Acadia Night Sky Festival 7 11
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Celebrating the starlit skies of Downeast Maine
Bar Harbor see inset
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September 5-9, 2018
Winter Harbor
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Maine’s spectacular rocky coast is home to Acadia National Park and some of the last pristine, star-filled night skies in the eastern United States. Here, the Milky Way shines bright in the largest expanse of naturally dark sky east of the Mississippi.
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Beach 13 Sand (4.5 miles) Acadia National Park, Park Loop Road, Bar Harbor
Memorial 9 Jesup Library (0.1 miles) 34 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor
Schoodic institute at 14 Acadia national Park (46 miles) Schoodic Peninsula, Winter Harbor
Acadia Night Sky Festival
Dr. Joseph Bass – Chief of Endocrinology in the Department of Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, the goal of Bass’ research is to develop a deeper understanding of the circadian clock and its mechanisms. J. Kelly Beatty – An award-winning writer as senior editor for Sky & Telescope Magazine. Wally Funk – An American aviator, goodwill ambassador and member of the Mercury 13. Rick Hauck – A retired Navy combat pilot, astronaut, and commercial space business executive. Dr. Scott J. Kenyon – The senior astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Center for Astrophysics, Harvard. Shawn Laatsch – The director of the Emera Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium at the University of Maine. Astronomy Volunteers in the Park are Jan Hoey, Richard Luecke, Bob Reichman, and Jon Thomas.
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Picnic Area Seawall (18 miles) Acadia National Park, Route 102A, Southwest Harbor Southwest Harbor 16 Public Library (14 miles) 338 Main Street, Southwest Harbor
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Keynote Performers, Galileo’s Daughters – Galileo’s Daughters was founded by soprano Sarah Pillow in 2001 to present a different kind of music recital that combines music, spoken word, and the visual arts to create thought-provoking and intriguing programs.
presenting sponsor:
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Criterion Theatre 8 (0.2 miles) 35 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor
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northeast Harbor Library (11.5 miles) 1 Joy Road, Northeast Harbor
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Mount Desert island High School (6 miles) 1081 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor
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Castine Kayak Adventures (52 miles) 17 Sea Street, Castine
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ArtWaves MDi (8 miles) 1345a State Highway 102, Town Hill, Bar Harbor
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Cadillac Mountain (6 miles) Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor
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MDi YMCA Ballfield (0.5 miles) 21 Park Street, Bar Harbor
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ART on West (0.3 miles) 78 West Street, Bar Harbor
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Bar Harbor Whale Watch (0.3 miles) 1 West Street, Bar Harbor
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American Legion Hall (14 miles) 22 Village Green Way, Southwest Harbor
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Agamont Park (0.2 miles) Corner of Main and West Streets, Bar Harbor
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One of the premier night sky events on the eastern seaboard, the 10th Annual Acadia Night Sky Festival is packed with a full schedule of events. With workshops, nationally recognized speakers, and hands-on experiences, there truly is something for everyone from families to the serious amateur astronomer. Help us celebrate the starlit skies of Downeast Maine through education, science, and the arts.
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With the rapid loss of dark skies to light pollution receiving national attention, Maine is increasingly being referred to as one place “that still has stars.” We invite you to discover Downeast Maine’s unique commitment to protecting the quality of its starlit nights at this annual celebration.
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Our Speakers:
The Jackson 17 Laboratory (1.5 miles) 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor YWCA Mount Desert island (0.1 miles) 36 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor
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galaxy sponsor:
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A Classic Bar Harbor Hotel
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star sponsors:
The Acadia Night Sky Festival is a community celebration to promote the protection and enjoyment of Downeast/Acadia’s stellar night sky as a valuable natural resource through education, science, and the arts.
