For the Release of Stargazer Stout at Cisco Brewers!
Dear Friends:
On this day in 1847, a 29-year-old Maria Mitchell, then serving as librarian at the Nantucket Atheneum, climbed the stairs to the rooftop of the Pacific Bank. There, she spotted something extraordinary — a comet. That discovery would change her life forever, earning her international recognition and becoming one of the many “firsts” that defined her legacy.
Today, we honor that moment of discovery in a very Nantucket way. From 4–7pm at Cisco Brewers, Head Brewer Silas Gilbert will release the Stargazer Stout, “a beer designed to be as unique as Maria Mitchell herself.”
We are deeply grateful to Cisco Brewers for their creativity and generosity, as $1 from every pint sold will be donated to the Maria Mitchell Association.
I like to think Maria would find this amusing — a “medicinal,” as she once called beer, brewed in her name on her beloved island more than a century after she last gazed at the stars from a rooftop.
So please, join us for a toast to Maria Mitchell, to Comet C/1847 T1, and to the ongoing legacy of her work — for women, for astronomy, for science, and for the wonder found in nature and among the stars.
Maria Mitchell today is not just one woman. She is every curious mind that defies expectation.
Each summer, the Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium Manager, Christina Norman and her team of dedicated interns and volunteers, explore the shores of Nantucket and collect an assortment of marine life to feature at our popular Washington Street Aquarium.
The MMA Aquarium is dedicated to educating the public on the importance of biodiversity in our unique marine ecosystems found here on Nantucket. MMA staff snorkel, seine, and beachcomb to find over 100 different marine animals to learn about and care for throughout the season. These marine animals represent roughly 70 different species collected by our staff in tandem with local fishermen.
When the Aquarium closes at the end of each summer season, the MMA staff host our annual Release Day event to say goodbye to our marine friends, thank them for their lessons, and safely return them to their ocean home until we encounter them again.
Veronica Beard is proud to partner with the Maria Mitchell Association on Friday, October 10, to celebrate the power of community and giving back.
Join Joanna Roche, Rebecca Becker, Lo McShay, and Robin Slick for a special shopping event from 3–6pm, with a percentage of all purchases benefiting the Maria Mitchell Association. Stop by, shop, and support a great cause!
Stargazing Programming
Open Night: Stargazing at Loines Observatory
59 Milk Street Ext.
Wednesdays and Fridays | Times Vary Please See Our Calendar
Join our professional astronomers for an impressive tour of Nantucket's night sky. Our 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!
Be on the look out for our special edition Open Nights for Halloween and Thanksgiving Eve!
Saturday, October 4 and Friday, October 10 | 7:45 - 10am
Explore Nantucket’s birdy landscapes and hidden nooks with local bird guide and Inquirer and Mirror columnist, Ginger Andrews. With so many varied habitats so close together, the Island is a great place to look and listen for birds. Our location out at sea makes for a fascinating mix of migratory species and year-round residents. Dry humor—always useful in a foggy environment—natural and human history, unexpected rarities, and other stories fill out the picture. Children eight and up are welcome with an adult guardian. Loaner binoculars are available. Wear sensible shoes, dress for the weather. You never know what may turn up.
Night-time has always had a mysterious appeal, which brings out a whole new cast of avian and other creatures. It requires patience, and a shift of consciousness from sight to hearing. Join the MMA's Field Ornithologist, Ginger Andrews, as we listen for calls of a variety of nocturnal animals and birds. We will watch for owls as they begin their nightly activity. While an owl sighting is not guaranteed, you will certainly be able to observe several fascinating nocturnal animal species.
Join MMA Executive Director, Joanna Roche, on a peaceful one hour walk (up to 2 miles on uneven terrain) under the light of the full Moon. Discover the legends and narratives of the past and present. Enjoy the tranquility of the quiet night sky and learn about our Moon's current themes and its important symbolism.
The Harvest Moon is named for its close proximity to the autumnal equinox, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, marking the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. The date of the Harvest Moon can vary from year to year depending on the lunar cycle and the exact timing of the autumnal equinox.
Step outside and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Nantucket with
En Plein Air, an outdoor painting and drawing class designed to help you capture the island's stunning landscapes in vibrant color. Led by Nikoline Bohr, this class will guide you through the techniques of plein air painting—creating art directly from nature. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, you’ll learn how to observe, sketch, and paint the beauty of Nantucket’s beaches, gardens, and historic architecture. This hands-on experience will inspire your creativity and allow you to bring the island’s charm to life on canvas or paper.
