Southern Maine Astronomers
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
Events
Outreach and other public events
You can also see our events calendar on the NASA's Night Sky Network!
SMA Monthly Club Meeting with Guest Speaker Jack St. Louis (ZOOM Only)
Upcoming- Thursday, Feb. 2nd, 2023, 7pm. Social "half-hour" starts at 6:30pm.
The next monthly meeting will feature a talk by Jack St. Louis, a member of the Vermont Astronomical Society (VAS). Mr. Louis will discuss the origins and development of the VAS. Come learn about other New England astronomy clubs and their efforts to support the region's passion for astronomy.
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!
Come join us for an evening of astronomical exploration!
Past- Saturday, November 12th, 2022, 7-9PM
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).
Date: September 12th, 7-9PM
Time: 7-9PM
Location: 179 Neptune Drive, Brunswick
Phone: 207-443-4242 or 207-751-4651
Hope to see you there!
Past Events & Speakers
- 2023/01 - Dr. Ralph Lorenz describes past and emerging missions to Venus.
- 2022/12- Dr. Greg Shanos provides techniques and tips on how to observe and photograph Mars at Opposition.
- 2022/11- Dr. Thaddeus Komacek discussed the current state of exoplanet science and research
- 2022/10- Tara Roberts Zabriskie previews her film "Defending the Dark." Followed by a Q&A and group discussion
- 2022/09 - Gary Golnik, a former optical systems engineer for the James Webb Telescope, talks about the new telescopes launch and gives a behind the scenes look into the JWST.
- 2022/07 - Stella Ocker (PhD Candidate at Cornell University), "Exploring the Interstellar Medium with Voyager"
- 2022/06 - With no formal speaker, members engaged in a general discussion about their favorite astronomy topics
- 2022/05 - Prof. Atul Bhat presents “Star & Constellations from the Indian Sub-continent.”
- 2022/04 - SMA Open House!!
- 2022/04 - Dr. Fred Martin of the Apollo Mission team talks about "the greatest adventure of the 20th century"
- 2022/03 - KELT Virtual Astronomy Talk. Here is a link to the presentation on YouTube.
- 2022/02 - Dr. Jonathan McDowell talks about the impact of nano-satellites on astronomical research
- 2021/12 - Jon Wallace talks about meteorites and finding meteorites in rooftops and gutters.
- 2021/11 - “Journey to a Comet” presented by Greg Shanos
- 2021/10 – Dr. Renee Bergland, “Maria Mitchell – America’s First Astronomer”
- 2021/09 - Our resident MD and Director, Dr. George Bokinsky, updates us on the current state of Astrobiology.
- 2021/07 - Dr. David Batuski presenting "Tracking Dark Matter in Two Superclusters of Galaxies"
- 2021/06 - Dr. Catherine Zucker talking about the now-called Radcliffe Wave.
- 2021/05 - Feature a preview of our Electronically-Assisted Astronomy (EAA) project by Russ & Ara.
- 2021/04 - Prof. Chris Magri, Assistant Professor of Physics and Chair of the Natural Sciences Department at the University of Maine at Farmington, “A Radar Analysis of Asteroid Bennu”
- 2021/03 - Dr. Neil Comins, Professor of Physics & Astronomy at Univ. of Maine, Orono, "Heavenly Errors: Misconceptions About the Real Nature of the Universe"
- 2021/02 - Chuck Allen, Vice President of the Astronomical League
- 2021/01 - Telescope Workshop
- 2020/12 - Dr. Aileen Yingst, Planetary Science Institute, “Big News from a Dwarf Planet: The Story of Vesta”
- 2020/11 - Sarah Betti, Ph.D. candidate, UMass, “Planet Formation in Protoplanetary Discs”2
- 2020/10 - Tom Field, President, Field Tested Systems, LLC “You Can Almost Touch the Stars” – Spectroscopy for Amateur Astronomers
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
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.
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, 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
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 04011Affiliations
When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer
By Walt Whitman
When I heard the learn’d astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,
When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them,
When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,
Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.
© 2023