E-Comet Newsletter of the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association |
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Dear Friends –
Spring is beginning to blow onto to the island. Likely you’ve seen robins in your yard already and the first tops of the daffodils that will join us next month. March can be stormy and grey or filled with the first warmth of the season. Either way, we have plenty for you to explore this month both inside and out!
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March 9th – Look Up Program at Loines Observatory
- March 9th – Winter Science Speaker Series: Mark Losavio, Alumni Aquarium Intern
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March 11th – Look Up Program at Loines Observatory
- March 19th – 8th Annual Nantucket Science Fest
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March 19th – Snowy Owl Quest with Ginger Andrews
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March 23rd – Winter Science Speaker Series: Emmy Gagne, Alumni Natural Science Intern
We’ve launched the Star Report on 97.7FM and now every Friday morning you can learn about what you can see in the night skies over the weekend – and if you miss it, you can check it out on our website. A special thank you to our Astronomy Research Fellow, Celia Mulcahey, for sharing her passion and perspective with us.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all – Emily Dickenson
Be well,
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Joanna Roche
Executive Director
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Maria Mitchell Subject of New Choral Work, “The Ways of Stars” |
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During her years at Vassar College, one of Maria’s classes created a song about her set to the music of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Another class, commissioned a bust of their beloved professor – it still stands in the niche at the Vassar College Observatory and the MMA has a bronze copy that was donated to us. Maria was secretly a bit pleased by both, though she was not pleased with posing for a bust that required her having to be measured.
People continue to be inspired by her and to find ways to commemorate her life and work. Over the last year or so, the Maria Mitchell Association has been speaking with the Atlanta Master Chorale (AMC) as they put together their performance “The Ways of the Stars” by composer Jake Runstead.
The AMC is an over forty-year-old chorale group that has received numerous accolades over the years. Before the Pandemic, the group performed a choral piece by Runstead concerning the fears faced by Beethoven as he approached the loss of his hearing. The AMC was inspired by this work and commissioned Runstead for its own piece. Runstead chose to look at Maria Mitchell and her life and work. This particular piece focuses on her eclipse viewing trip to Burlington, Iowa in 1869. She travelled out West with several of her students to observe, creating quite a stir as the only all-female group and also for the simple fact they were a group of women travelling cross country. She would publish an account of the eclipse in the October 1869 edition of “Hours at Home” and this is what inspired Runstead.
There are two opportunities to participate (virtually) in this exciting event. Prior to the special concert, you can join AMC for their upcoming Spirited Conversations: Behind the Scores program on March 9, 2022, at Noon. Atlanta Master Chorale Artistic Director Eric Nelson and Jake Runestad, renowned composer and “Choral Rockstar (American Public Media) will discuss the composition’s concept, its development, composition, and the upcoming premiere. This is a free event.
The world premiere of the piece will be performed at Emory University March 11 and 12 and there is a virtual offering. The virtual offering is for the Saturday, March 12th concert and there is a $15 fee. Register via the link below.
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Maria Mitchell in the News |
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In case you missed it – here is an inspiring article that was featured in last month's Boston Globe Magazine. Writer Michael Sims shares how Maria broadened the discipline of astronomy and inspired generations "who would forever change the way we see the night sky." The article includes interviews with MMA Director of Astronomy, Dr. Regina Jorgenson, and University of New Hampshire professor, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, who was a MMA Science Speaker Series presenter in 2021.
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8th Annual Nantucket Science Festival |
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Let's get curious about science! Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 19th and get ready to join the Maria Mitchell Association, Nantucket Community School (NCS), and numerous community partners for the 8th annual Nantucket Science Festival. This year's theme of "Coast, Climate, and Curiosity!” supports the MMA's mission of creating 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. This event is free and open to the public.
Since its launch in 2015, the Nantucket Science Festival has continued to grow and is now recognized as the largest winter community event on island. Last year’s festival was comprised of COVID-safe programming that included at-home DIY activities and kits, outdoor adventures, and a video and photography contest. This year's program is planning to be entirely in-person at the Nantucket High School Gymnasium. Participants will enjoy fun and engaging STEM activities designed for learners of all ages and presented by the MMA, NCS, and our non-profit partners.
The Nantucket Science Festival is made possible thanks to the generosity of its volunteers, partners, and sponsors. Visit our website for more information.
