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_____________ Island Astronomy Institute |
WELCOME TO THE ISLAND ASTRONOMY INSTITUTE!
The Island Astronomy Institute delivers a wide array of programs to people of all ages on Mount Desert Island (MDI), Maine, home of Acadia National Park. Isolated from the growing threat of light pollution, MDI retains some of the last naturally dark skies on the East Coast. The Island Astronomy Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation.
CURRENT EVENTS—Updated August 8
Peter Homer was featured at the Smithsonian Institute's 42nd Annual Folklife Festival, which took place June 25-July 6 on the National Mall. Peter, a member of the Island Astronomy Institute's Board of Advisors, is recognized for developing "an innovative new space suit glove design that is strong, easy on the hands, and gives the operator a high degree of dexterity."
The tour that started at this summer’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. is coming to libraries on Mount Desert Island. Come reach into space and feel what it's like to be an astronaut.
* Friday, August 8: Southwest Harbor, 9:00 a.m.-noon
* Thursday, August 14: Northeast Harbor, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
* Friday, August 15: Bass Harbor Memorial, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
* Friday, August 22: Jesup Memorial, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Peter Homer and Peter Lord will be on hand to share their remarkable story and offer hands-on demonstrations.
See our News page for more information about "Hands in Space" Education, presented by the Island Astronomy Institute and Flagsuit LLC.
The Institute provides programs and resources to schools and the public, promoting astronomy as an exciting activity for people of all ages. Our interdisciplinary programs include mythology, recent discoveries from NASA, and the spectacular starry skies of Acadia National Park. The Institute is currently focused on acquiring a Digital STARLAB Portable Planetarium for use in educational presentations and service learning projects.
The Institute's Starlit Communities project is dedicated to preserving the nighttime environment over Down East Maine. The Institute has forged a unique partnership with the National Park Service and the Friends of Acadia to foster public stewardship of our starlit skies.
We work with several local and national organizations that share our missions of dark sky preservation and astronomy education. Our newest affiliate: Flagsuit LLC.
For current observing conditions and maps of the sky, see the Island Astronomy Clear Sky Clock.