Maria Mitchell Association Monthly e-Comet Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2023

THE MMA IS CLOSED ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10

IN OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY

Dear Friends –

Please join me in welcoming our new Board President Sarah Ward! Sarah is from Seattle, with roots on Nantucket, and comes to us with board leadership experience, a warm smile, contagious laugh and a desire to make a difference. We look forward to working with her. Sarah is following the footsteps of Helene Weld, who will continue to serve on the board and share her valuable guidance and wisdom with us. Helene served for six years as MMA's Board President, joining the board in 2010. Please join me in congratulating Helene for a job well done and thanking her for her service and leadership. She brought a stability to the MMA through the Covid-19 Pandemic and provided a solid foundation on which we continue to build. I am personally grateful for her support and mentorship. 

There is so much happening in our world and in our community, we encourage you to take a moment for yourself. We hope you can find compassion for others, connection to nature and her changing seasons, and a commitment to generosity. 

We humans are capable of great change, we can learn, and we can do better. As we move into November, please know that we are thankful for you, our friends and supporters. It is our privilege and legacy to cultivate thinkers and scientists, nurture curious minds, and connect learners of all ages to nature and science. 

Your generosity helps make our work and impact on our community and our world possible, please consider an end of year gift and the difference you can make. (Click Here Now to Make a Gift)

We offer these words from the poet Hafez, “How can I be more kind?” and encourage you to let that be your guide as we move towards 2024. 

My best,

Joanna Roche

Executive Director

jroche@mariamitchell.org

MMA FALL HOURS

Research Center:

11am - 1pm, Saturdays through Dec.16

The Hinchman House Natural Science Museum:

10am - 4pm, Friday - Sunday through Dec.16

Loines Observatory:

Thursdays

7pm - 8pm November 2

6pm - 7pm November 9, 16, 30

*Closed November 23 for Thanksgiving

The MMA Aquarium:

Closed for the season

The Historic Mitchell House:

Closed for the season

Don't forget! Daylight Savings Time Ends on Sunday, November 5.

The Maria Mitchell Association Welcomes Sarah Ward as MMA Board President

Sarah Ward is an attorney who practiced for many years in Chicago and more recently, in Seattle, primarily representing pharmaceutical companies. Sarah recently retired from the practice of law and joined the MMA Board in January of 2023. She will shift into her new role as Board President in November. Sarah is thrilled to help create opportunities for the next generation of scientists and explorers.

Originally from the Midwest, Sarah has always been active in the communities in which she lives, serving on many local committees and boards. She currently resides in Seattle and on Nantucket, loves to sail, travel, read, cook, and entertain with family and friends.

THE 2024 MARIA MITCHELL ASSOCIATION INTERNSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE LIVE!

Summer 2024 internship opportunities are now posted on our website! Students studying marine biology, the natural sciences, astronomy, education, history/art history/historic preservation, non-profit development, and communications and marketing are invited to apply. If you have a qualified undergraduate or graduate student in mind who'd enjoy interning on picturesque Nantucket Island next summer, help us spread the word by sharing the link below!

Come join our amazing team!

2023 Barn Owl Survey Report

From Bob Kennedy

The Maria Mitchell Association's 2023 Fall Barn Owl Survey took place September 25 - 27. Dr. Bob Kennedy, MMA Field Ornithologist Ginger Andrews, and volunteers Kim and Tom Griswold checked sixty-six nest boxes. The schedule was tight as usual and we are sorry if we missed some of you along the way!

Of the sixty-six boxes that were checked, only fifteen were active or had signs of activity this fall, five had young and/or eggs, and we found only fourteen young – all but four young were just recently hatched. Compared to previous years, this is proportionally the fewest number of active nest boxes that we have had in the fall. We are alarmed by the low number of owls found.

We do not know if the owls found in the nest boxes is a reflection of the actual population or if fewer owls were nesting this fall. Also, we do not know if many of the adult owls has shifted to roosting in nearby natural roost sites and thus are not recorded during the survey. Adding squirrel baffles to boxes that have traditionally had some squirrel activity has reduced the number of boxes occupied by squirrels. We also have tried to reduce the access to the boxes by squirrels by trimming overhanging or nearby tree limbs. Squirrels, as you might know, are very persistent and clever, but we think we finally have them under control.

Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative Research Conference

Friday, November 2 - 5

The Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative (NBI) facilitates collaboration, research, and data storage and sharing between on and off-island researchers, conservation interests, and the general public.

The goal of the NBI Research Program is to increase knowledge of understudied taxonomic groups and of the overall biodiversity of Nantucket, Tuckernuck, Muskeget, and surrounding waters.

