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Maria Mitchell Association Monthly e-Comet Newsletter
JUNE 2023
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Dear Friends –
June on Nantucket – one of my favorite months! It brings the summer solstice, the smell of the flowers and trees, the first dips in the ocean, and the promise of beach days ahead.
Please join me in recognizing a few members of our team, starting with Jascin Leonardo Finger, who celebrates her official 24-year anniversary as our Curator, Historian, Deputy Director and champion of Maria Mitchell. Jascin, who began volunteering at the MMA at the age of 12, is simply remarkable. Her knowledge of all things Nantucket, of Maria and her life, and of the traditions that the MMA holds dear, deserves our thanks and appreciation.
Ginger Andrews, our Field Ornithologist, storyteller, and keeper of local lore and wisdom has a birthday this month. We, along with the owls and the birds celebrate her. Logan Gomes, who has taken on a new adventure, thank you, we appreciate your grace and commitment to our team and wish you the best.
I'd also like to acknowledge Far Niente Wines, EJ Harvey, Ethan Potter, John Archibald, Dan Bursch, and Bebe Poor for their support as we launched our first Wine Dinner on May 19 - thank you for your generosity and support! We could not have done this without the amazing teamwork of Sarah Powers, Keely Irwin, and Emily McKerrow. We are already planning for next year!
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Photos of Wine Dinner on May 19 | |
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Opening Day for all MMA facilities is June 12th - please stop by and visit and see what's new. The amazing mural in the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, imagined by Izzy Gaw and created by Zoe Markahm, and the Henry Michaelis photography show at 33 Washington Street, are favorites of mine.
Camp kicks off on June 20th and Camden Palm and Will Evans are excited to welcome you and your kiddos to a summer filled with adventure and exploration. Jack Dubinsky and his team are out collecting the marine life that will live with us for the summer, the barn owls have been counted and are sitting on their nests, and the night sky has been clear and filled with stars.
There are so many ways to enjoy nature and her wisdom, we invite you to become a member, support our events, attend our programs and discover all Nantucket and the MMA has to offer.
May every sunrise hold promise, and every sunset hold peace.
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Joanna Roche
Executive Director
jroche@mariamitchell.org
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SAVE THE DATE: The Stargazer Gala
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Caravan with us to the shores of Polpis Harbor, to a field of tents, where we'll dine and dance under the very stars that have guided the explorers before us.
This incredible night is made possible with thanks to our sponsors! We hope you will join us in support of our biggest event of the year. Tickets on sale now!
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Stargazer Gala Sponsorship Opportunities Available | |
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Sponsorship opportunities for the Stargazer Gala, are now live. Please click here if you are interested in becoming (or returning as!) a sponsor this year.
As a reminder, your sponsorship enables us to:
- Serve over 20,000 learners of all ages each year through 525+ public programs
- Provide award-winning, STEAM-based summer camps and after-school programming
- Offer year-round science curriculum in Nantucket's public and private schools
- Conduct and publish internationally acclaimed scientific research
- Maintain our facilities and collections where science and history come to life
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An Introduction to Nantucket's Clean Water Coalition
The Maria Mitchell Association has partnered with the Nantucket Shellfish Association, the Nantucket Land Council, and fourteen other organizations and entities to form the Clean Water Coalition (CWC). The purpose of the CWC is to come together with the Town around a common goal of preserving clean water for Nantucket. Each group represented considers healthy water resources an essential element to our diverse interests and missions.
We also recognize that moving the agenda of improving water quality conditions forward, in our harbors and ponds, is a monumental task that will require public-private partnerships and broad community support. We want to ensure that clean water is prioritized with clear, measurable, and focused action items to support water quality on the island.
We need you too! Stay tuned for Clean Water Coalition communications on simple ways we can all protect Nantucket’s waters.
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MMA ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE SERIES | |
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Henry Michaelis Photography
May 28 - June 11
33 Washington Street
Artist-In-Residence Henry Michaelis is a self-taught photographer, cinematographer, and a FAA licensed drone pilot. He specializes in drone, surf, and water photography. His body of work while in residency at the Maria Mitchell Association continues his focus on, and chronicle of, Nantucket and Cape Cod marine life. He is an alumnus of the Maria Mitchell Association’s award-winning Discovery Camp.
Free to the public. Viewing of Henry's work is by appointment for the duration of his residency. Contact e-mail: henrymichaelisphoto@gmail.com
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Dr. Rich Blundell's The Art of Oika, Mixed Media
June 15 - July 12
33 Washington Street
Join us for the "Art of Oika" Art Opening on Thursday, June 15th at 5:30pm.
