Desert Skies

Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association

Volume L, Number 10, October, 2004

Contents

Calendar of Events

TAAA MEETING DATE: Friday, Oct. 1 at the Steward Observatory Auditorium – Room N210

Note: The Beginners lecture is replaced by member presentations on Member’s night. Be sure to arrive for the meeting by 6:30 pm!

GENERAL MEETING: 6:30 pm
Member’s night

Here’s your chance to share the spotlight. Contact Thom Peck via phone or e-mail to schedule your astronomy-related presentation.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: Wednesday, Oct. 13 6:30 pm at Steward Observatory Conference Room N305

STAR PARTIES AND EVENTS:
02 Oct - Whipple Observatory Open House and Star Party
07 Oct– Astrophoto SIG
09 Oct – Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Star Party
09 Oct – TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas
13 Oct - Marana Middle School Star Party
16 Oct - TAAA Fall Star-B-Cue at Kitt Peak
19 Oct - Sewell Elementary Star Party
20 Oct - Van Buskirk ES Star Party
27 Oct – Flandrau Science Center


NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE: Deadline for articles: Sat, Oct. 23. Printing: Mon, Oct. 25. Folding Party: Tues, Oct. 26. Mailing: Wed, Oct. 27. The newsletter is mailed at least one week prior to the following month’s General Meeting.



The board of directors meeting is the second Wednesday of the month. The astrophoto SIG is the first Thursday after the monthly meeting.

 

General Information




		
             Office               Name                Phone        Email
             ------               ----                -----        -----
             President            Thom Peck          327-7825     thomas.peck@optics.arizona.edu
             Vice-President       Michael Turner     743-3437     Mrmgturner@earthlink.net
             Secretary            Steve Marten       906-0049     TAAAStarParty@aol.com
             Treasurer            Terri Lappin       579-0185     tklappin@earthlink.net
             Member-at-Large      Ed Finney          296-9266     eefinney@NetZero.net
             Member-at-Large      Bill Lofquist      297-6653     wlofquist@aol.com
             Member-at-Large      Ray Toscano        529-3074     ray_toscano@Earthlink.net
			 
			Other Officers for 2003

            School S. Party Schedule Coordinator    Steve Marten        906-0049   steve1636@aol.com
            School S. Party Volunteer Coordinator   Robert Wilson       744-0263   rasjwilson@aol.com
            Desert Skies Editor                     George Barber       822-2392   barbergj@flash.net
            AstroLeague Correspondent               Nick de Mesa        797-6614   demesan@onsetbeach.com
            Astrophotography SIG                    Dean Ketelsen       293-2855   ketelsen@as.arizona.edu
            Astrocomputing SIG                      Roger Tanner        574-3876   rtanner@seds.lpl.arizona.edu
            Chief Observer                          Wayne Johnson       586-2244   mrgalaxy@juno.com
            Webmaster                               Dean Salman         250-0407   E-Mail
			 Equipment Loan Coordinator (ELC)        Jerry Penegor       320-1872   penegor@dakotacom.net
			 Club Sales                              Ann Scott           749-4867   lbscott61@cox.net
TAAA Mission Statement

Membership in the TAAA

Desert Skies Publishing Guidelines

Desert Skies is published monthly by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, PO Box 41254, Tucson, Arizona 85717

President's Message

Club News

Member News

We welcome the most recent members to join the TAAA: William Branitz, Mike Finerty (returning member), and Joe Gianninoto (returning member). Glad to have all of you join! New members should 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. (Updated membership lists are available to any member at most meetings, so pick one up if you need it.)


TAAA Apparel

Looking for Christmas gifts, or a way to make that fashion statement? Try on something from our fine line of club apparel. We’ve got hats, T-shirts, denim shirts, and patches. Plan ahead with a new 2005 Calendar, also available at the apparel table. We take cash and checks.


Calendars for 2005

Calendars for 2005 will be sold at regular meetings this fall at the same table where you can purchase TAAA apparel. (Ann Scott also has new apparel available this fall.) The calendar we have selected is called Deep Space Mysteries and is published by the same people who bring us Astronomy magazine each month. The cost for the calendars is $10 each (~$2 off the regular selling price), or $9 each for more than one. This calendar has daily information about astronomical events, both historical and observational…plus space for adding important events you need to remember. Each month features a full-color astronomical image of a deep sky object.