The Biodiversity Research Conference is held on Nantucket every other year during odd years. This is an excellent opportunity to share your research, network with other researchers and naturalists, and to get an overview of the many different research projects on Nantucket and surrounding areas! 

All Conference Events are open to the public and require advanced registration. Registration fees directly support the NBI Research Grant Program. Registrants 18 and younger are free.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Students Visit the MMA

This fall, a WPI study team is joining us to assess the MMA internship program's impact on science. As part of this assessment, they are sending out surveys to former interns via email to learn more about their time at the MMA and subsequent career accomplishments.

If you are a former MMA intern and are interested in participating in this study, they would greatly appreciate you emailing them at WPIStudy@mariamitchell.org. Please include your name, preferred email address, and internship field with us. Thank you for your time!

Since 2008, over 281 WPI students have conducted seventy-nine projects on Nantucket through the Nantucket Project Center in collaboration with various local organizations and town committees and departments. The MMA has been a part of this, and is grateful to offer wonderful, real-world opportunities for WPI students. Learn more here.

The Annual Celebration of Generosity is Coming Soon!

Recap: Ring of Fire

Annular Solar Eclipse

The MMA had a nice turn out of inquisitive guests for the Annular Solar Eclipse on October 14. We were able to view the sun using our safe and complimentary keepsake MMA eclipse glasses, our solar telescope, the sun spotter (which creates a projection of the sun's image), a pinhole camera, a colander (an easy, quick way to make many pinholes!), and several iPads streaming the eclipse live from other locations across the USA, as well as our own slides to help explain the eclipse and its path.

With help from MMA Post-Bac Research Fellows, August Muller and Emmy Wisz, we welcomed approximately sixty people over the course of the two hour long event. While the morning started out sunny and with blue skies, by the start of the eclipse, cloud cover had moved in. However, we kept an eye out and were able to observe the eclipse through holes in the clouds. Especially exciting was a small break in the clouds right around the peak of the eclipse at 1:30pm!

The second, and more dramatic eclipse, is coming in April 8, 2024. Stay tuned!

Recap: 2023 Aquarium Release Day

Our annual Aquarium Release Day on Saturday, October 7 was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who joined us to help release and say a farewell to our amazing marine friends.

The MMA Aquarium is dedicated to educating the public about the importance of the biodiversity found in our unique marine ecosystems here on Nantucket. Each summer, the MMA Aquarium Director, Jack Dubinsky as well as his team of dedicated college interns and volunteers, explore the shores of Nantucket and find and document an assortment of over 7,500 individual marine animals, most of which are recorded and released. They snorkel, seine, and beachcomb to collect over 300 different marine animals. These animals are studied and cared for so that the MMA can help people to learn more about these important marine organisms while they are featured at the popular aquarium throughout the season. These marine animals represent roughly seventy different species collected by the MMA staff in tandem with local fishermen.

 We hope you join us again next year!

2023 Fifth Grade Trees in the Community

White Oaks, Flowering Dogwoods, Red Maples, OH MY! For the thirteenth year, the Trees in the Community Program has reached every fifth grade classroom on Nantucket with the goal to connect students to the importance of trees and inspire planting them in the community. Lessons dive into tree identification and end in planting demonstrations. Students are asked important questions such as: How can scientists tell the difference between two species? What characteristics make a tree unique? Why are trees vital to communities and the planet? 

This year, students were able to choose between White Oaks, Flowering Dogwoods, Red Maples, American Elms, and Eastern Red Cedars to take home on Tree Delivery Day. The purchase of these trees was generously funded by the Nantucket Garden Club, whose support has helped make this program possible. Every year, students gleam with enthusiasm as they receive their tree, and there is hope that the trees are planted and alive for years to come. In fact, this past summer, Education Intern, Alex Johnson, shared that his tree is alive and well over ten years later! One small act can leave a lasting impact for generations, and the MMA hopes to inspire this connection to community for years to come.  

 A gracious and heartfelt thank you to the Nantucket Garden Club for their funding of this program. For over a decade, students have been able to learn more about native trees and the importance of growing native species thanks to this program!

Vote for MMA: 2024 Best of Cape Cod & Islands

Were you blown away by your visit to the Loines Observatory, the MMA Aquarium, Mitchell House or the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum? Did your children develop a new appreciation for the outdoors during one of our Discovery Camp sessions? Spread the word by voting for any of the MMA's programs, events, or properties in the "2024 Best of Cape Cod & the Islands Awards."

