Public Shows and Star Parties
Come explore the sky under the dome

December 31, 2023 Bangor Public Library, planetarium shows for their family oriented New Year’s Eve Celebration.

January 6, 2024, Islesboro Islands Trust, Islesboro, Maine. At Star Party. For more information contact the islesboroislandstrust.org.

January 12, 2024, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Rangeley, Maine. A Star Party at one of the RLHT lands. If it is overcast, the Night Sky Tour will be held virtually on Zoom. For more information contact the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

January 13, 2024, AMC Medawisla Lodge, Star Party.

February 8, 2024, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Rangeley, Maine. A Star Party at one of the RLHT lands. If it is overcast, the Night Sky Tour will be held virtually on Zoom. For more information contact the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

February 9, 2024, AMC Medawisla Lodge, Star Party.

February 12, 2024, 12:00-1:00pm Flat Screen-Eclipse presentation for Coastal Senior College, Damariscotta, Maine.

March 7, 2024, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Rangeley, Maine. A Star Party at one of the RLHT lands. If it is overcast, the Night Sky Tour will be held virtually on Zoom. For more information contact the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

March 23, 2024, Carrabassett Valley Library, Carrabassett Valley, Maine, two planetarium presentations on the upcoming eclipse.

March 28, 2024, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick, Maine, a flat-screen presentation on the upcoming eclipse tailored for adults.

March 30, 2024, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick, Maine, planetarium shows about the upcoming eclipse tailored for children.

April 8, 2024, Jackman, Maine, Public viewing of total solar eclipse, co-sponsored with the Versant Power Astronomy Center, University of Maine.

April 11, 2024, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Rangeley, Maine. A Virtual Star Party on Zoom. For more information contact the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

May 22, 2024, Rockport Public Library, Rockport, Maine. Planetarium shows, set up at the Rockport Opera House.

July 26, 2024, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Rangeley, Maine. A Star Party at one of the RLHT lands. If it is overcast, the Night Sky Tour will be held virtually on Zoom. For more information contact the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

August 1, 2024 China Festival, China, Maine. A Night Sky Tour.

August 3, 2024. AMC Medawisla Lodge, Star Party.

August 5, 2024, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Rangeley, Maine. A Star Party at one of the RLHT lands. If it is overcast, the Night Sky Tour will be held virtually on Zoom. For more information contact the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

August 9, 10, 11, 2024, Maine State Star Party, Cobscook Bay State Park, Dennysville, ME.

September 25, 2024, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Rangeley, Maine. A Star Party at one of the RLHT lands. If it is overcast, the Night Sky Tour will be held virtually on Zoom. For more information contact the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

September 29-October 5, See the Dark Festival, Appalachian Mountain Club, in the Maine Woods International Dark Sky Park, northeast of Greenville, Maine.

October 25, 2024, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Rangeley, Maine. A Star Party at one of the RLHT lands. If it is overcast, the Night Sky Tour will be held virtually on Zoom. For more information contact the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.


Mar
23
to Apr 13

Exploring the Spring Sky 4 Week Class

Exploring the Spring Skies Class
Learn the Stars, Constellations and Planets of Spring

March 23 & 30, April 6 & 13, 2022, 7-8 pm.
Instructor: John Meader, Director of Northern Stars Planetarium and Vice President of Dark Sky Maine.

Learn the spring sky with a weekly virtual lesson. Each lesson will be roughly one hour long. 

You will learn the constellations of spring, the names of significant stars, as well as how to find the visible planets. Everyone will gain access to Stellarium and learn how to use this amazing free software for study and future reference.

Fee $60/person. 

To register donate $60 to Dark Sky Maine and email us at darkskymaine@gmail.com that you’re registering for the Exploring the Spring Skies Class.

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Dark Sky Maine--Vernal Equinox Virtual Star Party on Zoom!
Mar
21

Dark Sky Maine--Vernal Equinox Virtual Star Party on Zoom!

Join us on March 21, at 7pm, the first full day of spring, for a special virtual star party on Zoom, and it’s completely FREE!

The Spring Star Party will feature: 

  • Special guest, author Jamie Hogan, who will read her children’s book SkywatcherBe sure to bring your children along!

  • tour of the stars and constellations of spring with DSM’s Vice President, John Meader of Northern Stars Planetarium. 

  • A look at the nocturnal creatures of spring with DSM’s Maine Master Naturalist, Serena Sanborn.

  • How to observe the upcoming lunar eclipse on May 15-16 with DSM’s Treasurer, Shawn Laatsch, Director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center at the University of Maine.

  • A trip to the pyramids of Egypt with DSM’s President, Nancy Hathaway.

It’s sure to be a fun hour+ on Zoom, packed with lots of great information.

To register simply email darkskymaine@gmail.com and say you’d like to register for the Spring Star Party. You’ll receive a Zoom link a day or two before the event.

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Oct
14

Stars Over Katahdin

  • Online, contact Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters for registration information. (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Stars Over Katahdin has been changed from an in-person star party to a virtual star party on Zoom due to Covid restrictions. The event is sponsored by the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters and Dark Sky Maine. Come and join us for an evening of great speakers and explore the skies.

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Sep
10

Nature at Night

Join us for a tour of the night sky and an exploration of the lovely nocturnal moths of early fall. Maine Master Naturalist, Serena Sanborn, and  John Meader, of Northern Stars Planetarium, will lead the nature tour highlighting local moths and not-so-local constellations! John will share a bit of constellation lore and will use a laser to point directly to the stars he illuminates in this program.

Bring a blanket if you want to lie on the ground, and bug-spray might also be a wise addition. We ask that you only bring flashlights with red filters so your eyes can become fully adjusted to the dark. If you bring your own binoculars, John will follow up the evening’s sky tour to lead a binocular star-hop for a closer look. Due to COVID-19, we cannot share a telescope or binoculars, so everyone who wants to learn to star hop, must bring their own binoculars.

Free and open to all.

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Sep
8

Exploring the Night Sky Class

Join John Meader and Nancy Hathaway for a four week class to help you learn constellations, stars, and planets of the autumn night skies. The class stars on Wednesday Sept. 8, and will meet on each Wednesday for four weeks, the final class will be on September 29, 2021. Each class will be approximately 1 hour (7-8pm) on Zoom.

Cost is $60 donation to the non-profit Dark Sky Maine. Payment can be made to https://darkskymaine.com/donate, then send an email to darkskymaine@gmail.com to let us know you’re interested.

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Evening Night Sky Tour, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust
Jan
12

Evening Night Sky Tour, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust

Join John for a Night Sky Tour of the constellations, stars, and visible planets in support of the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust on Tuesday January 12 at 6 pm. Please contact David Miller at RLHT for reservations and more information at 207-864-7311.

Reservations are required at the event is limited to 30 participants.

Dress warmly, this is an outdoor event and it will likely be cold!

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Evening Night Sky Tour, Maine Street Skowhegan
Jan
7

Evening Night Sky Tour, Maine Street Skowhegan

Join John for a Night Sky Tour of the constellations and visible planets at Lake George Park, Skowhegan, Maine on Thursday January 7, 2021 at 6:30. This event is being hosted by Main Street Skowhegan, please contact Emma Corwin at info@mainstreetskowhegan.org for reservations, or call 207-614-4078.

Reservations Required, as the event is limited to the first 30 people.

Please dress warmly, this is an outdoor event and it’s likely to be cold!

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