Press Releases

NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is thrilled to welcome photographer, Charity Grace Mofsen, as an Artist-in-Residence May 31 – August 5, 2024. Mofsen’s astrophotography will be on display at an opening reception on Friday, May 31 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at 33 Washington Street. This event is free to the public. In addition to Mofsen’s opening reception on Friday, May 31, gallery open hours will be held from 5:30pm – 7:30pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday starting May 31 and ending August 4 at 33 Washington Street (subject to changes). Please check our website calendar for up-to-date hours at: https://www.mariamitchell.org/calendar Charity Grace Mofsen captures the island of Nantucket in all its glory – in light and at night. With a particular affinity for astrophotography, she believes there is always light, if you have eyes to see it. From fine art landscapes to intimate weddings, fun portrait sessions, and creative product photography, Mofsen finds joy sharing her love of Nantucket with the hope that others will also cherish the island’s natural beauty. Returning as an Artist-in-Residence for the Maria Mitchell Association, her work speaks to [wo]man’s connection to the cosmos. Describing her style as meditative, Mofsen highlights the beauty of the island’s contrasts – the solitude of the off-season and the joy of summer, the colors of the light and the wisdom of the night. This year’s show will expand to include new work from off-island locations blessed with dark skies.  “I’m really looking forward to working with the Maria Mitchell Association again and creating new work during this year’s Artist-in-Residency program. This year’s show, ‘A Love Starry,’ will feature my Milky Way portrait series – fine art astro portraiture – alongside my fine art landscapes of Nantucket Island, with a couple of new locations added this year. I’ll also be hosting some exciting events at 33 Washington Street to really experience each piece of work that is on display The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###

NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces it will celebrate DarkSky International’s International Dark Sky week, slated for April 2-8, 2024. In honor of this event, the MMA will host a free public Stargazing Open Night at Loines Observatory, 59 Milk Street Extension, on Thursday, April 4, from 8-9pm. 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. Registration is required and can be found at: https://112458a.blackbaudhosting.com/112458a/Look-Up-at-Loines-04Apr2024 Keep your eyes peeled for other Dark Sky week activities happening with the MMA on our calendar: https://www.mariamitchell.org/calendar . International Dark Sky Week was founded in 2003 by then-high school student, Jennifer Barlow, with the goals of reducing light pollution and raising awareness about its effects on the night sky, encouraging the usage of better and safer nighttime lighting systems, and promoting the study of astronomy. The mission of DarkSky International is to promote, “Win-win solutions that allow people to appreciate dark, star-filled skies while enjoying the benefits of responsible outdoor lighting.” “This year, International Dark Sky week overlaps with the celestial event of the year – the Great North American solar eclipse happening on April 8. We encourage everyone to safely enjoy the partial solar eclipse from here on Nantucket during the daytime, and then to check out Nantucket’s fantastically dark skies at night!” states Dr. Regina Jorgenson, the MMA’s Director of Astronomy.  You can find more information about DarkSky International on their website: https://darksky.org/, about International Dark Sky Week: https://idsw.darksky.org/, and about Nantucket Lights at their website: https://nantucketlights.org/. For more information regarding the MMA’s activities around the Great North American Eclipse on April 8, please visit our calendar at https://www.mariamitchell.org/calendar. The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###

NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces its 10th annual Nantucket Science Festival (AckSciFest) to be held March 16, 2024, in collaboration with over fifteen Nantucket community partner organizations. The MMA will host its FREE STEAM-inspired day of hands-on learning and exploration on Saturday, March 16 from 10:30am – 2pm, with the addition of a designated sensory friendly hour, for diverse families, starting at 9:30am. Since its inception in 2015, the MMA and its community partners have collaborated to inspire the next generation of inventors, innovators, and dreamers. This year’s theme focuses on “Cultivating Curiosity” and a mission to expose the Nantucket community to intersectional STEAM experiences. This event exemplifies 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 land, sea, and sky of Nantucket Island. This festival has become the largest late winter/pre-spring event and over fifteen organizations are joining to host tables and share unique hands-on activities again this year! In 2024, one way the Festival will reinforce the cultivation of curiosity is by collaborating with a diverse portfolio of community partners to demonstrate the diversity of STEAM. “We are thrilled to return for yet another year with a robust festival offering,” said Jónelle Gurley, coordinator of AckSciFest and Director of Science and Programs at the MMA. “The number of community collaborators this year exceeds what we had in the last few years, and we are excited to partner with new collaborators like S.T.A.R. Nantucket, the Nantucket Fire department, the Artists Association of Nantucket, and Nantucket Lights.” This year’s community partner organizations include: the Artists Association of Nantucket, Egan Maritime Institute, Girl Scouts - Nantucket, Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Mass Audubon, Nantucket Chamber of Commerce, Nantucket Community School, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket Land and Water Council, Nantucket Lights, Nantucket New School, Nantucket Shellfish Association, Oika, UMASS Boston Field Station, The Trustees of Reservations Nantucket, Nantucket S.T.A.R, and Sustainable Nantucket. All will be highlighting the incredible opportunities to get, and stay, curious about STEAM on Nantucket. This event is completely FREE of charge and takes place at the Nantucket High School Gymnasium. Attendees will be able to participate in a range of hands-on activities and experiences. There will be a marine mobile touch tank and oyster filtration activity, a climate and weather monitoring station a marine mysteries activity, an owl pellet identification, sensory crafts, general chemistry and astronomy related activities, and engineering and space exploration fun. The Nantucket Science Festival is made possible thanks to the generosity of its volunteers, partner organizations, and generous sponsors. ABOUT THE NANTUCKET SCIENCE FESTIVAL Founded in 2015, the Nantucket Science Festival is a mid-March collaborative community event, featuring hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics activities. It is an initiative of the Maria Mitchell Association in partnership with various Nantucket non-profit organizations, schools, and businesses. For more information, please visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/nantucket-science-festival ABOUT MARIA MITCHELL ASSOCIATION The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###

