The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Welcomes Charity Grace Mofsen as Artist-in-Residence

May 16, 2024

NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is thrilled to welcome photographer, Charity Grace Mofsen, as an Artist-in-Residence May 31 – August 5, 2024. Mofsen’s astrophotography will be on display at an opening reception on Friday, May 31 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at 33 Washington Street. This event is free to the public.


In addition to Mofsen’s opening reception on Friday, May 31, gallery open hours will be held from 5:30pm – 7:30pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday starting May 31 and ending August 4 at 33 Washington Street (subject to changes). Please check our website calendar for up-to-date hours at: https://www.mariamitchell.org/calendar


Charity Grace Mofsen captures the island of Nantucket in all its glory – in light and at night. With a particular affinity for astrophotography, she believes there is always light, if you have eyes to see it. From fine art landscapes to intimate weddings, fun portrait sessions, and creative product photography, Mofsen finds joy sharing her love of Nantucket with the hope that others will also cherish the island’s natural beauty. Returning as an Artist-in-Residence for the Maria Mitchell Association, her work speaks to [wo]man’s connection to the cosmos. Describing her style as meditative, Mofsen highlights the beauty of the island’s contrasts – the solitude of the off-season and the joy of summer, the colors of the light and the wisdom of the night. This year’s show will expand to include new work from off-island locations blessed with dark skies.


“I’m really looking forward to working with the Maria Mitchell Association again and creating new work during this year’s Artist-in-Residency program. This year’s show, ‘A Love Starry,’ will feature my Milky Way portrait series – fine art astro portraiture – alongside my fine art landscapes of Nantucket Island, with a couple of new locations added this year. I’ll also be hosting some exciting events at 33 Washington Street to really experience each piece of work that is on display."


The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. 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

May 16, 2024

Contact: Molly Mosscrop

mmosscrop@mariamitchell.org

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By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • November 10, 2025
A re-blog from years past. The item you see here is a small piece of what once was. Upon her visit to Europe as a young woman’s chaperone in 1857 –1858, Maria Mitchell visited many of the major observatories of Europe and met many of the movers and shakers in the scientific, art, and literary worlds of the continent. While Caroline Herschel (1750 – 1848) and her brother, Sir William (1738 – 1822), were long dead, Maria was able to meet Caroline’s nephew (William’s son), Sir John Herschel (1792 – 1871). All three were astronomers, though Caroline found herself having to give credit – or have her brother accept credit – for much of her work because she was a woman. She has often been credited with the being the first woman to discover a comet. She was likely not – and the other woman who was the first lost credit through history as she had to “give” her comet discovery to her husband. See a pattern? Caroline was just one of many women in a long line of, “She couldn’t possibly do that – she is a woman!” As Maria once said, “But a woman, what more could you ask to be?” But back to this small item. It was a page from one of Caroline Herschel’s notebook’s, torn from its home by John Herschel to serve a s a memento for Maria of her visit to the family’s home. Maria was a bit shocked but . . . she took it! Over the years, the paper tore and ripped and just crumbled away until Maria finally decided that to save it, she needed to past it into one of her own journals. And thus, we have what we have. I assume Caroline’s notations refer to her brother William – “Wol” and Woll.” It could be an “I” but it really looks like an “O.” She is considered the world’s first professional woman astronomer – she would be compensated for her work after some time – and she warrants a greater look at – too much for a blog. So I encourage you to go take a look at her. Maria would want you to! JNLF

From The Rear

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • November 3, 2025
I am not so sure our founders would love that title but the image is of the Maria Mitchell Vestal Street Observatory (MMO) “from the rear.” I love this image as it is really the only one we have – unless you count the one that is taken from farther away and from further into the backyard of the Mitchell House. That one allows you to see the natural slope of the Mitchell House back lawn which would be altered when they added the Curator’s Cottage. Both of the images were taken before the Curator’s Cottage was added at the back of the Mitchell House in the early 1930s – and this one you see here was taken before 1922 when they added the Astronomical Study onto the MMO. It also shows the original dome – which was copper – before it was replaced in 1951 – which is the current dome. The copper did not hold up to our climate here – salt spray, damp, fog. But the new one, shipped over from England, has held up well. The current dome was donated by Margaret Underwood Davis (MMA board president at the time), in memory of her son, Cushing Davis who was an amateur astronomer. Margaret Davis served as president from 1930-1946 and again from 1949-1953. The image tells you some other things too. For instance, the grape arbor behind the Mitchell House is supposed to be Peleg Mitchell’s (Maria’s uncle) grape vine – I have blogged about it several times before – and you can see it in this image. You can also see how the Milk Room connects to the 1850s kitchen. The 1850s kitchen was added by Peleg Mitchell Jr and it’s the first little wart you see with the white pipe attached. The next wart is the Milk Room – also added by Peleg – it’s the one with the shutters on the window. Both still exist it’s just the Curator’s Cottage was attached in the 1930s. You will see another chimney too. It appears alongside the white pipe. That is likely the original chimney to what is now the Astronomer’s Cottage at the MMA. We acquired the Cottage in the 1920s but I believe all of the additions, and the removal of the chimney, were done before we were given it.  Fun! JNLF

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