Alternatively, handicapped people can be dropped off at the back (northwest) loading dock area where there are two ramps (one along side Flandrau and the other into the loading dock area. There are some handicapped parking spaces on Hawthorne at the North side of the building.
We will return to the Steward Observatory Lecture Hall for the January meeting.
TAAA Holiday Party
By Liz Kalas
Update: David Levy will be one of the speakers at this year's Holiday Party. The December 7th monthly meeting will be your last chance to make reservations for the party.
This year's TAAA Holiday Party will be held in the Rillito Room at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club on Friday, December 14th, starting at 6 pm. The club is located at 4001 N. Country Club Rd. and the entrance to the club parking lot is at the end of Country Club Road where it dead ends a few short blocks north of Fort Lowell Rd. There is parking to the left or right as you approach the club grounds. The entrance to the club is to the left and through an archway of tall hedges.
The menu has an Italian flare this year. The meal will start with an antipasto and fruit appetizer from 6 pm to 7 pm., then dinner at 7 pm. For a dinner entree you will have a choice of either Chicken Marsala or Chicken Picotta. The Marsala is wine and mushroom sauce and the Picotta is lemon and caper sauce. Please indicate your choice when signing up for the party. Included with the dinner will be a tossed salad with bread sticks, vegetarian lasagna, Italian vegetable sautŽ, non-alcoholic beverage, and cookies. A cash bar will be available. The cost is $18.00 per person. Sign up for the party at the December monthly TAAA meetings or call me at 620-6502. Seating is limited to 75 people.
Speakers are needed for this event. If you are interested in giving a 15-minute talk or showing some slides, please contact John Kalas at 620-6502.
Member News
We welcome the most recent members who have joined the TAAA: John and Nancy Howard, Marilyn Schall, Mel Slanina, Ray and Nora Toscano. Glad to have you join! If you haven't already, be sure to pick up a new members pack at a meeting. Hope you'll make it to our star parties or meetings so we can all get to know you.
We say goodbye to one of our top ten longest running members (since 1980!). Robert McDaniel of Green Valley has decided to not renew his membership indicating increasingly deteriorating eyesight as the reason. We wish him the best.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dr Ed Vega and his family at the news of his hospitalization. (See Dean's article elsewhere in this newsletter.)
L. Eduardo Vega Undergoes Surgery
By: Dean Ketelsen
Many of you know Ed Vega from his years of hosting the TAAA spring picnics or meteor observing parties, or school groups, or dark sky meetings or other events at his Vega-Bray Observatory in Benson. He has been hospitalized since the 10th and underwent surgery on the 14th. While his condition is serious, doctors and family are hoping to get him home in time for the Leonids on Saturday. I am sure that hearing from his many friends from the TAAA and around the state would help cheer him and his family. His new mailing address is:
Ed Vega
11331 E. Placita Rancho Grande
Tucson, AZ 85730-5808
Calendars for 2002
Our supply of 2002 calendars is getting smaller and smaller. This may be the last month they will be available. Kalmbach Publishing who publishes Astronomy Magazine produces these stunning calendars each year. The cost is $10 each (~$2 off the regular selling price), or $9 each for more than one. They make great gifts. This calendar, which features a full-color astronomical photo, image, or painting each month, has daily information about astronomical events, both historical and observational...plus space for adding important events you need to remember. This year there are a number of European Southern Observatory images and a super Hubble image of the area near Eta Carina.
Proceeds from the sale of these calendars will be used appropriately as decided by the board. Thank you to all who support the TAAA through the purchase of the yearly calendars.
January 2002 Newsletter
Our deadline for the first newsletter in 2002 has been shifted up a week, due to the Christmas and New Years holidays. This will allow us to mail the newsletter so it arrives to everyone on time, as well as giving everyone a break to celebrate the holidays.
TAAA Email List-Server
In the next couple weeks, TAAA members with email will receive an email inviting them to join the new TAAA Email List-Server. The board strongly encourages those with email to subscribe to this list-server. This will allow better communication between the TAAA and our membership. It is designed for one-way messaging; only board members and a selected few individuals will be allowed to send messages. It is not a chat list and replies will not go to the list. We're expecting 5 or so messages to be sent per month, so it really should be a low volume list.
The TAAA Board of Directors has chosen Yahoo(r)! Groups to host the list-server. Members wishing to subscribe to the list should follow the directions in the invitation. (If you do not want to join the list-server then do nothing.) Subscribing is as simple as replying to the invitation email message. You will then receive occasional email messages regarding late breaking news (stuff that didn't make the newsletter), last minute information about star parties, and other information that might be of interest to TAAA members. Yahoo(r)! Groups are free of charge but it is supported by advertising. Each message will include an ad at the bottom. If you decide you don't want to remain a member of the list-server it is easy to unsubscribe. Each message will include directions for unsubscribing.
