Maria Mitchell Observatory facts for kids
The Maria Mitchell Observatory is an important place in Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA. It was started in 1908 and is named after Maria Mitchell, who was the first American woman to become an astronomer. This observatory is a big part of the Maria Mitchell Association. It actually has two main parts: the main Maria Mitchell Observatory near downtown Nantucket and the Loines Observatory, which is about a kilometer (half a mile) west of town. It also keeps a huge collection of over 8,000 old glass photographic plates. These plates show observations of large parts of the sky from 1913 to 1995.
Learning and Research at the Observatory
The observatory has many programs for public education and scientific research. For more than 50 years, it has offered summer research internships. These are for college students who want to study astronomy and astrophysics. The National Science Foundation helps fund these important programs.
In 2009, the Maria Mitchell Association received a special award. President Barack Obama gave them the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. This award recognized how important their work is in helping young scientists learn and grow.
Amazing Telescopes
The two observatories have three main telescopes inside domes. The main observatory on Vestal Street has research offices. It also houses a 17-inch Plane Wave Dall-Kirkham telescope. This telescope was put in place in 2008.
The Loines Observatory has a historic 7.5-inch Alvan Clark refractor telescope. This older telescope is used for public stargazing events. At this location, there is also a larger 24-inch Richey-Chretian reflecting telescope. It was installed in 2006 and is open for public tours. Both the 17-inch and the 24-inch telescopes are used for research all year long.
Who Works Here?
Regina Jorgenson became the Director of the Maria Mitchell Observatory in January 2016. She earned her PhD in physics from the University of California in San Diego. Before coming to Maria Mitchell, she worked at other famous astronomy places. In 2014, she helped publish an important study about the amount of deuterium in the early universe.
Here are some of the past directors who led the Maria Mitchell Observatory:
- Margaret Harwood (1912-1957)
- Dorrit Hoffleit (1957-1978)
- Emilia Belserene (1978-1991)
- Eileen Friel (1991-1996)
- Vladimir Strelnitski (1997-2013)
- Michael West (2013-2015)
Gary Walker is the observatory's telescope engineer. He is trained as an aeronautical engineer. He has spent over 30 years observing the sky and building telescopes. He also takes amazing pictures of the heavens. Gary is a past president of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). He currently serves as the secretary for this organization.
See also
In Spanish: Observatorio Maria Mitchell para niños
