E-comet Newsletter from the MMA

Are you a member of the Maria Mitchell Association? Make sure you join to receive great benefits year-round! Learn more here.

March 11, 2016

E-comet Newsletter

Upcoming Events

The next Open Night at Loines Observatory is on March 14th and March 15th

from 6:00 PM - 7:25 PM.

Event: Nantucket Science Festival

Date: March 19th

Time : 10 AM - 2 PM

Location: High School Cafeteria

Description: The Maria Mitchell Association and the Nantucket Community School will host the Second Annual Nantucket Science Festival. Designed to inspire the next generation of inventors and innovators, the Nantucket Science Festival is a family-friendly event where participants can explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) concepts. Activities include robots; electricity experiments; crafts for little ones; nanotechnology; science demonstrations; and much, much more!

Donate/Volunteer : We are looking for door prizes, if you would like to donate, please contact Kim at kbotelho@mariamitchell.org . If you would like to volunteer at the Science Festival, please contact Andrew at amckennafoster@gmail.com

Event: Star Party

Date: April 2nd

Time: 8 PM

Location Details:

Loines Observatory

59 Milk Street Extension

Description: The Maria Mitchell Association is excited to announce that it will host a “Star Party” for island residents and visitors, free of charge. The Star Party will feature special guests from the non-profit organization the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston (ATMoB). The event will bring together both professional and amateur astronomers, as well as the public, for a night of sky-gazing and telescope tinkering. Astronomers be available to help members of the public with questions they may have about their own telescopes or give advice to those interested in purchasing a telescope.

Event: Mechanical Mayhem

Date: April 9th

Time: 10 AM - 2 PM

Location Details:
Natural Science Museum
Corner of Milk & Vestal Streets

Description: Bring the family to dismantle and investigate all sorts of mechanical things rescued from "Take It Or Leave It". Learn about circuit boards, motors, and LEDs. Then, build and take home a beautiful piece of robot art!

Event: Nantucket Birdathon

Date: April 15th and April 16th

Description: This fundraiser helps support the MMA’s biological collections and birding on Nantucket. In partnership with the Linda Loring Nature Foundation (LLNF), the MMA helps organize teams of birders to scour the island for species in a 24 hour marathon - anyone can participate.

Contact: Andrew at amckennafoster@mariamitchell.org or call 508.228.9198

Donate/Support: You can donate a fixed amount on our website here or pledge an amount per species seen by contacting Andrew above.

Discovery Programs

Spring Vacation Camp

Date: April 18th - 22nd

Time: 8:50 AM - 1:00 PM

Description: Join us during April school vacation for a week of outdoor fun. We will use technology such as digital cameras and microscopes to explore a variety of habitats including beaches, forests, and vernal pools. This is a great opportunity to get your technology-loving child outside!

Moons and Monsoons - Family Program

Date: March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13

Time: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Description: Enjoy a morning of "Moons and Monsoons" at the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum. Each week, we will highlight a different planet or celestial body that has things in common with Earth such as volcanoes, high winds, freezing temperatures, and more.

Summer Discovery Camps

Camp classes are filling up fast! Register today!

Great deals available for Members and Island Families.

Scholarships are still available. More information here.

Science Updates

Welcome back Astronaut Scott Kelly!

After setting the record and spending a full year in space, Scott Kelly returned back to Earth on March 2nd. His long adventure in space was part of NASA's study of twins which hopes to determine the effects of space travel on the human body, specifically the effects of space radiation and the effect of long-term isolation on mental health. One obvious change for Kelly was that he came back two inches taller than his brother because a lack of gravity causes spinal disks to expand.

If you are on social media, be sure to follow Kelly on Instagram along with the Maria Mitchell Association!

Nantucket can be very lonely and cold during the wintertime. Many people ask us locals what we do to keep busy. Here at the MMA, we are ALWAYS busy! Thankfully, we have the best local volunteers to help maintain our natural science museum and take care of the animals. The Maria Mitchell Association is a non-profit organization that relies heavily on the help of volunteers. Thank you, volunteers!

If you would like to join the "Nantucket Science Update" group and receive advanced releases of our science videos, please click here.

Welcome New and Renewing Members

Mary Randolph Ballinger

Iris & Earl Mix

James Carey

Maureen Phillips & Douglas Horst

Stephanie & Mark Schnuck

Sheila & William Donovan

Diane & Craig Montgomery

Carolyn & Kellie Gauvin

Amy & Marcus Mignone

Abigail & Robert Donohoe

Gretchen & Mark Lytle

Camille Branca

Sarah & Jeff Johnston

Anneliese Pfeil & David Posen

Eliud Kauffman & Johnathan Sandler

Edi Lentini

Siobhan & Thomas Arnold

Kimberly & Todd Larsen

Elizabeth & Thomas McGinley

Keith & Betsy Wilson

Polia Ivanova & Tihomir Ivanov

Charley & Nancy Walters

Orla Murphy-LaScola & Michael LaScola

Michelle Whelan & Michael Lundy

Sarah & Richard Travaglione

Eugene & Pamela McGuire