In addition, TAAA members may want to register with Yahoo(r)! Groups (www.yahoogroups.com, click on "Register"). You will be asked to supply a login and a password. By registering, you will have access to the Yahoo(r)! Groups website for TAAA members. At this website, you will find useful information such as the TIMPA rules and procedures, a FAQ page, and a place where TAAA members can upload photos. Registering with Yahoo(r)! Groups are voluntary. (TAAA members who are already Yahoo(r)! Groups members need not register again.) Before registering, the TAAA Board encourages members to read the Yahoo(r)! Groups Privacy Policy. Links to this policy can be found throughout the Yahoo(r)! Groups website.
If the TAAA has a current email address for you, then you should receive this invitation in the next couple weeks. If you do not receive the invitation by mid-December, email Terri at tklappin@earthlink.net and supply her with your email address. If you have any questions about this list server, please contact Terri at the above email address or by phone at 579-0185.
Leonid Meteor Storm 2001
By: Paul Olson
To say that TAAA had the treat of a lifetime on the night of November 17th is a severe understatement! WOW, Gosh, OH GOD, Incredible, Fantastic, Amazing!....We Simply ran completely out of expletives at the TIMPA site that night as 200 people or so had the opportunity to witness one of the rarest events in nature...A METEOR STORM.
I began my evening at Sewell Elementary School with Club members Andrew Keefer and Ewin Whitaker. The school is heavily involved in Project Astro, for which, TAAA has provided many Amateur and Professional astronomers to serve on a volunteer basis in elementary school classrooms. We meet with the kids sometimes as often as weekly to provide lessons and experiments in basic astronomy.
The School and the Partner Astronomers decided to have a LEONID METEOR SHOWER Sleep Over on the school grounds in eastside Tucson. Approximately 60 children in grades 3 and 4 attended the all night event accompanies by 4 Teachers, 3 Astronomers and about 30 parents as well.
We began by hearing from Mr. Whitaker who lectured for 30 minutes on his experiences with NASA and the planning of Lunar Missions in the 60's and 70's. He showed the children a U.S. Flag that had actually been to the Moon on one mission.
After this everyone went out in the dark to the playground where 5 Telescopes provided the children and adults alike with stunning views of Saturn, Jupiter, and other wonders of the night sky, which can be seen from within the limits of the light pollution at 5th and Wilmot Roads.
We had a surprise visit from KGUN 9 News who interviewed several children and Paul Olson on the upcoming Meteor shower.
After the early night event, about midnight or so, I hightailed it out to TIMPA arriving about 1AM. The children remained at the school and were wowed, and awed by the Leonids, which Andrew Keefer unofficially counted at approximately 500 Meteors per hour.
At TIMPA, 1AM - Cloud cover over approximately 75% of the sky lead many to pack it in early.... but those who stayed.... were stunned speechless..... in the hours to come.
By 2:30 and the Meteor count was up in the 500-600 area and the clouds magically cleared over our location.....By 2:50 AM we were counting meteors at the rate of 25+ per minute. There simply wasn't anywhere in the sky where you could look for over 10 seconds and not see a Meteor! Our very unofficial count was in the 2000 - 2500 meteor per hour Range! I found myself asking if anyone had any extra expletives as I had run out!
Seeing a few of the sometimes reserved and serious astronomers going literally horse in voice from wonder at the spectacle was in amazing experience.
Some of the fireballs, especially one in Orion about 3:30 AM, left trails, which glowed and twisted in the upper level winds for as long as 5-10 minutes at a time.... and there were multiple fireballs coming in groups. It was not unusual to see between 3-8 meteors at one time!
By 5:30 AM the count had again dropped to around 500 Meteors per hour. It was truly fascinating to see car lights going on and see people leaving because there were ONLY 8 Meteors per minute happening at that time (Oh well, another Meteor, time to go home to bed I guess!!!)
I left the site at 6:00 AM and returned to Sewell Elementary where the children were just awakening with their parents at 7:15 AM! Each of the adults and children awoke to recall the wonders they had witnessed the night before. It was an Astronomy Dream night for anyone who had the tenacity to stay up for the event.
Those of us who had the opportunity to witness this incredible event will surely never forget the Night of November 17th, 2001.