Thank you to Cape Cod Life and our voters for Best Museum, Best Family Activity, and Best Kids Activity for 2023. We are so grateful that you appreciate our hard work and we hope we continue to inspire the next generation of scientists and environmental stewards.

Local graduate gemologist, Anna P. Jay is delighted to be collaborating with the Maria Mitchell Association for an exclusive collection of Maria Mitchell inspired pieces. The collection is available for the upcoming holiday season (orders must be placed by November 15 for a timely delivery) and 20% of each sale will be donated back to the MMA.

The timeless and one-of-a-kind collection includes perfect pieces for both Maria Mitchell and Nantucket enthusiasts alike, and includes a Maria Mitchell Charm Bracelet in sterling silver and a Maria Mitchell Cuff (available in three options).

The Charm Bracelet is sterling silver, measures 7" with toggle clasp, and includes five Maria Mitchell Charms. The charms include: Nantucket Island, the letter "V" for visionary, a telescope, a disk (engraved with "Maria Mitchell" and "2023"), and a starfish.

The Cuff includes these significant Nantucket landmarks (but can be customized to feature your favorites!): Brant Point and Sankaty Lighthouses, a Beetle Cat Sailboat, the First Congregational and Unitarian Universalist churches, The Chicken Box, Old North Wharf, the MMA's Loines Observatory, the MMA Aquarium, and Maria Mitchell's Comet (with a sparkling diamond). This beautifully designed cuff bracelet is available in sterling silver, 14K yellow gold, and 14k yellow gold with a diamond border.

Place your order by November 15 for holiday delivery.

The MMA bid an emotional farewell to our Aquarium location at 28 Washington Street. It will be moving to a temporary location for the 2024 season. We would like to thank Neil Patterson, Jesse Bell, and the commissioners of the Nantucket Islands Land Bank for their patience and support.

The MMA announced our preliminary plans to move and expand the Aquarium on October 7, 2023. The new expansion will be located at 33 Washington Street and will incorporate four of the existing buildings on the site. The reimagined space will feature hands-on and experiential learning opportunities, an expanded, state-of-the-art aquarium and marine biology lab, rotating exhibits highlighting the history of Maria Mitchell and her role in history, community gathering spaces, and improved residential housing for MMA staff. The MMA will open a temporary aquarium during the construction phase of the new MMA Aquarium and Discovery Center.

Due to its location on Washington Street, one of the most frequently flooded areas on the island, the MMA is uniquely positioned to adopt a leadership role in coastal resiliency. The MMA has been working with resiliency experts, engineers, designers, and others to calculate a plan that would manage flooding and drainage in the area based on the 100-year storm. “We are committed to our role in scientific education, lifelong learning, and the preservation of Maria Mitchell’s legacy,” says Joanna Roche, Executive Director. The MMA Discovery Center and Aquarium will be the most visible, public-facing center for discovery and science focused on STEM education on Nantucket.

Coffee and Conversation with Joanna Roche

MMA Research Center, 2 Vestal Street

Saturday, November 4

10:30am - 12pm

Join the MMA's Executive Director, Joanna Roche, for "Coffee and Conversation" as we display the preliminary plans to move and expand the MMA Aquarium. This free event is designed to foster conversation with the Nantucket community about the future MMA Aquarium and Discovery Center. Joanna Roche and members of the design team, Jascin Leonardo Finger and Ben Normand, will be available to answer questions.

Coffee and Conversation is a discussion organized by the Maria Mitchell Association to engage the community, MMA members, and those interested in learning more about the MMA. This casual conversation is designed for adults and is a walk-through event. 

Pre-registration is recommended but walk-ins are welcome.

Richard Ward

Join us Wednesday,

November 29

On Zoom

At 7pm EST as we welcome Richard Ward as our featured presenter for the November Science Speaker Series.

"Don’t Click That Link!"

The Internet has brought amazing services to your living room and phone, from streaming music and movies, to online commerce and banking. At the same time, this brave new world has created an environment rich with bad actors, scams, attacks, breaches, data-spills, and more. There are a lot of threats out there, but being aware of which ones are real, which ones are myth, which ones are likely, and which are rare will help you navigate the Net more safely. 

In this presentation, Richard Ward will discuss some of the common threats and work our way up to some very sophisticated attacks that have become part of the threat landscape.

