NANTUCKET, MA— The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA), in collaboration with Nantucket Lights, announces that it will host James Lowenthal, PhD, the Mary Elizabeth Moses Professor of Astronomy at Smith College, as a featured presenter for its August Science Speaker Series. The presentation, “The Magic of the Night... and How We Can Save It,” will take place on Wednesday, August 20 at 7pm in person at 33 Washington Street and via Zoom. The event is free to all.

Do you love seeing the Milky Way from Nantucket? Do you enjoy Nantucket's beautiful gardens by day? The naturally dark night is one of Nature's greatest gifts. Humans and all other life on Earth evolved to depend on bright days and dark nights, and for thousands of generations, humans have turned to the night sky for inspiration, connection to our ancestors and culture, religion, science, and awe. Pollinators, migrating birds, marine life and plants all need natural darkness at night to thrive. Join Smith College Professor of Astronomy, James Lowenthal, on an illustrated tour of the magic of the night and learn how, together, we can preserve that night magic by taming the growing threat of light pollution -- a global problem with a local solution.

James Lowenthal is the Mary Elizabeth Moses Professor of Astronomy at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. He received his BS in Physics and Astronomy from Yale and his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Arizona. He studies the formation and evolution of galaxies, especially actively star-forming galaxies. He leads the local advocacy group Northampton City Lights and the Massachusetts chapter of DarkSky International; chairs the Light Pollution Sub-Committee of the American Astronomical Society’s Committee for the Protection of Astronomy and the Space Environment; and is President of the International Astronomical Union's Commission on Site Protection (i.e., light pollution). He spends as much time outdoors under the night sky as he can.

This event will be held both in person and via Zoom. Pre-registration is required to attend either option.

To register for the in-person event, use the registration link below:

https://112458a.blackbaudhosting.com/112458a/August-Science-Speaker-Series---Nantucket-Lights

To register for Zoom, use the registration link below:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hbm6LI9HQ6CcAs9PHPId1A

The Science Speaker Series is generously sponsored by the Maria Mitchell Association’s lead sponsor, Bank of America.

Nantucket Lights, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit, all volunteer citizen advocacy group exclusively dedicated to preserving and protecting Nantucket’s nighttime environment and heritage of dark skies by raising awareness about light pollution on the island and advocating for environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. 

The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.

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For Immediate Release

August 7, 2025

Contact: Joanna Roche

jroche@mariamitchell.org