The Nature of Nantucket

August Muller an astronomy research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses this week a major solar prominence that was visible during Monday's total solar eclipse for those in the path of totality. Here on Nantucket only a partial solar eclipse was visible. 

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down with Jascin Finger. Jascin is the Deputy Director of the Maria Mitchell Association and talk about everything going  on this spring over at the MMA. From the recent eclipse to sewer work and the seminar room over on Vestal Street to the upcoming temporary MMA aquarium move before the new aquarium is built....

Emmy Wisz a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses this week the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse which is a total solar eclipse passing over the mainland United States will be visible as a partial solar eclipse from Nantucket on Monday, April 8th. 

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down with Dr. Regina Jorgenson. Dr. Jorgenson’s role with the Maria Mitchell Association is the Director of Astronomy and they go over the upcoming solar eclipse that is taking place on Monday April 8th. They talk about the importance of this rare event and how over 100 million people are expected to travel to...

August Muller a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses this week is a good time to catch a glimpse of bright comet Pons-Brooks before as it dips below the horizon.

Emmy Wisz a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses Zodiacal Light which is a faint glowing light that appears to extend upward from the direction of the setting sun for the next two weeks before the new moon in early April. 

August Muller a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses that Wednesday, March 20th is this year’s vernal equinox, signifying the astronomical start of spring for those of us in the northern hemisphere.

August Muller a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses this year's solar maximum which means the Sun will be covered with small freckles, called sunspots.  

Emmy Wisz a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses the year in review. As 2023 comes to a close, we take a look back on some of the biggest and most exciting astronomy events of the past year. 

This week host Joanna Roche of the Maria Mitchell Association talks with Ginger Andrews the field Ornithologists at the MMA . Joanna and Ginger discuss the upcoming 2023 Nantucket Christmas Bird Count that takes place on Sunday December 31. Ginger also talks about her role as an Ornithologist, which is the study of birds and their behavior. To learn more about the Maria Mitchell Association visit...

August Muller a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses Winter Solstice. December 21st marks the winter solstice, or official start of winter. It occurs only two weeks before Earth makes its closest approach to the Sun on January second.

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down with Dr. Valerie Hall of the Maria Mitchell Association . Dr. Valerie Hall is a Research Associate with MMA and is the Director of Student Research and the Mentor Program. She talks about how the Student Research and Mentor programs focus is on Nantucket Bay Scallops and fishery. She also tells us all abou...

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...

Emmy Wisz a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses the 25th Anniversary of the International Space Station . On December 6th, NASA celebrated 25 years of the International Space Station and some of the most major achievements.

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down with Kenneth Blackshaw and Libby Buck .  Ken is an accomplished author with 8 books covering Nantucket birds including " Birding Nantucket ". Libby is a Conservation Science and Land Steward for the Linda Loring Nature Foundation . And, both are compilers for the Nantucket Bird count that takes p...

August Muller a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses viewing the Geminids Meteor shower . The Geminids meteor shower peaks on the night of December 13th this year, with a high rate of meteors predicted.

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down MMA research Fellows August Muller and Amy Wisz . They both are currently fulfilling their one year fellowship here on Nantucket. They tell us about their research for the past year, a big trip to Hawaii and visiting the W.M. Keck Observatory and their upcoming projects they are working on. They are also g...

Emmy Wisz a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses viewing the Andromeda Galaxy . The Andromeda Galaxy is our nearest neighbor large galaxy is best viewed on a clear, dark night when the moon is waning.

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down with Richard Ward of Microsoft . Richard is a Technical Fellow for Microsoft and talks about his thirty plus year history with the mega-corporation. He speaks about the advancement of technology and how Microsoft helped lead the way. You can join Richard for his speaker series with the MMA covering cyber s...

August Muller a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses the Diné constellation Hastiin Sik’ai’í . The Diné constellation Hastiin Sik’ai’í (or the Man with a Solid Stance) is currently visible in early morning skies, signaling the changing seasons.

Emmy Wisz a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses the Leonids Meteor Shower . The annual Leonids meteor shower will peak on the night of November 17th.

Join Joanna Roche on this week’s episode of the Nature of Nantucket podcast as she sits down with Claire Martin of REMAIN Nantucket . Claire talks about everything she does as the Project Manager at REMAIN. To learn more about the Maria Mitchell Association visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/ .

August Muller a research fellow at the Maria Mitchell Association discusses Uranus , which is a bit brighter than usual as it reaches opposition on Monday (November 13).

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...

This week host Joanna Roche talks with PhD botanists Jacob Suissa and Benjamin Edward Goulet-Scott of Let's Botanize , democratizing the study of plant biology.  Follow @letsbotanize on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.