For me personally, it was probably the most incredible night that I have ever spent under the stars! I can't wait to hear the official counts and to get those PICTURES DEVELOPED!
Use of the TIMPA Site
Just a reminder that anyone wishing to use the TIMPA Site for a time other than the regularly scheduled monthly club star party must notify either Andrew Cooper or John Kalas of their intentions. Please review the TIMPA Site Use Procedure in the TIMPA Site News section of this newsletter.
WEBSITES: TRIPS ON THE INTERNET SUPER-SKYWAY
By Rik Hill
On Dec. 14 at 14:34 Tucson time, with the sun only 26 deg. altitude, 24.3% of the sun's diameter (13.7% of the area) will be obscured by the moon in what for the mid-Pacific Ocean will be an annular solar eclipse. This eclipse will begin at 13:25 and end at 15:37 Sky & Telescope had a nice diagram in a recent issue, but where did they get the information for their magazine? For that matter, where did I get all that Tucson specific information!? One of their sources is Dr. Fred Espinak at the Goddard Spaceflight Center. For years he has produced eclipse ephemerides, reports and other ephemerides well in advance of events. This work is invaluable for those planning trips to see such remarkable events. In recent years he has maintained a website with all the relevant information for given events. All this can be found on his Eclipse Home Page at:
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html
Browse down the page and see the wealth of eclipse information available on the page. It's truly a one-stop shopping spot for eclipse planning. For the eclipse mentioned above go down the page to 'Solar Eclipses: 2001 - 2005' and click on the one for Dec. 14. Here you will find all the information you will need to plan your observing of this eclipse from home ground in Arizona complete with maps and times for various cities.
Now while this is useful for this particular eclipse, note on the Home Page that there is information for eclipses through 2050! This information has geographic plots, and times so you can plan trips. And if you are really into long range planning he has the Five Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses-1999 to +3000 and a similar one for Lunar Eclipses!! There is one longer catalog but that is only for "Very Long Eclipses" to the year 7000.
One of the useful functions for this resource for me has been to pin down eclipses I saw as a teenager and younger. Unfortunately, while I was in the military and my journals were in the care of a sibling, and the first one from 1961-65 was lost. So I only have the memories to go by. Having things like the pages entitled, "Solar Eclipses: 1961 - 1970" and "Lunar Eclipses: 1961 - 1970" is very helpful in pinning down the dates and what I saw. Too often these memories were muddled between a 25% and 45% eclipse but this kind of resource can straighten all that out.
At the bottom of the Home Page Dr. Espinak has a great list of other eclipse sites. You will easily blow a whole evening looking at these and some of the spectacular images by other amateurs. I highly recommend this to you.
So, in short, for the western U.S. go to:
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/ASE2001/ASE2001city1/ASE2001city1w.html
then to see the circumstances for Tucson see:
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/ASE2001/ASE2001city1/TucsonAZ.GIF
As always, if you know of a particularly good website you would like mentioned here, drop me a line at rhill@lpl.arizona.edu
Halloween Reports
Nick Applegate provided the following report of his Halloween star party...
We did the usual set up on the sidewalk in the driveway in front
of our house. (This is our 4th or 5th year doing this.) We had
about the same size crowd as last year - good for one large bag
of candy.
There were lots of comments:
"Wow", "Great view", etc.
"You do this every year; we look forward to it."
"We were talking about this in the office today."
"How much does a scope like this cost?"
"Don't worry he's on medication for the pink-eye." (Yes, this
was really said.)
All seemed to consider it one of the highlights of the evening.
It also turned out to be a meeting place for neighbors that had
not previously met. Several came back for second and third looks.
Needless to say, the eyepiece needed and got a good cleaning.
Also needless to say, I don't use my best eyepiece for this event.
Fun for all and worth doing again.
And from Terri Lappin...
Trees were a problem for us this year! Mars was blocked by one of our trees and we couldn't see the moon until after 8pm when it rose over the neighbor's trees. Being so late I decided to set up my 3" refractor...takes only a few minutes to do and can be easily moved into position. In general, the turnout for Halloween was down from past years and after 8pm only older kids were left wandering the neighborhood. We had about a dozen teens during the hour that the scope was up, but they all enjoyed the view of the full moon. About 8:45pm a group of 5 young men came by and stated that they were "the only ones left on the street" and would I give them lots of candy. Well, I was certain they were correct and I still had a large bowl of candy left. So, each one left with three big handfuls of candy and a memorable view of the moon!