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.


Basha’s Thanks A Million Program

The Basha’s Thanks A Million for Friends and Neighbors program is underway now through March 31, 2005. If you shop at Basha’s, ask the cashier to link your Thank You card to the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association. Our ID # is 23178. (Basha’s customer service also has a list of ID numbers if you forget this number.) If you participated last year, you still need to sign up at the register again. At the end of the program, provided we meet their minimum of $2500 in combined sales, the TAAA will receive a donation equal to 1% of the total purchases made by our members. Thank you to all the members who participated last year, which resulted in a donation of just over $75. So, if you shop Basha’s, remember to have your Thank You card linked to the TAAA (ID #23178).


Nametags

Nametags have been purchased for TAAA members who have participated in TAAA sponsored Public Outreach activities over the past few years. They can be picked up at a meeting. There is no charge for your nametag. The only way to get a nametag is to participate regularly in our outreach activities or serve as in an elected or appointed position. If you feel you have participated regularly in our school star party program, Project ASTRO, public star parties, or our paid star parties and you do not see a nametag with your name on it, let a board member know and we will rectify the error. We are certain to have overlooked some individuals.


Upcoming Lecture Schedule

Below is our lecture schedule for the next 6 months. Topics we are trying to arrange are: Mars, Saturn & Titan, and Arizona weather patterns for observing. If you have a suggested topic or speaker in mind send an email to Terri at tklappin@earthlink.net or call her at 579-0185.

TAAA Speaker Schedule
Nov 5 Beginners Dean Salman Constellation ID
Invited Members Backyard Observatories
Dec 3 Beginners Nick DeMesa Astronomical League Observe Program
Invited Dr. Andrew Potter Mercury and Messenger Mission
Jan 7 Beginners Bill Owens Imaginary Lines
Invited Open
Feb 4 Members Night (No Beginners Lecture, meeting starts at 6:30pm
Mar 4 Beginners Vivian Lewis Solstices
Invited Open
Apr 1
Beginners Mary Turner Single Mirror Telescopes
Invited Open

Astrophoto Special Interest Group
7 October, 7pm
China Rose, NE corner Speedway/Rosemont

Some news on the SIG front - Dean Ketelsen is stepping down as the coordinator of the group in favor of Steve Peterson. Steve has been the acting host of the group since Dean's wife took seriously ill a year ago and thru his own illness last spring. Steve is quite proficient at CCD imaging and will serve the group well.

There have been quite a few great presentations lately, even with the monsoon clouds the last couple months. If you want to check out the state of the art in astro-imaging, check out one of these get-togethers.

Other news - Carol Hunter, who has hosted us at her restaurant since we've started, has followed her dream of running a bar with live jazz music, and as a result, our meeting space will no longer be available. For this month we will relocate to the other side of the restaurant, and try that location, but stay tuned for a possible relocation of these meetings. If you have any ideas for possible meeting locations, contact Steve.


TAAA Fall Star-B-Cue at Kitt Peak
October 16 (Saturday)

The TAAA has scheduled a star party and pot-luck barbecue at the picnic grounds up on Kitt Peak on Saturday, 10/16, starting at 4:00 pm. A maximum of 70 TAAA Members and families will be allowed to participate. The ramada gas-fired barbecue grill will be fired up starting at 4:30 pm and members are invited to cook their dinners between 4:30 and 6:30 pm. Bring a dish to share with other members. The grill will be turned off at 6:30 pm. Telescope observing will commence after sundown and will be concluded by 11:30 pm. All members must be heading down the mountain by midnight. Be prepared for cool temperatures.

At this event, we will have a special opportunity. Claude and Teresa Plymate have graciously arranged for sunset viewing at the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope for a maximum of thirty TAAA Members. If you are interested in participating in this unique experience, please note it on the sign-up sheet. If there are more than thirty people interested, a lottery will be held to determine who will be eligible to attend. John Kalas will contact the eligible people to advise them. Those eligible will be required to arrive at the Star-B-Cue picnic area at 4:00 pm to check in and prepare to travel up to the telescope. Sunset from Kitt Peak will occur at approximately 5:00 pm. Departure from the picnic area will be at 4:20 pm. Participants are not to go directly to the McMath-Pierce Telescope and they will be asked to carpool to reduce the number of vehicles. Participants will cook their dinner and eat after they return to the picnic area following the sunset viewing activity.