Acadia Night Sky Festival
c/o Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce PO Box 158 | Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 AcadiaNightSkyFestival.org
presented by IMAge By: VINCeNt LAwreNCe
Celebrating the starlit skies of Downeast Maine
September 5-9, 2018 presented by
AcadiaNightSkyFestival.org
AcAdiA NigHt SKy FeStivAL
SepteMBer 5-9, 2018
presented by
eveNtS ScHeduLe WedNeSdAy, SepteMBer 5 u6:30 – 9:30pm (Boarding begins at 6:00pm)
Night Sky “under the Stars” Boat cruise Bar Harbor Whale Watch, 1 West Street, Bar Harbor Cruise Frenchman Bay onboard the Atlanticat. You’ll hear stories of the night sky and learn about celestial navigations, constellations, planets, stars, and distant galaxies. Call 207-288-2386 for reservations. Other days available. u7:00 – 8:00pm “the physics of Spaceflight – or, you too can Become a rocket Scientist in Less than an Hour” with astronaut rick Hauck Moore Auditorium, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Acadia Drive, Winter Harbor Join Captain Hauck, retired Navy combat pilot, astronaut, and commercial space business executive who flew over 100 combat missions in Vietnam, and co-piloted one space shuttle flight and commanded two others. Free. u7:00 – 10:00pm Bioluminescent & Stargazing paddle with castine Kayak Castine Kayak Adventures 17 Sea Street, Castine Join a guided kayak tour in Maine’s bioluminescent bay under a blanket of stars – where the water will swirl and light up with every stroke of your paddle. Call 207-866-3506 for reservations. Other days available. $65 per person
tHurSdAy, SepteMBer 6 u4:00 – 5:00pm “Near earth Asteroids – Observing them and NASA’s plan for Making planet earth Safe!” with Shawn Laatsch Northeast Harbor Library, 1 Joy Road, Northeast Harbor Join Laatsch, director of the Emera Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium at the University of Maine, to explore how asteroids are detected and tracked from both ground-based and space-based observatories. Free. u6:30 – 9:30pm (Boarding begins at 6:00pm) Night Sky “under the Stars” Boat cruise Bar Harbor Whale Watch, 1 West Street, Bar Harbor See Wednesday’s event description. u7:00 – 8:00pm “pluto Strikes Back” with dr. Scott J. Kenyon Jesup Memorial Library, 34 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor Dr. Kenyon will show images from the New Horizons flyby of the Pluto-Charon binary planet and will discuss how these results help us understand how all planets form. Free. u7:00 – 9:00pm “read the Night Sky” with Linda penkalski Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Wright Hall, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor Learn how to read the night sky with retired science teacher,
former park ranger, and night sky enthusiast, Penkalski. The event will include a classroom session and viewing of the late summer skies in eastern Maine. Rain date Friday, September 7. Call 207-288-1337 for reservations; space is limited. $25 for adults, $15 for children. u7:00 – 10:00pm Bioluminescent & Stargazing paddle with castine Kayak Castine Kayak Adventures 17 Sea Street, Castine See Wednesday’s event description. $65 per person u8:00 – 9:00pm Stars Over Sand Beach Sand Beach, Acadia National Park Gaze at Acadia’s amazing night sky as an Acadia National Park ranger takes you on a tour of the stars, complete with stories and science. Dress warmly and minimize flashlight use to preserve night vision. No Pets. Free.
FridAy, SepteMBer 7 u10:00 – 11:00am “the Antikythera Mechanism” with Jon thomas Northeast Harbor Library, 1 Joy Road, Northeast Harbor More than 2,000 years old, this geared mechanism could show and predict the motion of the sun and moon among the stars, including lunar phases and eclipses. Discover the call 207-387-0807 to find out if this event has been cancelled or rescheduled due to weather. Or check our Facebook page at facebook.com/ acadianightskyfestival
extraordinary knowledge ancient Greek astronomers incorporated into the mechanism. Free. u12:00 – 1:00pm “your inner clock” with dr. Joe Bass Auditorium, Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor Join us for the annual “Biology of Light” presentation where Dr. Bass will talk about his primary research focus, which is to understand the molecular mechanisms through which the circadian clock regulates metabolism in cells and organisms. Free. u1:30 – 3:00pm “celebration of the Sun” with Astronomy volunteers in the park Village Green, Bar Harbor Join volunteer astronomers and Acadia National Park rangers for safe solar viewing through a variety of specially equipped telescopes. Free. u1:30 – 3:00pm “Meet the telescopes” with the Astronomy volunteers in the park Village Green, Bar Harbor Learn about different types of telescopes and the advantages of each design. Astronomy Volunteers in the Park will be available to introduce you to the scopes. Free. u2:30 – 3:30pm “darkness in distress” with J. Kelly Beatty YWCA, 36 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor For decades, civilization has stolen stars from the nighttime
skies, but this loss does not have to be permanent. This talk will show how light pollution can be reversed to restore the night sky’s beauty with safe, energy-smart lighting solutions for our 24/7 society. Free. u3:30 – 4:30pm “the real dancing With the Stars: What’s up tonight?” with Jan Hoey YWCA, 36 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor As a preview to tonight’s star party, come and view an illustrated orientation of the upcoming celestial show and learn how to get the most out of your star party experience. Free. u5:00 – 6:00pm “Our place in Space” with Bob reichman American Legion Hall, 22 Village Green Way, Southwest Harbor Earth’s return address in the universe wouldn’t easily fit on an envelope. This stellar conversation will provide you with a better appreciation for where we fit among the stars. Free. u6:00 – 8:00pm Keynote event: “perpetual Motion: galileo and His revolutions” with galileo’s daughters The Criterion Theatre, 35 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor This multimedia concert describes a remarkable time in the history of science, human thought, and music, with narration by last year’s keynote speaker, Dava Sobel. Galileo’s Daughters present a different kind of music recital that combines music, spoken word, and the visual arts to create thought-provoking and intriguing programs. By donation. Pay what you can.