A special thank you to our lead sponsors:
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MMA Astronomy Research Fellow, Celia Mulcahey, and MMA Director of Astronomy, Dr. Regina Jorgenson, recently spent a long weekend night using the largest optical telescope in the world – the Keck Observatory, located on Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai’i. Their observations utilized the laser guide star adaptive optics (LGSAO) mode of the telescope, which entails sending a powerful laser into the sky to create an artificial ‘star’ that the telescope’s adaptive optics system can then use to correct the distortions created by the Earth’s atmosphere. The LGSAO, in combination with the telescope’s ten-meter diameter mirror, means that the Keck telescope can see more clearly than the Hubble Space Telescope.
There are many steps to get to this point, from writing an observing proposal and winning time on the telescope, to preparing the technical details of the experiment and planning out a detailed sequence of events. Time on the Keck telescopes is very valuable – both figuratively and literally (at $60,000+ per night to operate!) – that observers plan out every second of their time in order to maximize the scientific return. And this past weekend, Celia and Regina lucked out with good weather and a fairly well-behaved LGSAO system. But all of this is just the first step in the process and now Celia, Regina, and their collaborators will spend the next several weeks reducing the data and interpreting the results. Stay tuned for exciting new scientific discoveries!
Fun fact: The laser guide star adaptive optics is a complex system that requires us to pass our targets through US Space Command beforehand!
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Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics (LGS AO) at the Keck Observatory, Hawaii.
Image courtesy of Dan Birchall
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Astronomers at Work!
Celia Mulcahey (left) and Dr. Regina Jorgenson (right)
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Enjoy the MMA's new podcast, The Nature of Nantucket, brought to you by 97.7FM. The program airs on 97.7 every Sunday at 7:20am. You can also listen to each podcast via Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Don't miss MMA Executive Director, Joanna Roche, host interviews with Helene Weld, Jascin Leonardo Finger, Ginger Andrews, Jack Dubinsky, Will Kinsella of ACKlimate, Lou Perrotti of the Roger Williams Park Zoo, and more!
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Winter Science Speaker Series |
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We are delighted to bring back our popular Winter Science Speaker Series, featuring intern alumni who join us to discuss their fascinating research and the projects they have been involved with since their time at the MMA. Topics will include astronomy, natural history collections, marine science research, and more! The speaker series is scheduled for alternating Wednesdays now through April 20th, from 7–8PM EST via Zoom, and is made possible with thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Bank of America and Supporting Sponsors: Thirty Meter Telescope, Cisco Brewers, The Osceola Foundation, and the White Elephant.
Next up on Wednesday, March 9th is Mark Losavio, a former MMA Aquarium Intern from 2014. His talk, “Your National Marine Sanctuaries” will discuss what national marine sanctuaries are and how they come to be. Losavio will showcase a few specific sites, and explain how the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries plans on celebrating the 50th anniversary of the sanctuary system.
Losavio represents the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, the nation's first in a series of fifteen National Marine Sanctuaries and Monuments managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As the Media and Outreach Coordinator, Losavio works to share the science, stories, and relevance of the sanctuaries with a national audience. Hailing from Kentucky, Losavio holds a bachelor's degree in marine science from the University of South Carolina and a master's degree in marine biology from Northeastern University.
Then on March 23rd, former MMA Natural Science Intern, Emmy Gagne, will join us for a talk entitled, "Increasing Scientific Capacity Through Workshopping: Delivering Educational Material to International Participants." Learning how to visualize and understand genetic data is a valuable skill for scientists, especially as access to sequencing data expands. Gagne's talk will discuss the importance of delivering bioinformatics workshops to participants in Madagascar and will review methods that can be utilized to deliver educational material to international participants.
Emily Gagne is a third-year PhD student studying Ecology at the Pennsylvania State University. She is broadly interested in both evolutionary biology and biology education research at the college level. While receiving her B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Maine, she was a Natural Science Intern at the Maria Mitchell Association in 2018.
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The Maria Mitchell Association's Look Up Program continues this month! The Look Up Program provides the opportunity for every student and teacher in the Nantucket school system, public and private, to visit Loines Observatory with their families and learn from our professional astronomers. We are thrilled to offer this program completely free of charge!
This month, there will be a Look Up Program on Wednesday, March 9th and Friday, March 11th from 7–8PM. No registration is required to attend this program. All participants receive a free star chart and special edition Look Up Program t-shirt designed by Malcolm Brooks. This outdoor program is weather dependent; please visit our website for updates regarding possible Look Up Program cancellations due to rain or snow.
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Our Natural Science Museum is open on Saturdays from 10–1PM. In honor of Women's History month, join us for Women Scientists History Month and discover themed trivia, books, and more!
Admission is $5 per person and FREE for Members! Included with admission is the 10–11AM Animal Feeding program with museum staff. No registration is required.
Next door, the MMA's Research Center is also hosting Open Hours on Saturdays from 10:30AM–12PM, where you can learn about our collections from MMA Field Ornithologist, Ginger Andrews.
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Birding For Beginners, Snowy Owl Quests, and Beach Biology Field Trips continue throughout the month of February.
Birding for Beginners - Saturdays from 7:45AM-10AM
$5 Members | $10 Non-Members
Led by MMA Field Ornithologist, Ginger Andrews, Birding for Beginners is an introduction to finding and identifying birds. Learn about bird families, habitats, common local birds, how to use field guides, tips for seeing birds, and how to adjust your binoculars for best vision. Participants will go out and see what birds can be found around the town area. Binoculars are available for loan while supplies last.
Registration is suggested as the program is limited to 10 guests.
Interested in a private bird walk with Ginger Andrews? Call us at 508-228-9198 or email Jack Dubinsky for more information.
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Snowy Owl Quest - March 19th from 2-4:00PM
$10 Members | $15 Non-Members
Join the MMA’s Field Ornithologist, Ginger Andrews, on an exciting afternoon birding experience – the Snowy Owl Quest! We will visit sites in search of a snowy owl. While a snowy owl sighting is not guaranteed, you will learn about their behaviors and ecology, as well as get to see other species from the Nantucket winter bird community.
This program meets at the MMA Research Center at 2 Vestal Street. Pre-registration and transportation are required. Binoculars are available for loan while supplies last. Limited to 10 participants. Please dress for the weather. The Snowy Owl Quest is meant for adults, but children 8 and up are welcome to register with an adult guardian.
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Beach Biology Field Trips - Saturdays from 2-3:30PM
$10 Members | $25 Non-Members
Join our Aquarium staff to learn about the fascinating biology, ecology, and geology that make Nantucket's beaches so unique. We will discover shells and bones of over 15 species of marine animals and are likely to observe live mole crabs, sand fleas, shore birds, beach insects, and seals!
This program meets at the Madaket Beach Parking Lot at 2:00PM. Participants must have their own transportation. At least one adult must sign up and be present with children.
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“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.”
-Edith Andrews
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Keep Calm and Bird On
By Ginger Andrews
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March is a great month for birding! There are times when spring pops open and times when winter says, “not so fast”, sometimes all on the same day. But jumbled as temperatures and winds maybe, there is always something to look at. Longer days mark the changing of the guard, bird-wise. Winter birds become restless and the earliest spring migrants begin to return. Scaup will be heading north for the tundra; mixed flocks are an opportunity to study them. If you missed Harlequin Ducks, Purple Sandpipers or a Snowy Owl; if you want just one more look at a Tufted Duck, this is the time to get out and look before they depart. |
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Winter Wellness Collaboration
The MMA is thrilled to participate in the Nantucket Land Council's new program –Winter Wellness Walks. Other partners include the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket Land Bank, and the Linda Loring Nature Foundation. These monthly walks, hosted Sundays at 1pm, will last approximately 45 - 60 minutes and will be led by staff from the partner organizations. Advance registration required. View the full schedule here. Let's get outdoors and enjoy Nantucket's natural environment together.
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The MMA is incredibly grateful for our partners and collaborators who support our efforts to make science education accessible to all.
We are thankful for Cape Cod 5 Foundation's continued support of the Nantucket Science Festival. With thanks to their sponsorship, we are able to continue to offer this popular community event free of charge.
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Did you know that you can watch all of our Winter Science Speaker Series lectures on our YouTube channel?!
Watch Alexandra Mannings' presentation, "Using Hubble to Investigate the Mystery of Fast Radio Bursts" and Anne Blackwell's talk, "Mystery of the Missing Metals - Finding the Origin of Metals in Galaxy Clusters" using the link below.
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Listen to the latest episode of "Looking Skyward," a podcast with MMA Director of Astronomy, Dr. Regina Jorgenson, on WCAI. In this episode, Dr. Jorgenson discusses the anticipated collision of two large black holes many light years from Earth.
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And don't miss our weekly Star Report with MMA Astronomy Research Fellow Celia Mulcahey. Learn about what is currently visible in Nantucket's night sky. Celia will highlight constellations, planets, and more!
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Learn more about Maria Mitchell and the MMA with "Maria Mitchell's Attic," a blog written on a weekly basis by the MMA's Deputy Director and Curator, Jascin Leonardo Finger.
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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. |
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Support the Maria Mitchell Association: |
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