Richard Ward, B.S, Technical Fellow, leads the Enterprise and Security team for the Microsoft Windows and Devices Group. There, he oversees the engineering teams responsible for the security of the Windows platform, as well as the connection to the commercial customers and their requirements. Previously, he ran the Storage and Networking team for Windows; as well as the Windows Phone team, running the Developer Platform team; and the Windows Mobile Labs team, focused on incubation and prototyping of new technologies in the mobile space. Ward joined the Windows Mobile team after a long stay in Windows, where he headed the Core Architecture team. In that role, he focused on broad design issues such as state separation and management for both Windows components as well as applications. Ward also ran the security development team for Windows NT 3.5 and NT 4.0 and the core security group for Windows 2000. During this time, Ward wrote the first SSL and Kerberos implementations for Microsoft, and oversaw the evolution of the original NTLM authentication protocol. Ward joined Microsoft in 1989 as a security developer for the LAN Manager product line.

This presentation is complimentary and held via Zoom.

Pre-registration required.

"If you don't look, you don't see. You have to go and look."

-Edith Andrews

Recently a small group of lucky birders enjoyed a rare sight of a Long-tailed Jaeger from the beach. Outside of the breeding season this pelagic species is usually seen at the edge of the continental shelf, or in the open ocean. A good find at Smith’s Point!

Photo by Tom Griswold

Bird On!

By Ginger Andrews

In November, we look for rarities. Some birds here are rare due to location – they are common elsewhere but rarely make the trip east, or west, to land on Nantucket. Others are rare because their population has dwindled into the danger zone. Some are merely nomadic and just behaving normally, spreading out looking for food. Some are explorers, taking advantage of winds or tides, looking for new opportunities when their species has had an exceptionally good year and they need to find new territory. And, some are noteworthy because their timing doesn’t match up with others of their species.

So, it pays to look hard at details, because we never know what might land on Nantucket. It is also interesting to see tired birds on migration flopping down in unexpected places. A Great Crested Flycatcher on the beach? Not its usual habitat – but perhaps a life-saving pit stop. And always try to get a photo, or bird with someone who has a good camera. To quote the late Vern Laux, “If there’s no photo, it didn’t happen.”

A couple of caveats for November birding: be aware of hunting season! Know where you are. Most of our conservation groups have information and maps online. Know what species are being harvested and which areas are open and which closed to hunting. Wear reflective clothing. And remember, Nantucket is estimated to have between four and five thousand deer, which is way too many for our small Island. Be respectful of hunters’ stands and hours. Remember, if there had been no hunters back in the day, there would be no conservation areas.

Sustainable Scalloping Field Trip

Hither Creek Beach Access (near 25 Massachusetts Ave.)

Offered Fridays and Sundays

Nov. 3 - Nov. 19

1pm - 2pm

Join the Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium Director, Jack Dubinsky, on a sustainable scalloping adventure! As we collect bay scallops, we will learn all about their biology and the challenges they face. Waders, hand nets, and bathyscopes will be provided! This trip requires a valid shellfish permit in order to take home bay scallops.

This program is designed to be interesting for adults and children ages 10 and older. All registered children must be accompanied by a registered adult to participate in this program. Personal transport to and from the meeting location is required to participate.

For more information on obtaining an individual shellfish permit, visit the Town of Nantucket website: https://www.nantucket-ma.gov/2304/Recreational-Shellfish-Permit.

Dates: November 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, and 19.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Registration closes 2 hours before the start of the program.

Ask about our private Sustainable Scalloping opportunities.

Full Moon Walk

4 Vestal Street

Offered Monday, November 27

7pm - 8pm

Join Joanna Roche on a peaceful one hour walk brightened by the beauty of the full Moon. Connect yourself to the sky and with nature as we discuss legends and narratives of the past and present.

This tranquil opportunity will teach about our Moon's current themes and its important symbolism. End your night with a fulfilling journey learning of the wonders of Earth's closest celestial body in its complete form.

Please dress for the current weather conditions. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be cancelled and participants notified.

This walk is recommended for all ages and is free to the public.

Pre-registration is required as space is limited.

OPEN NIGHTS:

"Look Up!" at Loines Observatory

59 Milk Street Ext.

Offered Thursdays

6:30pm - 7:30pm

*Closed November 23 for Thanksgiving

Join our astronomers for an impressive tour of Nantucket’s night sky. Get a chance to view the moon, planets, stars, nebulae, and even distant galaxies through the MMA’s telescopes! Learn more about the constellations, phases of the moon, the planets, and why eclipses happen.

This stargazing program is designed to be engaging and interactive for all ages but with a focus on young adults and students of K-12 grades. This community-centered program provides an opportunity for students, educators, and families of Nantucket to visit the Loines Observatory and learn more about the night sky.

