• Outreach / Star Parties / Solar Viewing

     

    SMA is a community of interested professional and amateur astronomers, exchanging ideas and information at meetings, through Google Groups and the Night Sky Network. As a member of the International Dark Sky Association and Dark Sky Maine, SMA is actively involved in fighting light pollution and preserving our dark Maine skies.

     

    SMA Club members provide advanced astronomical equipment and mentor-ship to members, students and the general public interested in astronomy. We also plan for star parties where naked eye, binocular, and telescope viewing take place with the support of trained volunteers.

     

    SMA’s monthly meetings feature lectures by experts in astronomy, discussions of current events among members and member presentations.

     

    All regular monthly meetings will be by ZOOM, until further notice.

    Contact us for ZOOM details.

     

    Cumberland 48-hour Astronomical Observing Forecast : https://www.cleardarksky.com/c/StMnAtObMEkey.html?1

     

  • Tuesday, March 8, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Special News

    RECENT WIN for Dark Sky Advocacy!

    Read our club President, Rob Burgess', letter to the permitting committee of

    a proposed 300’ flashing telecommunications tower in the Rangeley area.
    Since then, the proponent has revised its plan to reduce the tower to a 190’ structure, without lighting!

  • Events

    Outreach and other public events

    You can also see our events calendar on the NASA's Night Sky Network!

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    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!

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    [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!

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    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.

     

     

    Click Here to take the survey

     

     

     

     

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    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
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    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!

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    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!

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    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!

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    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!

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    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!

  • 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

    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.
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  • Wish to donate to SMA?

    Your donation will go to support the club including our outreach and educational efforts in the communities we serve.

    SMA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation so all donations to it are tax-deductible.

  • The 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.

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    Robert Burgess

    President

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    For

    rest Sumner

    Vice-President

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    Ron Thompson

    Treasurer

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    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!

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    Executive Committe

    Director Members: Rob Burgess, Bob Dodge, Russ Pinizzotto, Ara Jerahian

  • Drop Us A Note

    Don't be afraid to reach out. You + us = awesome.

     

    You can also join our Google Groups mailing list and
    stay super informed of our club activity :)

    179 Neptune Drive, Suite 300
    Brunswick, ME 04011
  • Affiliations

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