u6:30 – 8:00pm “Sewn paper Ledger Booklet decorated with Stars” Art Workshop with Sherry rasmussen ART on West, 78 West Street, Bar Harbor Join paper artist Sherry Rasmussen to create a handsewn ledger booklet decorated with stars. All materials supplied. Reservations required. Call 207-288-9428 for reservations. Limited to 10. Suggested $10 festival donation. u6:30 – 9:30pm (Boarding begins at 6:00pm) Night Sky “under the Stars” Boat cruise Bar Harbor Whale Watch, 1 West Street, Bar Harbor See Wednesday’s event description. u6:30 – 10:30pm “capture the Night” photography Workshop with Brent Ander photography Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor Examine astro-landscape photography, night photography, and light painting techniques. Great for both amateur and professional photographers. Must have required equipment. Register at anderphotography. com. Limited to 15. $75 per person. u7:00 – 8:00pm “What’s in the Sky tonight?” with richard Luecke Seawall Picnic Area, Acadia National Park, Route 102A, Southwest Harbor The night sky over Acadia this month glitters with bright stars and constellations, ghostly nebulae, the Milky Way, and four major planets. Join us on this guided tour of the sky that you will experience in a preview of tonight’s star party. Free.
u7:00 – 8:30pm “use your Senses to explore the Natural World” with Karen Zimmerman Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Wright Hall, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor Join Zimmermann, a Maine Master Naturalist and author of Nightwalk, for this outdoor workshop to learn how to heighten awareness of your senses at night. Limited space; reservations required. Call 207-288-1337 for reservations. $10 per person. u7:00 – 9:00pm celestial cinema: “the Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy” Agamont Park, Bar Harbor Join us at Agamont Park for a free outdoor viewing of the hilarious film “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” courtesy of Reel Pizza. Free. u7:00 – 10:00pm Bioluminescent & Stargazing paddle with castine Kayak Castine Kayak Adventures 17 Sea Street, Castine See Wednesday’s event description. $65 per person. u8:00 – 10:00pm Star party at Seawall Seawall Picnic Area, Acadia National Park, Route 102A, Southwest Harbor Acadia National Park rangers, volunteers, and local astronomers will point out constellations and other night sky features. Dress warmly and minimize flashlight use to preserve night vision. Parking at Seawall Campground (D Loop). No pets. Free.
SAturdAy, SepteMBer 8 u9:30am – 12:00pm, 1:00 – 4:00pm, and 6:00 – 9:00pm Mosaic Workshop ArtwavesMDI, 1345a State Highway 102, Village of Town Hill, Bar Harbor Come create mosaics inspired by the night sky. All skill levels are invited to put your own contemporary twist on this easy to learn ancient medium. It’s like coloring with stained glass! Register at ArtwavesMDI.org. $40 per person. u10:00 – 11:00am Space race MDI YMCA Ballfield, 21 Park Street, Bar Harbor A fun family foot race in the universe. Start at the sun and run all the way to Pluto! Distances between the features of our solar system will be marked along the course. As a special treat, meet Wally Funk of the Mercury 13. Free. u10:30am – 1:00pm Celebration of the Sun with Astronomy Volunteers in the Park Front Lawn, Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor Join volunteer astronomers and Acadia National Park rangers for safe solar viewing through a variety of specially equipped telescopes. In the event of rain, demonstrations will happen indoors. Free. u11:00am – 12:00pm “Mysterious Mars” with J. Kelly Beatty Auditorium, Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor Mars is like Earth in some ways and so utterly different in others, which is why humans are so fascinated by it. This presentation lets you explore the “Red Planet” from afar and up close. Free.