Free to the public.
The Art of Oika is a group show curated by the MMA’s Scientist-In-Residence, Dr. Rich Blundell. Oika refers to the intelligence of nature as felt by humans. Working in collaboration and the habitats of Nantucket, each artist in this exhibition embodies the deep ecological principles of Oika in their own unique manner. The show includes: Rita LeDuc, Dakota Clearwater LaCroix, Dena Haden, and Robert Peters.
Learn more here.
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MMA SCIENCE SPEAKER SERIES | |
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Dr. Adam Lark
Join Us On Thursday, June 15
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At 7pm EST on June 15, we welcome Dr. Adam Lark as one of our featured presenters for the June Science Speaker Series.
Exoplanets: Where They Are and How You Can Help Find Them
Considering the immense size and scale of our own solar system, one would expect that finding planets around other stars, or exoplanets, would be nearly impossible. However, over the past few decades, astronomers have developed many amazing techniques for accomplishing this task. In this talk, Lark will discuss these techniques, and describe the method used to aid in the search for exoplanets. He will also describe how you can get involved in helping NASA discover exoplanets using your own backyard telescope!
Dr. Adam Lark is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Physics Department at Hamilton College and the Director of the Peters Observatory. He earned his doctorate at the University of Toledo researching discovery-based learning in physics laboratories and globular clusters detection techniques. Using the modest telescope at the Peters Observatory, Lark aids in the search for exoplanets through NASA's TESS follow-up exoplanet observation program.
This talk is complimentary and presented via Zoom, please pre-register.
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Dr. Giovanni Fazio
Join Us On Wednesday, June 28
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At 7pm EST on June 28, we welcome Dr. Giovanni Fazio as one of our featured presenters for the June Science Speaker Series.
Where Are We?: What Is Our Place in the Universe?
In this lecture, we will take a grand tour of the Universe, beginning at our planet Earth, traveling through our solar system, galaxy, and into extragalactic space, ending at the edge of the known Universe. Enjoy this fascinating and exciting journey!
Dr. Giovanni G. Fazio is currently a Senior Physicist, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian; Faculty Emeritus, International Space University, Strasbourg, France; and for many years a Lecturer, Astronomy Department, Harvard University. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has performed research in the area of space astronomy for more that sixty years.
He has been the Principal Investigator for instruments on three space telescope missions and Co-Investigator on a fourth space mission. He was the Principal Investigator for NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope/Infrared Array Camera, which observed the Universe for more than sixteen years. He has served on numerous NASA advisory committees and was the recipient of many national and international awards.
This talk is complimentary and presented via Zoom, please pre-register.
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Bird On!
By Ginger Andrews
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As bird life changes, observations change too. The big activity of early summer is nesting and raising young. In June, the earliest migrants already have young. Later ones are incubating eggs. Last arrivals will still be finding mates and building nests. So instead of chasing birds, it is a good time to slow down, stop, listen, and watch quietly.
Cygnets, ducklings, and goslings are already showing their personalities, learning what to eat and how to feed themselves. Their curiosity is entertaining.
There is a lot of drama in defense of the nest or the young. Male Eastern Towhees battle for the best spots. The famously aggressive Eastern Kingbird can ride a full-grown Red-tailed Hawk out of the territory.
Shorebirds such as American Oystercatchers and Piping Plover fledge early. This is not only to gain time for young birds to learn how to find their own food. They also need to be able to get out of the way of suddenly intense beach-use by humans.
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Barn Owl Program Update:
The MMA’s 2023 Spring Barn Owl Nest Box Survey took place from Tuesday to Thursday, May 16 to 18. Ginger Andrews, volunteers Kim & Tom Griswold and Dr. Bob Kennedy checked sixty-four nest boxes. Dr. Kennedy sent out his detailed report to the Barn Owl Box sponsors, but we did get the exciting news that thirty-seven boxes were active or showed signs of activity this spring, seven had young and/or eggs, and we found eight tiny young that had just hatched. That was a wonderful surprise.
This is a particularly late nesting year for the owls. Traditionally, Dr. Kennedy conducts the Spring Survey later in May but last year we suspected that many young owls had fledged before we checked the boxes. This year was the reverse with an estimated 75% of the eggs still to hatch. Dr. Kennedy and his team are planning to return to the active nest boxes from 19 to 21 June to document the number of young present and to band the ones large enough to band.
