Southern Maine Astronomers
Events
Outreach and other public events
You can also see our events calendar on the NASA's Night Sky Network!
SMA Monthly Meeting 12/7/23
upcoming- thursday, december 7th, 2023, 7pm.
Our speaker will be Dr. James O’Brien, Chair of the Department of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science at Springfield College. He is also Vice President of the International Association of Relativistic Dynamics, which leads right into our topic for the evening - Modified Newtonian Dynamics. This talk will dovetail nicely with last month’s discussion of the ESA’s Euclid Mission, designed to explore the relationship and development of dark energy and dark matter. Dr. O'Brien has been a speaker, and written extensively, on alternative gravity in numerous national and international forums and will discuss with us standard and alternative gravitational modeling.
Dr. O’Brien received his PhD from the University of Connecticut in Theoretical Physics. His first teaching assignment was at Wentworth Institute of Technology where he met our own Russ Pinizzotto, who was Provost.
Speaking of Russ, he will give us a tour of what’s worth bundling up to see in December skies.
I hope you can join us for this exciting evening.Date: December 7th
Time: 7PM
Location: Zoom
The Zoom link will be sent out to our Google Group. Please use the "Contact Us" form or join our Google Group for the Zoom link, if you don't have it!
[POSTPONED] Come join us for an evening of astronomical observation !
Upcoming - Postponed to 12/16/23 at 6 pm
Topic: Come enjoy naked eye, binocular and telescopic views of the night sky and laser pointer tours of constellations, with knowledgeable observers. Free and open to the public. Rain or Shine (if inclement, astronomy talk and telescope demos to be held indoors).
Interested in Volunteering? Click here to sign up!
Date: POSTPONED to Saturday, December 16, 2023
Time: 6pm
Location: 179 Neptune Drive
Phone: 207-751-4651
Hope to see you there!
SMA Event Planning Survey-2024
SMA Members,
We are always working to improve on our events and what we can offer to our members. If you have a moment, please fill out this brief survey regarding your preferences for our astronomy events.
Upcoming Events in the Works
Upcoming- November 30th, 2023
Below is a list of possible events for this fall, but we need volunteers to make this happen. If any of these events are of interest to you please consider volunteering to help us make these happen.
Click here to sign up
- Maine’s First Ship in Bath – Oct or Nov
- Maine Coast Heritage Trust at Woodward’s Point in Brunswick – Oct or Nov
- Brunswick Topsham Land Trust – Oct or Nov at Crystal Spring Farm
- Common Ground Country Fair in Unity – supporting a booth and solar observing with Dark Sky Maine
Star Party: Greely High School Outing Club (date TBD)
Upcoming-TBD
Topic: We need 2 or 3 more volunteers to bring scopes out to Cumberland for a star party with the high school outing club. If this interests you, please click the link below and let us know which dates might work for you. Were aiming to host this event before the years end! Thanks.
Interested in volunteering? Click here to sign up!
Date: TBD
Time: 7-9 PM
Location: Cumberland Maine
Phone: 207-751-4651
Hope to see you there!
Come join us at in Harpswell for an evening of astronomical observation!
past- October 18th, 2023
Topic: Come enjoy naked eye, binocular and telescopic views of the night sky and laser pointer tours of constellations, with knowledgeable observers. Free and open to the public.
Interested in Volunteering? Click Here to sign up!
Date: October 18th 2023
Time: 6:00pm-9:30pm
Location: 1410 Harpswell Neck Rd, Harpswell, ME 04079
Phone: 207-751-4651
Hope to see you there!
SMA Monthly Club Meeting with Guest Speaker Alan Brizard of St. Micheals College(ZOOM Only)
Past- October 5th, 2023
If you're looking for a link to join, please drop us a note at the bottom of our page. Hope to see you there!
Date: Thursday October 5th 2023
Time: 7:00PM
Location: Zoom
Phone: 207-751-4651
Hope to see you there!
Star Party at Night Owl Observatory!
past- November 11th, 2023
Topic: Patch the horse and Susan the cat, in conjunction with their friend and your host Lenny Arsenault, invite you to Night Owl Observatory for an evening of viewing the skies through the magnificent, 16-inch Lightspeed. New to these star parties, feast your eyes also through Lenny’s new-to-him, over-sized German military binoculars procured from the swap tables at the Stellafane Convention. The polished aluminum mount that Lenny designed and built for them is a work of art in itself, a suitable complement to their stellar optics.
