The Nature of Nantucket

 This week, host Joanna Roche welcomes Dr. Joan Maloof , Professor Emeritus at Salisbury University , founder of the Old Growth Forest Network , and author of six books. Dr. Maloof, who is also the great-great-great-great niece of the renowned astronomer Maria Mitchell , shares her unique connection to Nantucket. She recounts her experience working at the Maria Mitchell Loines Observatory one summ...

Fiona Lopez a NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses The Milky Way as told in the tradition of the Blackfoot, an indigenous North American Tribe.

This week, host Joanna Roche sits down with Christina Norman , the Aquarium Manager for the Maria Mitchell Association on Nantucket. Christina shares her journey leading to her role at the MMA, starting from her childhood on a small farm in Northeast Ohio, through college, and eventually to Nantucket. They also discuss the latest updates and current happenings at the MMA aquarium.  To learn more a...

Naija Bruckner an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses The Summer Triangle. The Summer Triangle consists of three bright stars that are prominent in the summer night sky and can help to locate the band of our Milky Way Galaxy.

 This week, host Joanna Roche sits down with Deblois Milledge , a talented singer and songwriter currently serving as the Artist in Residence at the Maria Mitchell Association on Nantucket. Deblois is working on a collection of original songs inspired by the life and legacy of Maria Mitchell . In addition to her musical pursuits, Deblois shares her experiences as a registered nurse (RN) and a Deat...

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down with Claire Martin the Project Manager at ReMain Nantucket . She talks about starting work out in the Bay area and then her journey back to the East coast and Nantucket and ending up at ReMain Nantucket and her focus on coastal resilience. Find out more about ReMain Nantucket at https://remainnantucket.org...

Jillian Epstein an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses The North Stars of the Past and Future - Thuban and Vega. Polaris will not be the North Star forever. Vega and Thuban are the North Stars of the future and past respectively. 

Nick Mazziotti an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses the Strawberry Moon. The full moon in June, known as the Strawberry Moon, will occur just one day after the summer solstice on June 20. These two events only coincide around every 20 years. 

 This week, host Joanna Roche speaks with Emmy Wisz , a postbaccalaureate research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association for the past year. Joining them is Grecco Oyarzun Martinez , a visiting astronomer collaborating with MMA astronomers and mentoring Emmy through the scientific paper writing process. Together, they discuss their recent projects and delve into their research on galaxies dating...

August Muller an astronomy research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses JADES-GS-z14-0 . JWST scientists recently discovered galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0, the oldest observed galaxy to date.

This week host Joanna Roche talks with Zoe Barry.   From Wall Street to being a racecar driver to being the founder and CEO of Zingeroo, Zoe has done it all! She chats with Joanna and tells her about what brought her to Nantucket, her exciting background and making an impact in more traditionally male-dominated industries. To learn more about the Maria Mitchell Association visit https://www.mariam...

Join Joanna Roche of the Maria Mitchell Association as she gets to chat with local photographer and Astro photographer Charity Grace Mofsen . Joanna talks to Charity Grace about how she got into photography and Astro photography. She also learns about her being the legislative liaison for Nantucket and Representative Dylan Fernandes . To see her work visit https://www.charitygracephotography.com/a...

Emmy Wisz an astronomy research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Ancient Chinese Constellation Calendars. As approach the end of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we take a look at how ancient Chinese culture organized the stars in the sky.

This week host Joanna Roche of the Maria Mitchell Association chats with founder of Nantucket Lights , Gail Walker . Nantucket Lights gois is to combat light pollution and preserve the night sky. Gail talks about the importance of monitoring our lights here on Nantucket and how raising awareness of the "Outdoor Lighting bylaw" would benefit our island.  To learn more about the Maria Mitc...

August Muller an astronomy research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses NASA's PREFIRE . NASA's PREFIRE climate science mission is launching this weekend, to study heat in the Arctic and Antarctic.  

August Muller an astronomy research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses this week a large coronal mass ejection from the Sun which caused the aurora borealis to be visible from Nantucket.

This week host Joanna Roche talks with Blue Balliett.   Blue Balliett’s seven young adult mysteries -- Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, The Calder Game, The Danger Box, Hold Fast, Pieces and Players , and Out of the Wild Night -- have been New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today, Book Sense and Indie Bound bestsellers. Blue won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Juvenile Novel, the Agatha Awar...

August Muller an astronomy research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses this week Ceres . The dwarf planet Ceres is visible after midnight in the Sagittarius constellation. It will begin retrograde motion this week. 

This week host Joanna Roche talks with Dr. Rich Blundell of the Maria Mitchell Association. Dr. Blundell has been the MMA's visiting scientist for the last few years and is returning to Nantucket this summer. They talk about "curiosity" and how it has really driven his scientific career and how curiosity drives so many things across the planet. From children to adults we all experie...

Emmy Wisz an astronomy research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses this week the Balatik constellation. A prominent ancient Filipino constellation called Balatik is visible in the western night sky after sunset. 

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down with former NASA astronaut and US Navy Captain (Ret.), Daniel Bursch , to talk about his Nantucket roots. Bursch is a former Naval Flight Officer and astronaut.  He completed four missions to space, including a 196-day mission to the International Space Station from December 2001 to June 2002 as a flight e...

August Muller an astronomy research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses this week the constellation Serpens. As the summer constellations slowly shift into view, Serpens (the snake) is rising along the eastern horizon.

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down with Aidan Feeney. Aidan is the owner/operator and farmer of Fogtown Farm here on Nantucket. He tells Joanna about how he came to Nantucket at 2 years old with his family and how he ended up as a local farmer. She asks Aidan about his passion for farming and his connections with Sustainable Nantucket . He...

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down with Aaron Cestaro . Aaron is the President of the board and International Programs Manager for Wild Response which is a 501C3 charity right here in Massachusetts. Wild Response works primarily overseas and helps species in peril, including working with anti-poaching groups. From being in the U.S. Military...

Emmy Wisz an astronomy research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses this week that the annual Lyrid Meteor Shower will peak early next week, putting on a show all night for the next week.