NANTUCKET, MA — The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it has entered into a five-year lease agreement with Rick Kotalac and the Nantucket Anglers Club for the property located at 32 Washington Street. The MMA will use the waterfront property to relocate its 28 Washington Street Aquarium, enhance its unique educational programming, and expand the MMA’s retail store, which will include basic marine supplies. For more than forty years, the MMA Aquarium has inspired explorers of all ages to learn about Nantucket Sound’s natural ecosystems. It will continue its living exhibits, marine science programming, and environmental education in its new temporary location at 32 Washington Street. “We are grateful to have found this transitional home through Rick Kotalac and the Anglers Club. It is critical to have secured this location for our Aquarium, as we continue to develop plans for the expansion of our property located across the street at 33 Washington Street.” says Joanna Roche, Executive Director. The MMA will open its expanded retail store in May, with the MMA Aquarium opening on June 10, 2024, along with the MMA’s other sites. In November 2023, the MMA announced the permanent closure of the 28 Washington Street Aquarium and its future planning efforts to reimagine the 33 Washington Street property. The MMA will be taking down the existing buildings, preserving the front building, part of the old Nantucket Railroad to be utilized in the MMA’s new aquarium and science center at 33 Washington Street, and returning the site at 28 Washington Street to the Nantucket Islands Land Bank. The MMA entered into a land swap with the Land Bank in 2012 and has been leasing the property since then. The MMA will formally begin its related capital campaign in the summer of 2024 to fund the design and construction of the new center. The 33 Washington Street property will be a leader in coastal resiliency adaptation, and the most visible, public-facing center for discovery and science focused on STEAM education on Nantucket. The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###

Last month, the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) astronomers travelled to the site of the world’s largest ground-based optical telescopes, the Keck Observatory, located on the Big Island of Hawai’i. The MMA’s National Science Foundation (NSF) astronomy post-baccalaureate research fellows, Emmy Wisz and August Muller, travelled to Keck to obtain observations of distant galaxies for their research projects focused on unraveling the mysteries of the universe. Located at nearly 14,000 feet elevation near the summit of Mauna Kea, Keck is accessed remotely by astronomers around the world who operate the telescopes’ scientific instruments and collect astronomical data. The 10-meter telescopes are essential tools for many research projects, so groups must participate in a competitive process of proposal submission to secure observing time. Because of the effects of potentially severe altitude sickness, astronomers observe from the base of the mountain ̶ at Keck Headquarters in Waimea.