A unique and extremely popular collaborative walking tour with the MMA's Deputy Director & Curator of the Mitchell House, the Nantucket Preservation Trust, and the Nantucket Historical Association that looks at the changes in domestic life over four centuries and how it shaped homes, buildings, neighborhoods, and land use. Tour may include brief visits inside buildings visited.
Not offered Saturday, October 11 – Join us instead for Aquarium Release Day!
Join MMA staff on a tour as they feed the hungry animals at the Natural Science Museum. Learn about the unique adaptations of turtles, frogs, snakes, and more! You will get to learn about and interact with several of the MMA Natural Science Museum educational animals. This is a great way to learn about native and non-native species up-close, especially if you love animals.
Not offered Saturday, October 11 – Join us instead for Aquarium Release Day!
Enjoy this program specifically designed for the young explorer in your family. During each session, an MMA educator will read a nature or science themed book, introduce you to one of our educational animal friends, and wrap up with an aligned activity.
Program begins after the Halloween parade downtown and concludes at the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum
Celebrate Halloween the Maria Mitchell way—through science, nature, and a touch of spooky fun! After your downtown trick-or-treating adventure, join an MMA Naturalist for a twilight walk from downtown Nantucket to the historic Hinchman House Natural Science Museum.
Along the way, we’ll explore the eerie side of Nantucket’s natural world—discovering animal adaptations that might just give you goosebumps, uncovering ghostly island lore, and completing a Halloween-themed nature scavenger hunt. You’ll even collect materials to create your own vampire bat leaf craft back at the museum!
Once we arrive at Hinchman House, we’ll whip up a bubbling “witches’ potion” science experiment and learn about the myths and biology of bats—our misunderstood, nocturnal neighbors.
Days and Times VaryThroughout the Month of October & November. Please view our calendar.
Join the MMA Aquarium Manager, Christina Norman, on a scalloping adventure! As we collect and observe bay scallops – we will learn all about their biology and the challenges they face. Waders and hand nets will be provided!
Turn your scallop harvest into a delicious meal! Join The Corner Table for a hands-on lesson in shucking, cleaning, and preparing scallop ceviche. Enjoy your own appetizer as you learn how fresh citrus, island herbs, and edible flowers bring this dish to life. Then, gather in a private dining room for a scallop pasta dinner prepared by Chef Jason.
The perfect complement to your MMA Scalloping Field Trip—come savor the island’s bounty together.
Join Dr. Rich Blundell for casual morning conversations centered around the Harbor Health buoy monitoring initiative. These bi-weekly gatherings offer a unique opportunity to explore the latest data from Nantucket's harbor monitoring system while connecting with community members interested in marine ecology. Each session features a brief presentation of current harbor conditions followed by open discussion about patterns, changes, and implications for our island ecosystem.
Join MMA Aquarium staff on a tour as they feed the ever-hungry creatures at the Aquarium before it opens to the public. You will learn all about the fascinating marine animals as you observe their unique feeding behaviors. This program is available for a group of up to five people.
Enjoy this program specifically designed for the young aquarist in your family. During each session, an MMA educator will read a marine or science themed book, introduce you to one of our educational animal friends, and wrap up with an aligned activity.
Nantucket Harbor teems with exciting marine life at night that is not visible in the day. Join our Aquarium staff to learn about the fish, squid, crabs, and other creatures that come out to feed, at night, in the shallow harbor waters.
Join expert metal detectorist, Nikoline Bohr, for an exciting, hands-on adventure designed just for kids! Young explorers will discover how to use a metal detector, all while searching for hidden treasures on the beautiful shores of Nantucket. Whether your child is curious about history, loves treasure hunting, or simply enjoys outdoor activities, this program provides a safe, educational, and enjoyable experience. Come uncover the secrets buried in the sand and experience the thrill of discovery!
Have you ever noticed the dark spots that sometimes appear on the Sun’s surface? These “sunspots” are just one example of star spots—mysterious patches that appear on stars across the galaxy. Far from being simple blemishes, star spots reveal the powerful magnetic forces at work inside stars, forces that also drive solar storms and shape the space weather that can impact entire planetary systems.
In this talk, Milingo will share her research on star spots and how she uses them as a window into teaching undergraduates the process of scientific discovery. She will also explore how science can reach far beyond the classroom—bringing STEM into everyday spaces and sparking curiosity across communities, from kindergartners to lifelong learners.
Come meet the MMA's new Director of Astronomy and learn more about her research and her work to make astronomy accessible to all.
Free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required.
