The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association's Biggest Event of the Season: The Stargazer Gala

July 14, 2023

Nantucket, MA – Join the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) on July 27, 2023 for its annual fundraiser, The Stargazer Gala. Caravan with us to the shores of Polpis Harbor, to a field of tents, where we’ll dine and dance under the very stars that have guided the explorers before us. Partygoers will enjoy the beautiful colors of the evening sky as the sun sets, dancing to musical guest stars Fleetwood Macked, delicious food by Island Kitchen, stargazing with our professional astronomers, and more! Come dance the night away all while celebrating and supporting the MMA and enjoying a good old- fashioned Nantucket gala. Tickets are $595 per person and are available online at mariamitchell.org or by calling the MMA at 508-228-9198.


All proceeds from the Stargazer Gala support the MMA’s mission to create opportunities for all to develop a life-long passion for science through education, research, and first-hand exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island. Support enables the MMA to continue serving 18,000 learners of all ages each year, cultivating generations of scientists and environmental stewards who will shape our future.



The MMA would like to thank its wonderful Gala Co-Chairs, Tanya Forman and Elizabeth Georgantas, our Event Committee, Host Committee and our generous Stargazer Gala sponsors for making this event possible! We hope you will join us in supporting our biggest event of the year. 


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 female 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

July 14, 2023

Contact: Grace Baisley

marketinginterns@mariamitchell.org

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Sept. 24, 1881. . . . Mr. I. {van Ingen} thinks that not a person on the Board of Trustees would approve of the clause in Mr. Vassar’s will which objected to women as occupants of chairs. Just months before, Maria Mitchell had written a letter describing the controversy surrounding the bequest of Matthew Vassar to the college he founded. The large sum was separated out within his will, including the establishment of department chairs. The bequest for this action, however, did not allow for women professors to have a chair. Quite shocking for a women’s college but then, there were early trustees in the College’s founding who believed that women professors should not exist at Vassar! Maria would be the first professor Vassar hired – male OR female. JNLF

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