u12:00 – 1:00pm “Our Active Sun” with Jon thomas Auditorium, Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor Although the sun is just an average star, it plays a significant role in our solar system. Learn all about its size, distance, energy output, composition, age, and finally, its eventual fate. Free. u1:00 – 2:00pm “the great celestial Bear: ursa Major in Science, culture, and Myth” with Jan Hoey Auditorium, Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor Learn more about the constellation Ursa Major, which includes the Big Dipper, and why it has been portrayed as a great bear by civilizations across the northern hemisphere. Free. u1:30 – 2:30pm “the glass universe” with dava Sobel Southwest Harbor Public Library, 338 Main Street, Southwest Harbor Join our 2017 keynote speaker, an award-winning science writer and bestselling author, as she talks about the pioneering women recruited for cut-rate wages to work in the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s. These women left their mark on astronomy and their classifications are still used today. Free. u2:00 – 3:00pm “the Search for planet 9” with richard Luecke Auditorium, Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor Far beyond the orbit of Neptune, an undiscovered planet 10 times more massive than the Earth may be lurking and the race to find
it is heating up. This imageenhanced presentation will reveal the latest details on the search for Planet 9. Free. u6:30 – 9:30pm (Boarding begins at 6:00pm) Night Sky “under the Stars” Boat cruise Bar Harbor Whale Watch, 1 West Street, Bar Harbor See Wednesday’s event description. u6:30 – 10:30pm “capture the Night” photography Workshop with Brent Ander photography Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor See Friday’s event description. $75 per person. u7:00 – 8:00pm “An eye to the Sky” with Bob reichman MDI High School Auditorium, 1081 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor Expand your horizons with an Astronomy Volunteer in the Park who will share easy to find shapes, constellations, and “anchor” stars in the night sky and make sense out of it all. Navigate by the stars and take home a free star finder for stellar family fun. Free. u7:00 – 10:00pm Bioluminescent & Stargazing paddle with castine Kayak Castine Kayak Adventures 17 Sea Street, Castine See Wednesday’s event description. $65 per person.
For more information on these events visit
AcadiaNightSkyFestival.org
u8:00 – 11:00pm cadillac Mountain Star party Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park reserved parking for shuttle at Mount Desert Island High School, Bar Harbor Join volunteer astronomers and Acadia National Park rangers as they point out constellations and other night sky features. Parking is only available at MDI High School (1081 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor) by ticketed reservation. Limited reservations are available for $5.00 per vehicle in advance, online only, on a firstcome, first served basis. Shuttle service to the summit will begin at 7:30pm. Parking at the summit is restricted to vehicles for people with disabilities (no reservations required). No pets, coolers, or folding chairs. Reservations are required and can be made at bit.ly/ANSFCadillac. Parking reservation: $5.00
SuNdAy, SepteMBer 9 u9:00 – 10:00am Star dome: “Our Family in the Sky” Jesup Memorial Library, 34 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor A portable planetarium is set up inside the library for this fun family program. The planets are personified as Mr. Sun guides children through a tour of the solar system. Includes planets, comets, asteroids, the moon, and a constellation. Suited for children in kindergarten through second grade. No admittance after show begins. Limited to 55. Free. u10:30 – 11:30am Star dome: “exploring our Solar System” Jesup Memorial Library, 34 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor A portable planetarium is set up inside the library for this fun family program. Let’s explore the planets and “dwarf planets”, both as seen in the night sky and
as visited by space probes. This show is suited for children in third through sixth grade. No admittance after show begins. Limited to 55. Free. u1:00 – 2:30pm “My Life as a Mercury 13 Astronaut candidate” with Wally Funk Jesup Memorial Library 34 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor In 1962, 13 female pilots passed the test to become astronauts but were never allowed to go to space. Funk shares her story, inspiration, and how she keeps her dream of space travel alive. Free. u2:30 – 3:30pm “rocks From Space” with Bob veilleux Jesup Memorial Library 34 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor Join us for this presentation to learn all about meteorites and their significance in astronomy. There will be numerous meteorites for people to see, hold, and discuss. You are invited to bring along any suspected meteorites to have them verified for authenticity. Free. u3:45 – 5:00pm “Beyond Hubble” with Jon thomas Jesup Memorial Library 34 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor This talk will highlight key components of the James Webb Space Telescope - Hubble’s successor - the reason for its unique location in space, and some of its major scientific goals. Free. u7:00 – 10:00pm Bioluminescent & Stargazing paddle with castine Kayak Castine Kayak Adventures 17 Sea Street, Castine See Wednesday’s event description. $65 per person.