Interested in Volunteering? Click here to sign up!
Date: Saturday November 11th 2023
Time: Setup at 4:30 PM, Dusk at 5:30PM
Location: 6 Beaver Drive, Litchfield, ME 04350
Hope to see you there!
Come join us at Neptune Drive for an evening of astronomical observation !
past- September, 23rd 2023
Topic: Come enjoy naked eye, binocular and telescopic views of the night sky and laser pointer tours of constellations, with knowledgeable observers. Rain or shine! Free and open to the public.
Interested in volunteering? Click here to sign up!
Date: Saturday, September 23rd 2023
Time: 7:30-9:30 PM
Location: 179 Neptune Drive, Brunswick Maine
Phone: 207-751-4651
Hope to see you there!
Gallery
Photos & videos from members. Click each image for a larger view and description.
Membership
Support your local club and become a member of Southern Maine Astronomers!
Click Here to learn more about membership benefits
Purchase Annual Membership - New / Renewal
SMA annual membership fee. This includes a membership to the Night Sky Network and a membership to the Astronomical League, which entitles you to receive the quarterly Reflector magazine.
All memberships are annual and aligned with the calendar year, not to the time of purchase. Payments received on or after Oct. 1 apply for the following calendar year.SelectQuantityThe Team
Our team of awesomeness combines experience with passion, creativity, and dedication. From rural back roads to corporate boardrooms, SMA is committed to supporting our members and the public in all things astronomy.
Robert Burgess
President
For
rest Sumner
Vice-President
Ron Thompson
Treasurer
Dr. George Bokinsky
Secretary
Secretary
Committees
We've got a top notch team! While each of these committees is staffed by Club Directors, any member can join and assist these committees in their club objectives. We welcome participation! Support your Club!
Membership
This committee is focused on increasing membership and improving member experience.
Purview includes club meetings, greeting members and guests, following up with new people, providing refreshments. It will be the point of contact for club clothing and such. This committee will coordinate with the Program Committee to ensure we are offering speakers and topics that square with the needs and desires of members. It will also liaise with other clubs, including student organizations, and encourage developments between clubs.
Director Member: Al DiSabatino, Kevin Kane
Outreach
Acting as the point of contact for the public, for things like star parties, speakers, etc., and for coordinating the club’s response.
This committee responds to groups looking for star parties and such events; would determine if it’s a request the club can accommodate; would organize club members willing to attend/staff the event. This committee also provides formal notice to news organizations and public bulletin boards and other third parties of club meetings and events.
Director Member: Kerry Kertes, Carson Hanrahan, Maame Andoh, Russ Pinizzotto
Club Member: Ron Thompson
Program
Planning for meetings, finding speakers, coordinating publicity.
This Committee seeks speakers in contemporary topics of astronomy and space exploration that are of interest to the membership. The Committee ensures other engaging content to appeal to beginners as well as seasoned amateurs to improve their knowledge of the night sky, telescope equipment, observing techniques and astrophotography.
Director Member: Russ Pinizzotto, Maame Andoh
Equipment
Managing club equipment, purchased and donated, to fulfill the club's outreach and educational mission.
Club assets include purchased and donated equipment. This committee determines what best suits club needs and then seeks to sell or otherwise dispose of excess equipment with funds received used to support the club. This committee also manages the Club's Equipment Lending Program that makes more sophisticated equipment available to club members for use.
Director Member: Kevin Kane, Ara Jerahian
Dark Sky Advocacy
Liaising with Dark Sky Maine, IDA, and other groups interested in controlling light pollution.
Advocating for dark sky-friendly zoning and other regulations to control and reduce light pollution. This Committee hope to develop a recognition program for organizations and municipalities who undertake improvements in light pollution control.
Director Member: Rob Burgess, Howie Marshall
Club Member: Paul Howell
Finance
This Committee is responsible for administration of club finances.
Responsibilities include management and reconcilement of club finances and bank statements, tax filings, club insurances, etc. Recently, the club decided to undertake fundraising. This new venture will examine club short and long term goals and then find sources and develop strategies to support those goals, including the establishment of an endowment fund.
Treasurer & Chair: Bob Dodge
Fundraising Subcommittee: Rob Burgess, Bob Dodge, Russ Pinizzotto
Executive Committe
Director Members: Rob Burgess, Bob Dodge, Russ Pinizzotto, Ara Jerahian
Affiliations