Steward Observatory Public Evening Lecture
Since 1924 Steward Observatory has been hosting public evening lectures in astronomy. The last lecture of this semester will be held on Monday, Dec 3rd 7:30pm. Dr. Roger Angel will present "In Search of Other Earths: The Next Generation of Ground and Space Telescopes". This will be held in the new Integrated Learning Center, Room ILC 120. Following this talk, the 21-inch telescope will be available for viewing the night sky (weather permitting). The lecture and the use of the telescope are free of charge and open to the general public.
Northern Arizona Star Party
Prescott Astronomy Club
By: John Soule
On the night of Friday, March 14, there was a group of amateur astronomers who met at the Mt. Mingus playground up on Mingus Mountain. This event was the Northern Arizona Star Party, hosted by the Prescott Astronomy Club. The night was clear and cool, so all of the stars shown in their glory and brilliance. Many individuals had their telescopes set up so we could view nebulae and star clusters, Mars, and the Milky Way.
We all camped out here, where we all cooked our food and pitched tents or slept in cars or campers. It was an unusual camping experience for my wife and I since we could not use conventional lights and lanterns, but rather when we got there, all the lights were covered with red tape so as not to disturb those observing nearby. We had to prepare our evening meal in the dark.
On Saturday morning there was a swap meet; we had a limited look at different telescopes because of the weather. Saturday afternoon we had four speakers who presented different subjects dealing with observing and astronomy.
Saturday night was another clear night. I saw Uranus for the first time in my life, plus many other objects. I could see the stars in a true perspective in a dark sky, compared to a night sky near city lights.
A Super Star Chart
By Terri Lappin
The "A" series charts are unique. In addition to guide charts to the other series, the "A" series includes charts showing the distribution of various objects across the sky. For example, one map shows the distribution of planetary nebulae across the sky. As these are within our galaxy, they hug the galactic plane. In another chart, the distribution of galactic clusters can be seen concentrated around the galactic center. In contrast, the distribution of galaxies tends to avoid the plane of the Milky Way (a result of intervening dust in our galaxy) and instead shows clumping (especially in the direction of .the Virgo cluster). This is a super tool, especially at public star parties, when trying to visualize (or explain) the distribution of objects across the sky.
The star chart was published in Australia and is a bit biased towards the southern hemisphere. The Large Magellanic Cloud is heavily represented in the "E" and "F" series charts. The "E" series also contains a detailed area of the Virgo cluster (of use to us!) and the area around Eta Carina. In addition, a subset of the "B" series charts has south at top, most useful to southern observers. In total, about 29 star charts are of little use to northern hemisphere observers, but that leaves over 170 star charts that are of use to us.
As for accuracy of stellar positions, the star charts are a compilation from several sources, including the SAO Catalog and the Guide Star Catalog. These are not the most accurate sources for stellar positions available today but, as a star hopper, I don't need exact positions of stars to use them for star hopping.
The Astroatlas is heavy. It's also spiral bound, so I'm a bit concerned that the pages may pull out with use. I would prefer a laminated star chart, but that would be expensive to do and would surely add to the weight. The star chart also takes a bit out of your wallet. I purchased mine for ~$85 from Starizona, but I think it was well worth it. And, besides...it's for astronomy so money is no object, right? I'm adding this to my observing stuff so if you'd like to see it at a star party just ask.
DARK SKIES (no twilight, no moonlight) for Tucson in 24-hour MST: 18=6pm,20=8pm, 22=10pm, 0=12am
RISE, SET, VISIBILITY for sun and bright planets: rise for morning object, s=et for evening object
Fr/Sa 30/ 1 FULL MOON Mo/Tu 10/11 18:47 - 3:52 Fr/Sa 21/22 23:48 - 5:54
Sa/Su 1/ 2 - - - Tu/We 11/12 18:47 - 4:57 Sa/Su 22/23 0:42 - 5:54
We/Th 12/13 18:48 - 5:49
Su/Mo 2/ 3 18:46 - 19:11 Th/Fr 13/14 18:48 - 5:49 Su/Mo 23/24 1:36 - 5:55
Mo/Tu 3/ 4 18:46 - 20:12 Fr/Sa 14/15 18:48 - 5:50 Mo/Tu 24/25 2:32 - 5:55