This program is complimentary courtesy of the Weezie Foundation and other generous sponsors. In the event of inclement weather, this program will not be held. For weather updates, check our website for alerts.

Pre-registration is recommended.

Special Open Night: THANKSGIVING WEEK STARGAZING

at Loines Observatory

59 Milk Street Ext.

7pm - 8pm

Tuesday, November 21

Wednesday, November 22

Join our astronomers for a special Pop-Up Stargazing Program. Our astronomers will lead an impressive tour of Nantucket’s night sky and 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!

This program begins promptly at the event start time. Please arrive 10 minutes before the program start time. Please dress for the weather conditions at the time of the event, as this program takes place outside.

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 5pm if the event will be cancelled. 

This program is geared toward all ages. At least one adult must sign up with children. 

Pre-registration is recommended.

NSF-REU Internships in Astronomy Now Open!

Six internship positions with the MMA are now available for qualified undergraduate astronomy and physics students through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, which is supported by a generous grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

NSF-REU students at the MMA work on individualized research projects under the guidance of experienced astronomers. Click the link below for more information on these positions. 

NIGHT SKY NOVEMBER ALMANAC

by Nick Graber,

MMA Astronomy Program Assistant

Our view of the night sky is constantly changing as the Earth makes its way around the Sun. Each month gives us a chance to observe some new things, so check out our highlights below for November 2023!

This month is a great time to view a tiny and beloved constant of the night sky, the Pleiades star cluster, as well as its sister the Hyades cluster. Both are open star clusters, groups of tens to thousands of stars that were all “born” at the same time, and from the same cloud of gaseous material. Now these stars float together in space, gravitationally bound together.

The stars of the Pleiades, also known as the "Seven Sisters" (and used by Subaru for its logo), actually contain more than a thousand stars, with up to fourteen being visible to the naked eye under the darkest skies. If you’re in a more well-lit area, however, it may be hard to distinguish individual stars at all, and the cluster may look more like a fuzzy blob. You can use a technique called averted vision to get a better look: instead of looking directly at the Pleiades, try pointing your eyes a bit to the side, and see the stars appear brighter in your peripheral vision. This is because human eyes are better at seeing faint objects towards the edge of the pupil compared to the center! The Hyades cluster doesn’t have the same problem, as it doesn’t appear as close together as the Pleiades. To see the Hyades, locate the center or “head” of Taurus, five or so stars shaped like a small triangle near the Pleiades. These stars are all part of the Hyades. A notable exception is the star Aldebaran, the brightest in Taurus, which overlaps with the Hyades but is actually much closer to Earth and is unrelated to the cluster.

As the Earth makes its way around the sun, different constellations will be visible in the night sky. November is the best time to view the constellations Cassiopeia, Cepheus, and Pisces. The first two of these relate to October’s Andromeda constellation as they are the mythological parents of the maiden and they appear near their daughter in the northern sky. Cassiopeia is perhaps the easiest to spot, a distinctive "W" shape where the three “peaks” always point towards Polaris. Cepheus, Andromeda’s father, is a fainter constellation that appears between Polaris and Cassiopeia. It’s shaped like a little house: a triangle on top of a rectangle, with the peak of the roof nearest to the north star. Extending a line from Polaris through both parents will point you back to Andromeda.

In the southern sky, we can look for the zodiacal constellation of Pisces by starting at the “great square” of Pegasus, discussed last month. This huge square – tipped up on a corner like a baseball diamond – connects to Andromeda off of its third base, but if we look down below home plate we will see Pisces the fish. The two swimming fish connect in a long "V" of stars, with small circular “heads” at the two ends of the "V" shape. Pisces is made up of dim stars, but under a clear Nantucket sky it will be visible!

Jupiter has been the star of the show this fall, being at its brightest from early October through the beginning of November. Look for it shining brighter than any other point of light in the East, nice and high in the sky all night long. Saturn won’t be too far away, a slightly dimmer orange point of light a little higher up in the South. For early risers, Venus will be the brightest “morning star” in the eastern sky. Keep an eye out for our biweekly emails, which include timetables of rise and set times for our moon and planets!

Looking Skyward:

In this edition of "Looking Skyward," WCAI's John Basile talks with Dr. Regina Jorgenson of the Maria Mitchell Association Observatory about the most recent and upcoming solar eclipse. The first occurred last month (October). The second, and more dramatic, eclipse is not until April 2024.

Listen here!!

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!

Hinchman House Natural Science Museum Gift Shop, 7 Milk Street

Stop by our gift shop at the Natural Science Museum or shop online! Check out our unique gifts for the upcoming holiday season. There is something special for everyone!

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: