Nantucket is a small island off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, east of Martha’s Vineyard. It was a 19th-century whaling hub and today is a summer destination with dune-backed beaches. Loines Observatory is located centrally, but the entire island is recommended for stargazing described by a fellow stargazer from the EarthSky community: “Nantucket is 30 miles (48 km) out to sea, with very little light pollution. The Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) maintains telescopes and an observatory with open nights, but just about ANY place is great… just step outside, it’s always amazing. The MMA also directs a highly respected summer graduate program in astronomy. Check out Maria Mitchell’s history too!”
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.