ASTRONOMY NEWS
The Annular Eclipse of October 14 was Just the Beginning!
There was an Annular Eclipse on Saturday, October 14th! For those people in the "Path of Totality" from Oregon down through the Four Corners and Albuquerque area that meant there was a spectacular "Ring of Fire" eclipse. For many others, including yours truly, all over the West and Southwest, there were partial views of the eclipse. Here in Tucson, we had about 80% coverage of the Sun, and while that provided the views below, it was just an appetizer for the Great American Eclipse II on April 8, 2024. AAAZ will be in the Huill Country of SW Texas, running a Charity Viewing Event.
Yellow visual filter, 20 minutes after start. Sunspots at lower center near limb of moon.
Near Maximum, 75% coverage. Very nice large prominence at lower left solar limb.
The Fall 2023 Newletter - "The Terror!" is Available!
Comets have been in the news a lot lately, and when they are, it's almost always a big deal...sometimes it's actually a bigger deal than they should be.
Comet Nishimura made a big splash in September, and as I suggested, unless you were really into astro-photography it really was not that spectacular. Nishimura never really was a "naked eye" comet. Even skilled observers needed at least binoculars or a small telescope to see it at all. And next year, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will start the hype all over again. If you actually want the inside info on what to expect of a comet, you need to download this newsletter. You can get the Fall copy by clicking here: Fall 2023, "The Terror!"
It's Not Too Early to Start Planning for Solar Eclipse 2024!
The Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 is going to be, in almost every way, a bigger and better event than the Solar Eclipse of 2017. The coming event will still travel across the country, but instead of a northwest-to-southeast track, it's a Texas-to-Maine path for April 2024. While the total USA miles covered will not be as long, the period of totality will be almost double what we got the last time around at every location - the 2-minute-totality in Oregon will be a 4-minute-totality in Texas. I've already solidified my plans to be near San Antonio in the Texas Hill Country for the 2024 event. Take it from me - start making your plans NOW!
To start your planning, visit the excellent website map by Javier Jubier:
https://eclipse2024.org/eclipse_cities/statemap.html
Oregon 2017 - by Nick Dugan
ASTRONOMY ADVENTURES for ALL
Our Telescopes are Perfect for:
-
BIRTHDAY PARTIES - Telescopes are perfect for observers of all ages. Even very young children love seeing the moon, the planets, or event the Sun in a telescope. Older guests will appreciate other wonders of the cosmos, such as galaxies, star clusters, and nubulae.
-
BACHELOR/BACHELORETTE PARTIES - Talk about your "heavenly bodies!" Night time is the perfect time to view these spectacles...at least until the other fun starts.
-
SCHOOL or CLASS EVENTS - Whether it's an educational event or a Family Science Night, your parents, staff, and students will love peering at the night sky through our telescopes.
-
BUSINESS RETREATS & PICNICS - Outdoor telescope viewing is the perfect after-dinner activity for adults who have spent their whole day indoors in workshops.
-
FAMILY REUNIONS & ANNIVERSARIES - Barbeques and buffets are the perfect venue to entertain young and old alike with some early after-dark observing.
-
FAITH GROUPS - This is a great way to experience the awe-inspiring wonders of the universe.
-
SCOUTING OUTINGS - Some telescopes can even be taken to very remote locations. Almost any vehicle-accessible campground will allow us to support campers and scouts of all ages.
-
PERSONAL INSTRUCTION - Many clients just want some 1-on-1 time, an opportunity to relax and have fun, learning or gaining a bit of experience on their own equipment. We can schedule the time you need to develop your interest, whether it be passion or hobby!
SCHEDULING AN EVENT with AAAZ with
We'll Create the Perfect Adventure for You!
Getting started is as easy as giving us a call or sending us an email – our address and phone number is at the bottom of the page. We’ll send you schedules, prices, and options; we’ll even make reservations at other astronomy events, if that’s what you prefer. Maybe you’d like to tour an Arizona observatory. Astronomy Adventures staff can host you for the tour, or we can schedule your party with locally run tours by other organizations. These can even be educational and fun day-time activities that are available to all family members – there are even handicap and elderly accessible features and options.
It’s possible that during your Arizona trip you'd like to visit a planetarium show, or attend one of the astronomy activities that are conducted at local sites throughout the year. Or, you might like to visit one of the night-time observing sessions that are offered all around Arizona. Many of these events are free to visitors and the public, and we can help you find and attend them – we can even arrange transportation for your party!
Finally, our true expertise lies in conducting customized observing sessions. Our staff has years of experience attending, hosting, and even designing a wide variety of public, private and even corporate events. If you prefer, we’ll provide the tools you need to design your own event, if you don’t wish to take advantage of our expertise…but, we would really love to help you. Visit our “Links and App’s” page for some great self-help.
As you can see, we’ve been there and done that! You are only limited by your imagination. If you have an idea for a party, meeting, conference, or other event, give us a call or send us an email. We can help you explore the possibilities. We’ll provide a no-obligation estimate of what we can do to help you realize your own astronomy adventure.
Phone: 520-419-6343