Tu/We 4/ 5 18:46 - 21:17 Sa/Su 15/16 18:49 - 5:51 Tu/We 25/26 3:30 - 5:56
We/Th 5/ 6 18:46 - 22:25 We/Th 26/27 4:31 - 5:56
Th/Fr 6/ 7 18:46 - 23:32 Su/Mo 16/17 19:10 - 5:51 Th/Fr 27/28 5:34 - 5:56
Fr/Sa 7/ 8 18:46 - 0:38 Mo/Tu 17/18 20:06 - 5:52 Fr/Sa 28/29 - - -
Sa/Su 8/ 9 18:46 - 1:43 Tu/We 18/19 21:03 - 5:52 Sa/Su 29/30 LUNAR ECLIPSE
We/Th 19/20 21:59 - 5:53
Su/Mo 9/10 18:47 - 2:48 Th/Fr 20/21 22:54 - 5:53 Su/Mo 30/31 - - -
Weekend Sun Sun Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn
Sa/Su Set Rise Set Vi Rise Vi Set Vi Rise Vi Rise Vi Vi=Visibility
1/ 2 17:17 7:06 17:06 - 6:17 4 22:55 1 19:36 -3 17:23 0 -3 brilliant
8/ 9 17:17 7:12 17:21 - 6:32 5 22:51 1 19:05 -3 Set 0 0 conspicuous
15/16 17:19 7:16 17:38 - 6:46 7 22:48 1 18:34 -3 6:14 0 3 moderate
22/23 17:22 7:20 18:01 9 6:59 9 22:45 1 18:02 -3 5:44 0 6 naked eye limit
29/30 17:26 7:23 18:26 6 7:10 - 22:42 1 17:31 -3 5:14 0 9 binoculars limit
By Erich Karkoschka
La Cima Middle School Party Northwest
December 11, (Tuesday) No. of Scopes: 7-8
The school is located at 5600 N. La Canada Drive. Take Oracle Road north to River Road and turn left (west). Proceed to La Canada Drive and turn right (north)and go about 1/2 mile. The school will be on your right. The set-up area is on the north field by the Multi Purpose Room OR on the track. Set-up will be at 5:00pm with observing from 5:30pm to around 8:30pm. A star party leader is needed for this event. A sign up sheet will be available at the December meeting.
Painted Sky Elementary School Northwest-Rancho Vistoso Area
December 13, Thursday No. of Scopes: 7
The school is located at 12620 N. Woodburne Avenue. Take Oracle
Rd north to Oro Valley. Turn left on 1st Avenue (the light just
before the new Home Depot). Follow 1st Avenue for about 1.5 miles
to the second stoplight. Continue north as the road now becomes
Rancho Vistoso Blvd. Proceed 1/4 mile and look for the first left
turn (Woodburne Ave). Turn left and follow this road for approximately
2 miles. The school will be on your right. The set-up area is
on a playground north
of the school on the northeast corner of the grassy playground.
Set-up is at 5:00pm with observing from 5:30 to approximately
9:30 pm. A star party leader is needed for this event. A sign
up sheet will be available at the December meeting.
Christmas Corner Charity Event Northwest-Continental Ranch Area
December 15, Saturday No. of Scopes: 2-3
The event is located at 7402 W. Palm Brook Place in Continental Ranch. Take I-10 west to Cortaro Road. At Cortaro Rd, turn left and drive about 1/2 mile to Silverbell Rd. Turn right and follow Silverbell for two miles to Coachline Rd (there is a stoplight here). Turn right and proceed past the Community Center (on your left). Take the first left after the Community Center onto Palm Brook Dr and then an immediate left onto Palm Brook Place. The address is at the top of the cul-de-sac and parking is in the driveway. The observing area is at the end of an access way between two houses, overlooking a wash. Set-up can begin at 4:30 with observing from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. Robert Wilson will be the star party leader for this event. A sign up sheet will be available at the December meeting.
Menlo Park Elementary School Central
December 18, Tuesday No. of Scopes: 7
The school is located at 1100 W. Fresno. Take 6th Street west and go under Interstate 10. The next traffic light is Grande Ave. Go left (south). There will be a small public park on the right (Menlo park). At the south end of the park, take a right onto Fresno. The school is on the right and shares a parking lot with the park. The set-up area is on a soccer field located on school grounds, north of the school buildings. Set-up is at 4:30pm with observing from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. A star party leader is needed for this event. A sign up sheet will be available at the December meeting.
TAAA Board of Directors Meeting - November 13, 2001
Location: Steward Observatory Conference Room N305 University
of Arizona
Call to Order: 7:10 pm
Board Members Present: Andrew Cooper, Thom Peck, Terri Lappin,
Jane Tongate, Steve Peterson, Robert Callanan.
Board Members Absent: Bill Lofquist.
Others Present: Past President John Kalas and Mike Cummins (TIMPA
President).
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane Tongate, Secretary
Home | About the TAAA | Calendar | Grand Canyon Star Party
Info for Teachers | Sky Guide | Links