There will be a sign-up sheet on the table at the back of the lecture hall at the start of the October 1st meeting. Because of the popularity of this event, attendance will be initially limited to TAAA Members and their immediate family members only. If, after all TAAA Members have had an opportunity to sign up, there are any openings or cancellations, the attendance of guests will be considered. If you are unable to attend the October meeting, phone and e-mail reservation requests will be taken on a first come, first serve basis after 9:00 am Saturday, 10/2. Contact John Kalas at 620-6502 or via e-mail at <jckalas@cox.net>.

It is very important for all attendees to abide by the rules established by Kitt Peak and respect the facility. Adherence to the rules will help to continue TAAA activities on Kitt Peak in the future.

1. No vehicles are allowed above the picnic grounds after 4:00 pm (exception: sunset viewing at the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope).
2. Only the ramada gas-fired barbecue grill is permitted for cooking food at the picnic grounds. No open fires or use of the personal barbecue grills is permitted.
3. All trash must be placed in the garbage receptacles.
4. Use of cellular phones and radio walkie-talkies is prohibited.
5. No alcoholic beverages are permitted.

When leaving the picnic grounds after dark, if possible, use your parking lights until you have reached the main road and are headed downhill after exiting the picnic area.


Annual Picnic
Saturday, October 30 anytime after 2pm
Reid Park Ramada 16

Plans are coming together for our picnic on Saturday, October 30th at Reid Park. This is a family event, so bring spouses, kids, grandkids, friends, or significant others. Plan to arrive around 2:30pm. While things are getting ready we will show demonstration activities from our Night Sky Network Toolkits. These demonstrations are well suited to the non-astronomer in your family and you might enjoy them, too. We will have solar observing throughout the afternoon (provided someone offers to bring a solar observing setup). You should be able to start cooking your food by 3pm. We will keep the grills going until 5pm. Around 4pm we will start a comet making activity. (See the note below if you want to make a comet.) Sunset is around 5:30pm but we have use of the ramada until 7:30pm. You can stick around for socializing or go down to the lake and look at the ducks. Being under the light dome of Tucson, we’re not planning any serious observing. The only planets available will be Uranus and Neptune (Pluto, too but at magnitude 14!), so we might see them after dark if there’s a telescope still around.

Bring your own main dish and something (salad, dessert, etc) to share. TAAA will supply drinks. You must provide your own utensils and place settings. We do not have a beer permit, so no alcohol is permitted at this activity. Also, remember the park has restrictions against glass jars and bottles.

Those wanting to go to the zoo should arrive at the zoo entrance by Noon. We do not qualify for discount pricing but regular rates are as follows: $5 for those 15 - 61 years, $4 for those over 62, $2 for children 2-14, children under 2 are free. We will meet at the entrance at noon and we hope to finish in time to be at the ramada by 2pm. Please RSVP to Terri (tklappin@earthlink.net or 579-0185) if you will be going to the zoo. If you want to spend more time at the zoo you might want to do this activity on your own.

Note for comet making: Those making comets should bring a large plastic bowl (like used for a big bowl of popcorn or chips) and a mixing spoon (it will get dirty but will clean up easily). Other materials will be supplied. Please RSVP to Terri (see above) so we know how many supplies will be needed.


Directions: Take the west side entrance at Concert Place and Country Club (~1/4 mile north of 22nd St). Go to the parking area to the right (south). We are at Ramada 16, which has lots of tables. The ramada is the first big one you will see on your right after entering the parking area.

 

Keeping Up with the Club - TAAA FORUM
By Paul Olson

Do you know that the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association has a very active Online Forum for members?

The conversations go on day and night. Impromptu observing sessions are set up. Viewing experiences are shared. Advice on equipment and techniques are discussed, not to mention the occasional great joke!

Last month there was an academic discussion of the horrors of "Moistions". If you don't know what a moistion is, you should become a member of the forum and find out all about this terrible phenomenon before you unpack your new telescope.

