The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) invites the community to a spectacular day of celestial events on Wednesday, August 12, beginning with a Partial Solar Eclipse Open House in the afternoon and concluding with an evening under the stars for the Celestial Steakout: Perseids Meteor Shower at the MMA’s famed Loines Observatory, 59 Milk Street, Ext. August offers some of the year’s most breathtaking opportunities to explore the night sky, and the MMA is excited to provide the community with a chance to experience two remarkable astronomical events in a single day.
From 1 to 3 pm, visitors are invited to Loines Observatory to safely view the Partial Solar Eclipse through the MMA’s solar telescope and other approved solar viewing equipment. The eclipse will begin at approximately 1:05 p.m., reach its maximum at approximately 1:58 p.m., and conclude at approximately 2:49 p.m. From Nantucket, approximately 16% of the Sun’s disk will be covered at the peak of the eclipse.
While Nantucket is not located along the path of totality, even a small partial eclipse offers a fascinating opportunity to witness the motions of our solar system in real time. MMA astronomers and educators will be on hand to answer questions and share the science behind this unique celestial event. This event is free to attend, but registration is necessary as space is limited.
That evening, join MMA professional astronomers and staff for a special viewing of the Perseids Meteor Shower from 11:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Meteor showers occur when the Earth travels through dust leftbehind by a comet. The comet associated with the Perseids is 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The Moon will be new, which is ideal for observing meteors. The Perseids are one of the year’s most spectacular meteor showers, often producing 50–100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, including bright, fast-moving meteors and brilliant fireballs. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy guided viewing with MMA astronomers, who will share the science behind the Perseids and help visitors explore the summer night sky. This event is $27 per participant.
Both programs are open to the public and are designed to be engaging for adults and children of all ages. Pre-registration is required as space is limited.
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.