Happy Owling to all of you! And thanks for supporting Nantucket Barn Owls and the Maria Mitchell Association!
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2023 Bird-A-Thon Highlights
How many species did we record in 24-hours?
The MMA invited birders of all ages, experienced and novice, on Nantucket to participate in our annual Bird-A-Thon that took place from Friday, May 19 at 5pm until Saturday, May 20 at 5pm. At the close, birders came together to pool their lists and calculate the number of species that were observed in the 24-hour snapshot of time.
This year's Bird-A-Thon was a huge success and we recorded over 94 bird species. Highlights included the Wood Thrush, Merlin, American Coot, and the Northern Pintail. Nearly all of the eighteen observers who participated in six groups, contributed something unique to the list, including an Eastern Towhee, a Yellow Warbler, and a Common Yellowthroat.
All donations to the Nantucket Bird-A-Thon support the MMA’s conservation of its renowned Edith F. Andrews Ornithology Collection and activities related to the MMA’s work on bird conservation education.
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Opening Day
June 12, 10am - 4pm
Join us as we kick off our 2023 Season at the Aquarium, Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, Loines Observatory, and the Historic Mitchell House.
You can enjoy all of our wonderful sites with the purchase of a properties pass:
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$22.00 Adult | $12.00 youth, 3-16 | Under 2 free
Property Passes can be purchased at any of our sites.
Purchase a Property Pass and visit our historical and insightful museums around the island. Each pass includes a visit to the Aquarium, the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, Stargazing Open Nights at Loines Observatory, and a tour of the Historic Mitchell House.
Or become a MMA Member and receive unlimited entry to all properties!
Beginning June 12, reservations are required for Stargazing Open Nights. Please visit our website for additional information.
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Nature Based Programs:
We are pleased to announce our Nature and Mindful based program offerings this year as part of our robust summer programming. Join us for grounding, calming, and nurturing practices and experiences in the serene settings on, or adjacent to our properties. Be guided through gentle yoga movements at Friday Flow: Sunrise Yoga , breath-work sessions, or meditative nature-based observations during Sunrise Beach Meditation and Lift | Shift | Place as well as our Full Moon Walk.
Pre-registration required.
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Throughout the summer, the MMA will send a weekly email featuring our programs, events, and opportunities to explore the land, sky, and sea of Nantucket Island. | |
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Open Night: Stargazing at Loines Observatory
Starting June 12
Loines Observatory, 59 Milk Street Ext.
9pm - 10:30pm
Join our professional astronomers for an impressive tour of Nantucket’s night sky. Each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the MMA will host two sessions of Open Night Stargazing at 9:00 PM - 9:45 PM and 9:45 PM - 10:30 PM. MMA staff will guide you in viewing astronomical objects through our historic 8-inch Alvan Clark refractor and our modern 24-inch research telescope. Get a chance to view the Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, and even other galaxies! Learn about the cutting-edge research being conducted by Maria Mitchell Observatory astronomers and interns and get all your astronomy questions answered!
This program begins promptly at the event start time so please arrive 10 minutes before the program start time. Please dress for the weather conditions at the event time. This program is geared toward teens and adults, but children are welcome to register with an adult guardian. At least one adult must sign up with children.
This program is weather contingent and will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather (rain or thunderstorm threat). Please check our website on the day of the event for updates on weather related cancellations; we will post by 4pm if the event will be cancelled.
Pre-registration is recommended as programs do fill up but walk-ins are welcome subject to availability.
Cost per adult participant: $22
Cost per youth participant: $12
Cost is complimentary for Members
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The Nature of Nantucket and The Star Report
Check out our own podcast, "The Nature of Nantucket," brought to you by 97.7 ACKFM. This program airs on 97.7 every Sunday at 7:20am. You can listen to full episodes on Apple or Spotify. While you're there, don't forget to check out our weekly "Star Report," written and presented by the MMA Astronomy Research Fellows.
Listen here!
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Maria Mitchell's Attic
Learn more about Maria Mitchell and the MMA with "Maria Mitchell's Attic," a blog written on a weekly basis by MMA Deputy Director and Curator, Jascin Leonardo Finger.
Read here!
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Stop by the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum Gift Shop and check out our one of a kind gifts. We have a great collection of books, toys, and apparel. Here is a great childrens' book written about our very own Maria Mitchell. | |
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The Maria Mitchell Association creates opportunities for all to develop a life-long passion for science through education, research, and first-hand exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island.
Support the Maria Mitchell Association:
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