The files and photos sections of the group are fascinating with members contributing links to interesting places, Photo's from last nights observing session or whatever...There is an introduction section where you can show everyone what you look like in the daylight!

There are currently 88 club members in the TAAA Forum. Some are quite verbal. Many just lurk and read the messages as they are posted or in a single daily email, your choice!

The TAAA Forum is fast becoming a major part of the clubs ability to communicate with its members and a great place to make new friends.... Why not join us?

Here's How:

Just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/. Fill in the Sign up form and then just type in TAAA Forum in the box where you would search for online groups. This should take you here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taaaforum/. There are a few preliminary questions to answer such as how you wish to receive your messages. Click JOIN and you're in!

I want to thank the Club for setting this up. I spend some time over morning coffee on this group and I enjoy it a lot! See you there!


The Halloween Astronomy Project
By Terri Lappin
Halloween...little ghosts, goblins, and space aliens abound! What better time to treat these creatures to a peak through your telescope? This year the observing is going to be tricky since the only planets we have worth looking at are Uranus and Neptune. The moon will rise about 8:30pm washing out any faint fuzzy objects you might be brave enough to try. However, I still prefer spending the evening outside rather than being inside with the doorbell ringing all evening long! Gary and I have set up a telescope each Halloween, weather permitting, since 19990 and have always enjoyed the experience. Several TAAA members have done the same and have told me how much enjoyment they have had from the experience. Most parents have a real concern about sending kids out for trick-or-treating, but this is a treat that is relatively safe. And, the parents usually enjoy it as much as the kids do!
If you live in a neighborhood with bad lighting, use this casual observing session to make your neighbors aware of light pollution and how it affects our ability to see the night sky. Don’t make it a lecture; just make them aware of the problem. You may be surprised at how many of your neighbors will agree that glaring lights are a problem.
Here are a few guidelines to help make your Halloween a success. Set up your telescope near the sidewalk with a jack-o-lantern or similar attention getting, but dim, light source nearby. Spooky music gets attention too! Make sure power cords don’t become trip hazards. Leave your patio lights off to draw kids away from your front door and towards you and the telescope. Be sure to have a stepladder handy for the little ones. The tendency is for people to support themselves by leaning against the telescope so politely warn them not to touch your telescope. It’s best to use an eyepiece with some eye relief, as they are more comfortable to use; however I also recommend using an eyepiece you didn’t pay too much for. Many kids wear makeup, and that stuff will get all over your eyepiece! You’ll want to clean your eyepiece after the night is over. The TAAA members pack includes information about cleaning optics or you can request that information from me (Terri Lappin).
I am interested in hearing about your experience with the Halloween Astronomy Project. Tell me how many kids look through your telescope and what objects you show them. I hope that TAAA members can make the Halloween Astronomy Project an annual event in their neighborhood.


Astrophoto SIG: CCD Image Processing Workshops
By the time you read this our first session will have been completed and preparations will be underway for the second session. These workshops are intended for those imaging with dedicated astronomical CCD cameras such as SBIG and Starlight Xpress. Webcam imaging and processing require different software and techniques that will not be covered in these workshops. This next session will cover topics such as:
• The imaging Session
• Acquiring a Grayscale Image
• Basic Image processing techniques
The session will be split between lecture and hands-on lab work. You’ll need your own laptop and software to follow along. Based on feedback we’ve received so far, this session will likely use MaxIm DL and possibly Photoshop, but that could change.

As of this writing a date has not been set for the next workshop, but it will likely occur before you receive the next newsletter. Further details will soon be posted to the TAAA’s Yahoo Announcement list (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tucsonastronomy). These workshops are limited to TAAA members and advance sign-up is required. For more information or to register contact Ray Toscano at ray_toscano@earthlink.net or 529-3074.

TIMPA Use Fee Eliminated for TAAA Members

The TAAA Board of Directors has voted to eliminate the TIMPA use fee for members. This fee had been required whenever the facility was used on non-scheduled star party nights. The $3.00 per person per night or $6.00 per carload per night use fee will still apply to non-TAAA members.

If you would like to use the facility to observe on a non-star party night please contact one of the TIMPA “Key Keepers”. After paying a refundable $10 deposit you can borrow an access key for your use on a specific night(s). See the new TIMPA rules of use for more information: http://www.63.134.241.238/PDF/TIMPARules.pdf

Here is a list of ‘Key Keepers” and their contact info:

Thom Peck 327-7825 thomas.peck@optics.arizona.edu
Michael Turner 743-3437 Mrmgturner@earthlink.net
Steve Marten 906-0049 TAAAStarParty@yahoo.com
Terri Lappin 579-0185 tklappin@earthlink.net
Ray Toscano 529-3074 ray_toscano@Earthlink.net
Bill Lofquist 297-6653 wlofquist@comcast.net
Ed Finney 296-9266 eefinney@NetZero.net
John Kalas 620-6502 jckalas@cox.net

WEBSITES: TRIPS ON THE INTERNET SUPER-SKYWAY
IT'S FALL GALAXY TIME!
By Rik Hill

The monsoons have moved out (leaving too little water again) and we are back in the regime of clear skies. Soon the nights will cool down, the summer Milky Way will no longer dominate the evening skies, and Fomalhaut will hang low in the southern sky. These are some of the most pleasant nights for observing and especially observing galaxies.

Most amateurs look at the standard lists of galaxies, Messier and the brighter NGCs. This year try something different. Go after the weirdoes. Try bagging a few from Halton Arp's Catalog Of Peculiar Galaxies, which is online at: http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/Arp/frames.html

Most of them are faint but some, like M51 and M32, are bright. You may have looked at these for years but now you can see why they are "peculiar" and have a whole new appreciation.

You can extend this autumnal investigation by selecting from the Galaxy Pair and Interacting Galaxies Picture Gallery at: http://crux.astr.ua.edu/pairs2.html. Here is a wonderful atlas that will keep you busy for many a night!

In the northeast the dark sky will be ornamented with M31. Several years ago I pointed out, in one of these articles, the online version of Hodge's Atlas of the Andromeda Galaxy, which is still available at:
http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/ANDROMEDA_Atlas/frames.html

Well, now several enterprising amateur astronomers have made their own M-31 Atlas and put it on the web at: http://www.regulusastro.com/regulus/papers/m31/. They have done an excellent job with a Takahashi CN-212 Reflecting Telescope in Newtonian Mode plus field flattener and SBig camera. In the images they identify many globular and open clusters but using the Hodge atlas you will see much more there. How much can you identify through the eyepiece?

Though our nights are longer they seem to pass more quickly. Before going to bed, as the Pleiades and Capella rise, take a look at M33 the Triangulum Galaxy or the "Pinwheel" Galaxy. It's M31's poor cousin. This is mostly due to the nearly face on appearance. However, it is nearly twice the size of the full moon! There is much that can be seen in the amateur 'scope here. There are the bright HII nebulosities NGC 595 & 604 which are highlighted at: http://schmidling.netfirms.com/m33.htm. NGC 604 should be high on your list of objects. It's M33's version of the Tarantula Nebula! Check out the Astronomy Picture of the Day of it for a breathtaking image at: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap021102.html,

You will have to keep reminding yourself that it is in another galaxy! This nebula alone makes the trip to this galaxy worth a slight loss of sleep

There are many other things that can be identified in M33 like super giant blue stars, large stellar associations, open clusters and globular clusters. Some good online images to guide you through this galaxy can be found at:
http://astrim.free.fr/m331.htm
ftp://ftp.seds.org/pub/images/hst/96-27.jpg
http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/css/images/M33d.jpg

But what is needed is a comprehensive atlas of M33 similar to the ones for M31. Are you up to it?

As always, if you know of a particularly good website you would like mentioned here, drop me a line at:
rhill@lpl.arizona.edu

ARCHAEOASTRONOMY
Presented by the Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society
Tuesday evenings, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., November 9, 16, and 23, 2004
John Fountain, Instructor

This course will cover the history of archaeoastronomy, the many forms it takes, and review major examples throughout the world. There will be special emphasis on examples of archaeoastronomy in the southwestern United States and relevant ethnography. Methods of archaeoastronomical research will be reviewed. We will discuss basic concepts of astronomy without a telescope and consider how they may be applied to studying archaeological sites. We seek to better understand how astronomy played a role in the life, society, and religious practice of early people. No background in astronomy or mathematics is required.

John Fountain is retired from the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the U of A. During his 25 years there he studied the moon and planets by earth-based observation and with the NASA Ranger, Pioneer, and Voyager programs. He is co-author of the "Consolidated Lunar Atlas", used by the Apollo astronauts, and co-discoverer of two satellites of Saturn. For the past 12 years he has done research in archaeoastronomy.
His co-edited volume, "Current Studies in Archaeoastronomy: Conversations Across Time and Space" (with Rolf M. Sinclair) is due out this fall.

Suggested reading: There are no good comprehensive texts on archaeoastronomy. "Prehistoric Astronomy in the Southwest" by Malville and Putnam has a good introduction to astronomy relevant to archaeoastronomy and some examples of its application. "Living the Sky" by Ray Williamson gives more examples of archaeoastronomy and related ethnography. While not required for the course, both could be useful to class participants.

Cost is $30 for AAHS members and $40 for non-members; $10 discount available for students and K-12 teachers. Pre-registration is required. To register, please contact Laurie Webster at (520) 325-5435 or Lwebster1@mindspring.com (please note the 1).

Necessary But Not Sufficient!
What is the one thing absolutely necessary for observing or just gazing into the heavens? Clear skies! And, if you are lucky to have that, the next most important aspect is dark skies. We can’t do much about creating clear skies except to move locations on a given night to get away from a cloud cover but we can do a lot about having dark skies!

We are fortunate in Southern Arizona to have Outdoor Lighting Codes to help minimize the amount of light pollution that is generated each night. As Tucson keeps growing at about 4% per year, we are struggling to keep our lighting levels low and ideally we would reduce them as more citizens become educated as to the light pollution problem and take action to help reduce it. Light Pollution not only has very adverse effects on astronomy and associated businesses; it also can affect human health, our safety, our wild life and plant life.

Our Building Code Officials are the ones that enforce violations but if not caught during construction of a residence or business, the non-compliant lighting fixture(s) may never be found so they can be modified or replaced. And many fixtures are added or changed out without permits. Our Building Code Inspectors do not drive around looking for bad fixtures; they only take action when a formal complaint is filed with their department.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) and the local Southern Arizona Section of the IDA (SA-IDA) are committed to “Helping to Preserve and Protect the Nighttime Environment and Our Heritage of Dark Skies…” but their role is to be an enabler to make this happen. Professionals and lots and lots of concerned citizens need to take action to get the actual work done to ensure that we have only good light fixtures. See the SA-IDA.ORG Web site for more information including Obtrusive Lighting Complaint forms.

 

Star Parties and Events

Whipple Observatory Open House and Star Party
Saturday, 10/2/2004

See The Stars Through A Telescope - free and open to the public. Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution's Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory Offices near Amado, Arizona.

The Whipple Observatory will present an Open House and Star Party on Saturday, October 2. Observing will begin about 6:45 p.m. courtesy of telescopes provided by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and Sonora Astronomical Society.

4:30 p.m. Visitors Center opens
5:45 p.m. Informal lecture on astronomy by Observatory staff
~6:45 p.m. Observing begins (in parking area next to Visitors Center).

Dress for cool evening temperatures. Small flashlights and binoculars are useful to bring.

Please cooperate with staff directing parking when you arrive. The parking spaces nearest the building are reserved for TAAA members and their telescopes. Visitors should park along the driveway or in the parking area outside the gate or along the road as directed. (Please note: Visitors will be allowed to park cars next to the building in the space usually reserved for telescopes until 5 p.m. At that time, visitors will have to move their cars to other parking spaces so that telescopes may be set up.)

For more information call 670-5707. In case of threatening weather, call 670-5707 after 4:30 p.m. on the 2nd for information about star party cancellation.

The Whipple Observatory, Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, and Sonoran Astronomical Society present this opportunity to see the stars under dark Southern Arizona skies.

How To Find The Observatory Offices:

The administrative complex for the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory is 43 road miles south of Tucson and 38 road miles north of Nogales, Arizona.