The drought continues. So, our hope, our plea, for October is for rain, please, pretty please, with any drop or sprinkle welcome. Birds can make do, to some extent, by getting moisture from condensation on leaves, or dripping fog. Insects require plants, and plants require at least some groundwater. It is interesting to see which plants are less thirsty or have deeper roots. But, some of the inland ponds where we like to look for hidden shorebirds are out of the running this year.
Some ponds are naturally shallow: Almanack, Middle Pout, and Quaise Pond are all subject to drying up periodically. They fill in with grasses, leaving a chance for some rare plants to sprout once they are exposed to air. This is part of the natural cycle. But in August, Reyes Pond became a cracked, turtle-vanquishing glue-pot, becoming lower than long-time inhabitants could ever recall. As it dried, a Solitary Sandpiper visited briefly, along with one Least Sandpiper. But, they moved along as the mud dried. Maxie’s Pond also had an unusual amount of exposed shoreline. So, some of our usual “unusual” shorebird spots in the hills have suffered. The deepest kettle ponds have retained some water; some appear unchanged. The ground water is now so low that it will take more than one winter’s rain to replenish.
This is yet another reason to plant native species for birds. Bayberry, Viburnum, grapes, at this time of year come into their own with food for passing migrants. Berries that may not appeal to us also attract insects, and birds eat both. Look for Cedar Waxwings, Tree Swallows, Northern Flickers, and those confusing fall warblers. But don’t despise the Grey Catbirds. They have adapted themselves to us, both in North and Central America. Watch as they glean through the tangles; they blend in with the shadows, so it’s good practice.
After-School with the MMA
After-School Fall Series I
Happening Now - October 23
Join the Maria Mitchell Association this fall for our Fall I After-School Series, designed for students in Grades K–5. Each day of the week offers a unique set of nature-based activities, crafts, and adventures as we explore Nantucket Island together!
This day-specific program includes transportation from local schools:
Nantucket Elementary School & Intermediate School – pickup at 2:30pm
Nantucket Lighthouse School – pickup at 2:50pm
Nantucket New School – pickup at 3pm
With parent/guardian permission, participants will be transported to the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum or an off-site field location. While school may be out, the curiosity continues!
Image of the Fifth Grade Tree Program in action at the Nantucket Intermediate School
5th Grade Trees in The Community
The Maria Mitchell Association visited all fifth-grade classrooms on Nantucket for the annual Trees in the Community Program in collaboration with Annie Mendelsohn, Surfing Hydrangea Nursery, the Nantucket Intermediate School, the Nantucket Lighthouse School, and the Nantucket New School.
This program is made possible by generous funding from a community grant by theNantucket Garden Club. Each year, MMA educators alongside Annie Mendelsohn, founder of the Trees in the Community Program, visit each fifth-grade classroom with the goal of sharing knowledge about tree anatomy and morphology, the importance of native tree species on Nantucket, and to encourage native tree planting on the island. After learning about native tree species, every fifth grader selects a native tree of their choice, such as White Oak, Black Cherry, Red Maple, Eastern Red Cedar, and Flowering Dogwood.
On tree delivery day, Annie Mendelsohn and the MMA educators facilitate a demonstration on best practices for planting, sustaining, and protecting their Nantucket native trees. This year, the Trees in the Community program reached 155 students. By the program's conclusion, every fifth grader on Nantucket understands the benefits of native trees to the Nantucket ecosystem, learns how to identify trees via observation and dichotomous keys, understands how to determine the best place to plant their tree, and knows how to care for their native tree so that it can be enjoyed by future generations to come.
Birding in Central Park with the MMA
Earlier this month, the Maria Mitchell Association and Travel Sommelier hosted a special birding adventure in New York City’s Central Park, led by MMA Field Ornithologist Ginger Andrews and wildlife expert James Currie. Beginning at dawn, participants were treated to the sights and sounds of the Park alive with birdsong, spotting over 30 species spanning warblers, thrushes, waterfowl, raptors, and other songbirds. The day also included a tour of the American Museum of Natural History, brunch at The Restaurant at Gilder, and an inspiring talk by Currie, creating a memorable blend of nature, science, and community.
If you're interested in joining us for our next Birding Field Trip, e-mail Amy Young at ayoung@mariamitchell.org.
MMA Updates
“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 7:40am. 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 former Interim Director of Astronomy, Dr. Geoff Clayton.
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.
In the latest Maria Mitchell’s Attic, Jascin Leonardo Finger writes about “Maria Mitchell in Her Own Words”.
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.