NANTUCKET, MA — The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA), your portal to Nantucket’s natural world, announces the schedule for its After-School Winter Series Program and Winter Break Discovery Week Program. The MMA is extremely excited for the 2024 Winter Series After-School offerings, January 16 - February 22. This is a multi-week series of programming and is day specific with option for multiple days per week that explores Nantucket Island after school. Tuesdays are a six-week series running January 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13, and 20. Wednesdays are a four-week series running January 17, 31 February 7, and 21 (Wednesday January 24 and February 14 are early release days). Thursdays are a six-week series running January 18, 25, February 1, 8, 15, and 22. Participants will be picked up (with parent permission) from the Nantucket Elementary School and Nantucket Intermediary School at 2:20pm, the Nantucket Lighthouse School at 2:30pm, and the Nantucket New School at 2:40pm and depart for the MMA's Hinchman House Natural Science Museum or an outbound location. Pick up will be at 5pm at the Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk Street. Each afternoon holds different activities, crafts, and adventures. School might be out, but the curiosity never stops! MMA Members receive a 20% discount.. Registration can be found at the link below: https://www.mariamitchell.org/afterschoolandearlyreleaseday MMA members receive a 20% discount when signed into their account. The MMA Winter Break Discovery program will take place the week of February 26 – March 1. This program explores Nantucket Island in a fun and curious way. Registration is per day, and the cost is $50 or the entire week can be purchased for $250.00. Participants will be dropped off at the MMA's Hinchman House Natural Science Museum at 8:50am and a MMA naturalist educator will guide participants on an outbound adventure, lead science activities, and crafts each day. Pick up will be at 2pm at the Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk Street. Thanks to the generosity of Susan and Howard Bloom, their family, friends, and others who have contributed funds to honor the memory of Adam Bloom, the MMA is able to offer at least two full scholarships for our Winter Break Discovery Week. More information on scholarships can be found here: https://www.mariamitchell.org/scholarships-discounts Registration can be found at the link below: https://112458a.blackbaudhosting.com/112458a/Winter-2024-Break-Vacation-Programs MMA members receive a 20% discount when signed into their account.  The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###

NANTUCKET, MA — The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it will host Dr. Darby Dyar as a featured presenter for its Science Speaker Series. Her presentation “Looking for Life in Our Solar System: A Mars-Earth-Venus Comparison” will take place on Wednesday, January 24 at 7pm EST. It will be presented via Zoom. This event is free to all. Since the dawn of civilization, humankind has wondered if human life on Earth is alone in the universe. Modern science refines this question to be about the search for water – where life began on Earth – on planets in our solar system and beyond. Recent NASA missions have focused on this issue through studies of subsurface ice on Mars, water cycles on the Earth, and the enigmatic clues of oceans and water left behind on Venus. This talk traces recent and emerging evidence about the presence of water on these three terrestrial planets. Darby Dyar is the Kennedy-Schelkunoff Professor of Astronomy at Mount Holyoke College and Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute. Dyar is a mineralogist and spectroscopist interested in a wide range of problems relating to the evolution of the solar system. She studies the redox state of iron and the abundance of hydrogen in solar system materials using Mössbauer, x-ray absorption, and FTIR spectroscopy. Dyar has pioneered the use of machine learning tools to interpret spectroscopic data. She is the Deputy Principal Investigator on the VERITAS mission to Venus and was a participating scientist on the Mars Science Laboratory science team. Her honors and awards include the G.K. Gilbert Award for outstanding contributions to planetary science from the Geological Society of America (GSA), the Hawley Medal from the Mineralogical Association of Canada, and the Eugene Shoemaker Distinguished Scientist Medal from NASA. She is a Fellow of: GSA, the Mineralogical Society of America, and the Geochemical Society. She earned her B.A. from Wellesley College and her Ph.D. in geochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Pre-registration is required. To register for this event, please follow the link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1TP8z_TzRhqcWaDoopaJZg#/registration This series is generously sponsored by our lead sponsor, Bank of America. The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###

NANTUCKET, MA – The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA), your portal to Nantucket’s natural world, announces its 2024 Discovery Camp schedule and registration is now open to children ages five through sixteen. The MMA will offer age specific weekly sessions this summer full of science education, research, and exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island. The MMA’s award-winning Discovery Camps kick off on June 17 and continues for ten weeks of curiosity, wonder, and exploration. The popular camps featured include, “Animal Signs & The Five Senses,” “Aware in the Wild,” “Underwater Explorations,” “Exploring Art in the Ecosystems,” “Marine Biology Boot Camp,” “Cosmic & Climate Connections,” “Green Guardians,” “Junior Historians - A Walk Through Nantucket,” and “Junior Astronomers – Reaches of the Universe.” Visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/camp-programs to check enrollment availability and to register. Island Families Registration began January 8, and open registration for All Members begins January 15 at 6am. Camp registration is open to MMA Members only. Membership can be activated or renewed at https://www.mariamitchell.org/membership. Membership gives you many benefits including unlimited free admission to the Aquarium, Natural Science Museum, Loines Observatory, and the Historic Mitchell House, discounts on programs and merchandise, and much more. Thanks to a generous gift from EGCF, a non-profit foundation, the MMA offers scholarship opportunities for eligible Nantucket Island residents and visitors. This financial aid program provides an 80% discount off the price of camp sessions. Any family who can demonstrate a need is encouraged to apply. To learn more, visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/scholarships-discounts. Please review the camp programs webpage at https://www.mariamitchell.org/camp-program to learn about the variety of camps offered for each age level and come explore with us! The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ####