Regional Star Parties and Events
Women+ of the Outdoors Mixer, March 27, 2025, 6–8 PM. Nancy Hathaway, President of Dark Sky Maine, will be in attendance and offering information.
Partial Solar Eclipse Sunrise Watch, March 29, 2025, 5:30-8:30 AM, outside Colby College’s Young Observatory, Waterville, Maine. Sponsored by Northern Stars Planetarium, Waterville Creates, and Colby’s Young and Collins Observatory. Free and open to the public.
Stars Over Surry, July 22, 2025, star party at Carrying Place Beach, Surry, Maine.
Maine State Star Party, August 22–24, 2025, at Cobscook Bay State Park.
Maine Astronomy Retreat, August 18–24, 2025.
Maine Stargazing and Photography Retreat, with Babak Tafreshi, August 25–31, 2025.
Check back for updates or sign up for our newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/hxLrCT
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
Vernal Equinox Virtual Star Party, March 20, 2025, at 7 pm on Zoom.
Hosted by Robert Burgess, President of Southern Maine Astronomers.
Jon Silverman, President of Central Maine Astronomers, discussed how to safely observe the upcoming partial solar eclipse on March 29 at sunrise.
Justin Miller, astrophotographer, discussed how our camera sees the sky compared to our eyes and shared some of his amazing night sky photographs.
John Meader, Director of Northern Stars Planetarium, presented a tour of the spring skies.
Art Show: Dark Skies: Artwork Honoring Dark Nights in Maine, at Waterfall Arts in Belfast, ME.
January 18, 1:00–3:00 pm: Opening, included an artists’ reception and a talk by Nancy Hathaway, Founder and President of Dark Sky Maine.
Press coverage of the January 18th opening:
February 1: Art Together Morning: A glow-in-the-dark constellations workshop for families, 10:00 AM–12:00 pm at Waterfall Arts. Pre-registration required.
February 8: Lantern-Making Workshop with Joelle Webber, at Waterfall Arts. Followed by an all-ages “Light Up the Night” walk, 2:30–4:30 PM, optional gratitude walk at 5:00 pm.
February 15: Night Sky Presentation and Workshop with Master Maine Naturalist Serena Sanborn of Waterville Creates, and John Meader of Northern Stars Planetarium and co-founder of Dark Sky Maine, 1:00–3:00 pm, including a tour of the exhibition at Waterfall Arts.
February 22: Talk by Elizabeth Dickerson, founder of Maine Aurora Borealis Watch, 1:00–2:00 pmat Waterfall Arts.
Screening of Defending the Dark, January 21, 6 to 7pm, at 7 Lakes Alliance in Belgrade Lakes, ME. Followed by a Q&A session with Nancy Hathaway, Founder and President of Dark Sky Maine.
Central Maine Astronomical Society, Star Party, Saturday, January 18, 2025, 5:30pm at Galaxy Quest Observatory.
Winter Solstice Virtual Star Party
December 19, 2024, 7 pm on Zoom.
Featured Speakers:
Tom Reinert, President of DarkSky International, will give a presentation on light pollution.
Andrew Kingston, Assistant Professor of Humanities and Literature at Maine Maritime Academy, will discuss cultural interpretations of the solstice.
Rob Burgess, Board Member of Dark Sky Maine and Chair of Southern Maine Astronomers, will discuss dark skies and ecotourism.
Southern Maine Astronomers, Presentation by Don Pensack - Thursday, Nov 7, 2024.
Astronomical Society of Northern New England’s Starfest in Kennebunk - September 6th through 8th, 2024. Talmage Observatory at Starfield, 960 Alewive Rd, Kennebunk ME 04043. For more information: asnne.astronomy@gmail.com (David Bianchi, President).
Maine State Star Party at Cobscook Bay State Park in Edmunds - August 9th through 11th, 2024.
For more information: csawyer7@roadrunner.com (Charlie Sawyer, President) or visit: https://www.facebook.com/Downeastaa/.
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.