From Tucson, drive south on Interstate 19 to exit 56 (Canoa). At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn left and drive under the freeway to the frontage road on the east side. Turn right and drive south three miles to Elephant Head Road. Turn left and drive east, crossing the Santa Cruz River on Elephant Head Bridge. One mile east of the river, turn right on Mount Hopkins Road. Drive southeast about seven miles to the Observatory Office (end of pavement).

From Nogales, drive north on Interstate 19 to exit 48 (Amado/Arivaca Junction). At the end of the exit ramp, turn right and then left onto the frontage road. Drive north for about two miles to Elephant Head Road. Turn right and drive east, crossing the Santa Cruz River on Elephant Head Bridge. One mile east of the river, turn right on Mount Hopkins Road. Drive southeast about seven miles to the Observatory Office (end of pavement).


Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Public Star Party
Saturday, 9 October 2004

The public is invited to the Desert Museum for a evening under the stars. We will set up around 6:00 pm in the lowest rows of the parking lot near the museum entrance. Security should have this area coned off for us when you arrive. Bring a jacket as the fall evening will cool quickly. This is a popular event, so be prepared for crowds around your scope. The museum will be closed but the bathrooms will be open. Activities will wrap-up around 11:00pm.

All of the media outlets, newspaper, TV and radio, have been contacted to invite the public, so we need every telescope and operator we can come up with. You don't have to be an expert to come out and enjoy the evening. In fact, a few volunteers are needed to handle non-telescope related items.

TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas (Empire Ranch)
Saturday, 9 Oct., 2004

Las Cienegas (formerly Empire Ranch) has been our normal dark-sky observing site for quite a number of years. Please try to arrive before sunset. Stay as long as you like, but let everyone know when you are ready to leave; someone may be taking astrophotos. Bring a telescope if you have one, but you don’t need one to attend. Any member would be glad to let you look through their telescope. There are no restroom facilities at the site, so be prepared. Las Cienegas is at 4000 feet, and fall is here, so be prepared for cold temperatures after sunset. It’s also a good idea to bring insect repellent. Attendees should park their vehicles either perpendicular to the airstrip facing toward the center of the strip, or parallel to the airstrip along either side facing west. That way, when you are ready to leave, you will not have to back up and turn on your bright white backup lights. See the directions to Las Cienegas on the outside flap of this newsletter.

Marana Middle School Star Party Northwest
Wednesday, 10/13/2004 No. of Scopes: 7

Marana Middle School will be preparing for Math and Science Family Night at 11279 W. Grier Rd Marana. Take I-10 to tangerine exit and turn left to go under the freeway then turn right and head west for 3 miles. Next, turn left at Grier road and the school is on the left side of the road. Viewing will be on the open fields behind gym. Contact person Kasey Meisner can be reached at 682-4730 or email K.L.Meisner@maranausd.org. Set-Up Time: 7:00 pm. Observing will be from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Sunset: 5:53pm, Dark Sky: 7:14pm Moon Phase: near New Moon.


TAAA Fall Star-B-Cue at Kitt Peak
October 16 (Saturday)

See article in the Club News section.


Sewell Elementary Star Party Central
Tuesday, 10/19/2004 No. of Scopes: 7

Sewell Elementary will be holding a Star Party at 425 N. Sahuara. From Speedway & Craycroft go South to 5th Street, turn left (east) to Sahuara then right (south) to the main school entrance. Enter the Playground next to the dumpster and drive around back of school to the NORTH Playground. Set up will be at the Basketball Courts on the NORTH playground. Contact person Karen Vanlandingham can be reached at 791-2965 or email kvanland@as.arizona.edu. Set-Up Time: 6:00pm. Observing will be from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Sunset: 5:46pm, Dark Sky: 7:08pm Moon Phase: First Quarter.


Van Buskirk ES Star Party Central
Wednesday, 10/20/2004 No. of Scopes: 6

Van Buskirk ES will be hosting MoonScope at 725 E. Fair Drive. From Ajo and Park go south to FAIR Dr (stoplight) then west (right) to Van Buskirk School. Follow signs from Fair Dr to entry gate located at very east end of parking lot. Go into lot, go through playground gates and follow signs to viewing area, which is behind school on playground. Contact person Dolores Lopez can be reached at 227.3750 or email dlopezsol@aol.com. Set-Up Time: 6:00pm. Observing will be from 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm. Sunset: 5:45pm, Dark Sky: 7:07pm Moon Phase: First Quarter.

