Regional Star Parties and Events
Stars over Surry Star Party, August 7, 2024
Carrying Place Beach in Surry - free and open to the public.
Maine State Star Party at Cobscook Bay State Park in Edmunds - August 9th through 11th
For more information: csawyer7@roadrunner.com (Charlie Sawyer, President) or visit: https://www.facebook.com/Downeastaa/.
Astronomical Society of Northern New England’s Starfest in Kennebunk - September 6th through 8th
Talmage Observatory at Starfield, 960 Alewive Rd, Kennebunk ME 04043.
For more information: asnne.astronomy@gmail.com (David Bianchi, President).
Stars Over Katahdin Star Party - September 28, 2024 , Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument and International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Free and open to the public.
See the Dark Festival - September 29-October 6, 2024, Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine Northwoods International Dark Sky Park.
Ongoing Events:
Southern Maine Astronomers Monthly Meeting
(Ongoing, contact for next date)
Star Parties at 179 Neptune Drive, Brunswick on the second Saturday of every month (7-9 pm) through November, rain or shine. If it’s rainy or overcast we have an indoor meeting space where we’ll have a talk and equipment demos.
Also, SMA holds monthly Zoom meetings that are open to the public.
www.southernmaineastronomers.org
Star Party at Brower Observatory, Whitefield
(Ongoing, contact for next date)
Public observing, mentorship, equipment assistance.
Warming room available, but bundle up!
341 Jefferson Rd., Route 126, 100 yards West of the Whitefield-Jefferson line
https://maineastro.com/
If you are planning an astronomy related event in Maine, contact us to be included. Please provide as much information about the event as possible and we will add it to our list of events. Thank you.
Past Events
Night Sky Talk - Jacob Gerritson
November 8, 2023 at 6:30 pm - Jacob Gerritsen is a local amateur astonomer/astrophotographer and the operator of the Galaxy Quest Observatory at Donkey Universe on Van Cycle Road in Lincolnville. He will be speaking about Protecting Lincolnville’s Night Sky, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m., Lincolnville Community Library.
Night Sky Tour at Haystack Mountain,
September 6, 2023, (rain/cloud date Sept. 7), 7pm. Haystack Mountain Preserve, Haystack Mountain Rd., Montville, Maine.
Join Dark Sky Maine’s VP and Northern Stars Planetarium Director, John Meader as he leads a Night Sky Tour from the top of Haystack Mountain accessed by a trail from the Haystack Mountain Road, in Montville, Maine. Bring headlamps for the short hike up through the woods to the bald summit. Once on top, we’ll shut off the lights and take in the spectacular views of the heavens above. For more information: https://www.haystackmountainmaine.org/ .
Mindfulness Under the Stars at Whitehead Island Light Station, September 8-12, 2023. Mindfulness sessions led by Nancy Hathaway and astronomy observing sessions led by John Meader and Richard Luecke, all set on beautiful Whitehead Island in the Muscle Ridge Channel entrance to Penobscot Bay on the coast of Maine. Stay in the restored light keeper’s cabin and eat gourmet meals. Contact Whitehead Light Station for registering and fee information.
Maine State Star Party,
August 11-13, 2023, Cobscook Bay State Park, Dennysville, Maine.
Come join us for the 2023 Maine State Star Party at Cobscook Bay State Park Friday Aug 11 thru Sunday Aug 13. On Friday and Saturday nights, dozens of astronomers with exceptional telescopes will offer two nights of stunning views of planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies and the Milky Way under exceptionally dark skies. This year's special draw is the Perseid Meteor Shower under moonless skies. On Saturday see speakers, demonstrations, exhibits, games, equipment swap tables, and solar telescope viewing during the day.
Open any time after 1pm on Friday August 11. Tents and Campers welcome, free camping on the Star Party site. More info can email Charlie Sawyer at csawyer7@roadrunner.com and see Downeast Amateur Astronomers Facebook Page. "Bring your scope and bring your tent, we all know it's time well spent."
Stars Over Surry,
July 20, 2023, Newburyport Neck Beach, Surry, Maine. Come join Dark Sky Maine President Nancy Hathaway at 7pm for a campfire on the beach followed by a Night Sky Tour with John Meader, DSM VP and Director of Northern Stars Planetarium.
Summer Solstice Virtual Star Party
June 20, 2023, 7:30 pm on Zoom
Featured Speakers:
Nancy Hathaway, Dark Sky Maine Vice President, will present an update of dark sky legislation and activities.
Charlie Sawyer of Downeast Amateur Astronomers will discuss this summer’s Maine State Star Party at Cobscook Bay State Park on August 11-13, 2023.
Karen Francoeur of Castine Kayak Adventures will discuss bioluminescence and the importance of dark skies in a marine environment.
John Meader of Northern Stars Planetarium and Dark Sky Maine Vice President will present the summer sky using Stellarium software.
Screenings of Defending the Dark.
April 30, 2023, 7-8:30 p.m., Center Theatre for the Perfoming Arts, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. Admission by donation. For more information call 207-564-8943.
May 3, 2023, 7-8:30 p.m., Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick, Maine. Introductions by Nancy Hathaway and Rob Burgess. For more information visit: Curtis Memorial Library Facebook page.
Spring Equinox Virtual Star Party.
March 21, 2023. 7-8:15 p.m.
Join Dark Sky Maine for our annual Spring Equinox Virtual Star Party on Zoom. Speakers: John Meader will take us on a virtual tour of the spring sky and explore the deep sky with the Slooh telescopes in the Canary Islands. Serena Sanborn will share a presentation on the nocturnal creatures who come out in the spring.
Maine Public Radio, Maine Calling with Jennifer Rooks—Preserving Maine’s Dark Skies
Wednesday January 25, 2023, live at 11 am, rebroadcast at 7pm.
Featuring Dark Sky Maine president, Nancy Hathaway; Dark Sky Maine Vice President, John Meader; and the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Rondi Stearns.
Poets Corner — Poems from the Night Sky
January 8, 2023 4-5:30pm
The stars will shine on The Poets Corner this January 8 with an event featuring filmmaker Tara Roberts Zabriskie who documented Maine’s efforts to “save the stars” in her film “Defending the Dark.” Introduced by Nancy Hathaway of Dark Sky Maine.
Winter Solstice Virtual Star Party.
December 22, 2022. 7-8:15 p.m. ($5 suggested donation)
Join Dark Sky Maine for our annual Winter Solstice Virtual Star Party on Zoom. Highlights: Shawn Laatsch will describe our cultural connections to the solstice, and John Meader will take us all on a virtual night sky tour, and Serena Sanborn will take a look at what the natural world does under the cold darkness of winter.
Exploring Other Words, The James Webb Space Telescope, Planetary Systems, and the Origins of Life
December 14, 2022 5:30 - 6:30 PM PST.
Featured speakers:
Dr. Stefanie Milam—Deputy Project Scientist, Planetary Science, James Webb Space Telescope.
David Freed—Screenwriter/Author, Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist, Pulitzer Gold Medal for Public Service.