Flandrau Science Center
October 27 (Wednesday)

Total Lunar Eclipse Downtown with Flandrau Science Center! Here's a great opportunity to support Flandrau Science Center (in its transition to the Rio Nuevo project) and promote TAAA during one of the best and last evening total lunar eclipses of the next decade!

TAAA members with giant (or regular) mounted binoculars and large telescopes are needed to show the eclipsed moon to the general public in the over-flow parking lot of the Tucson Convention Center (TCC) just south-east of the corner of Granada Ave. and Cushing St (south of the new Federal Building). This event is co-sponsored with the Rio Nuevo Redevelopment Project and the Tucson Convention Center. Telescope viewing is free. Parking for the public may be $4.00 per vehicle at the TCC (details have yet to be decided). A few telescopes may be needed on Flandrau's property, but because of UA homecoming
tents on the UA mall you won't be able to set up on the mall. If you intend on helping out (or have special parking needs) you must let Michael Terenzoni at Flandrau know via e-mail (miket@ns.arizona.edu) or phone (621-3646) A sign up sheet will be available at the Oct. meeting. For more information see the Flandrau web site at http://www.flandrau.org.

Dark Skies for October 
 
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, set for evening object


Th/Fr 30/ 1  19:30 - 19:31         Su/Mo  10/11  19:18 -  3:52        Th/Fr  21/22   0:52 -  5:11
Fr/Sa  1/ 2  19:29 - 20:03         Mo/Tu  11/12  19:17 -  4:53        Fr/Sa  22/23   1:59 -  5:12
Sa/Su  2/ 3  19:28 - 20:39         Tu/We  12/13  19:15 -  5:05        Sa/Su  23/24   3:04 -  5:13
                                   We/Th  13/14  19:14 -  5:06                                   
Su/Mo  3/ 4  19:27 - 21:20         Th/Fr  14/15  19:13 -  5:06        Su/Mo  24/25   4:06 -  5:13
Mo/Tu  4/ 5  19:25 - 22:06         Fr/Sa  15/16  19:12 -  5:07        Mo/Tu  25/26   5:07 -  5:14
Tu/We  5/ 6  19:24 - 22:57         Sa/Su  16/17  19:39 -  5:08        Tu/We  26/27    -   -   -  
We/Th  6/ 7  19:23 - 23:53                                            We/Th  27/28  LUNAR ECLIPSE!
Th/Fr  7/ 8  19:21 -  0:51         Su/Mo  17/18  20:29 -  5:08        Th/Fr  28/29    -   -   -  
Fr/Sa  8/ 9  19:20 -  1:51         Mo/Tu  18/19  21:27 -  5:09        Fr/Sa  29/30    -   -   -  
Sa/Su  9/10  19:19 -  2:51         Tu/We  19/20  22:33 -  5:10        Sa/Su  30/31  18:58 - 19:14
                                   We/Th  20/21  23:42 -  5:10                                   


Weekend    Sun   Sun      Mercury     Venus      Mars     Jupiter    Saturn                       
Sa/Su      Set   Rise     Set  Vi    Rise Vi   Rise Vi    Rise Vi   Rise Vi    Vi=Visibility      
                                                                                                  
 2/ 3     18:05  6:18     18:02 -    3:06 -4   5:50  -    5:37  7    0:27 0    -3 brilliant       
 9/10     17:56  6:22     18:06 -    3:17 -4   5:44  -    5:16  3    0:01 0     0 conspicuous     
16/17     17:48  6:27     18:09 -    3:28 -4   5:38  9    4:56  1   23:35 0     3 moderate        
23/24     17:40  6:33     18:11 9    3:40 -3   5:32  7    4:35  0   23:09 0     6 naked eye limit 
30/31     17:33  6:38     18:15 8    3:52 -3   5:26  6    4:14 -1   22:42 0     9 binoculars limit

By Erich Karkoschka
Meeting Minutes

Home | About the TAAA | Calendar | Grand Canyon Star Party

Info for Teachers | Sky Guide | Links