{"id":63573,"date":"2022-08-01T20:50:48","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T00:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themainemag.com\/?p=63573"},"modified":"2022-08-01T20:56:38","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T00:56:38","slug":"a-guide-to-maine-stargazing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themainemag.com\/a-guide-to-maine-stargazing\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Maine Stargazing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A Guide to Maine Stargazing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to find the darkest skies, tips and tricks for budding astrophotographers, and future celestial events to watch for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Jenny O’Connell
Photography by Andy Gagne<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Issue: August 2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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THE LAST DARK SKY IN THE EAST<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Chasing Stars in AMC’s Maine Woods International Dark Sky Park<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know how it feels in your body: the deep inhale. The slack in your jaw, the melt of your shoulders. Your eyes widen. Your blood pressure drops. Something releases in you, soothed by the dark. As you gaze at the millions of stars twinkling above the horizon, you remember what you\u2019ve forgotten: that you are actually quite small. Your ancestors stood and looked up at these same constellations. This sky is your connection to every other culture on the planet. To every other human being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can look from the water to the forest to the sky, and it\u2019s always looked like this,\u201d says Steve Tatko, senior director of Maine Conservation and Land Management for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). \u201cIt\u2019s never not been dark.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re standing on the shore of Second Roach Pond on AMC conservation lands. That\u2019s the name folks use nowadays, but what we\u2019re really standing on is an esker\u2014a long, winding ridge of stratified gravel left by the Laurentide Ice Sheet 26,000 years ago\u2014the dividing line between two water-sheds and one of the last places in the world that was colonized by people. This campsite is a short canoe paddle from AMC\u2019s Medawisla Lodge\u2014medawisla <\/em>is the Wabanaki word for \u201cloon.\u201d As night falls across the water, the birds call out with wild bursts of song, making their presence known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a forest that has developed in the presence of the Wabanaki people. You can stand on these riverbanks and see the same sky they did 7,000 years ago,\u201d says Tatko, reminding me that this place, considered protected wilderness, has not evolved without the influence of humans. Western society\u2019s narrative of \u201cuntouched\u201d and \u201cpristine\u201d landscapes robs First Nations people of their sovereignty and agency in shaping the place they\u2019ve occupied for nearly 12,000 years, and creates barriers that separate us from the natural world. \u201cWho thought we\u2019d need to protect the vista of the sky?\u201d says Tatko. \u201cThat just tells you how far we\u2019ve fallen in our ability to value the world around us. But I think it\u2019s an incredibly important step to taking ownership over our own ability to connect with who we were, and who we still are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021 the AMC Maine Woods property became the first International Dark Sky Park in New England. Situated at the edge of the North Maine Woods\u2014an expanse of more than 14,000 square kilometers of largely uninhabited forest land that stretches from Monson, Maine, to the border of Canada\u2014the sky we\u2019re standing under and the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, which was designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2020, are the only protected dark sky areas in the region. With much of the Northeast converted for urban development, this forest has been identified as an important hotspot for habitat connectivity and climate change resilience. Still, it\u2019s at risk: much of the surrounding land is owned by timber companies. \u201cThe scariest thing you can ever do from a conservation perspective is look at the parcel data,\u201d Tatko says. \u201cThis is the last place in the East where it\u2019s big.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AMC is the North America\u2019s oldest conservation group, but it wasn\u2019t always that way. The organization, which supports outdoor recreation and maintains 1,800 miles of trails from Maine to D.C., began as a hiking club aimed at getting people outside. Over time, the idea emerged to develop a sense of stewardship through interaction with place. From lodges with soft beds and three meals a day to rustic campsites like this one, the AMC provides access to the outdoors for people of all ages and abilities based around a simple calculation: if you love something, you will protect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In Maine the AMC holistically manages 75,000 acquired acres in the North Maine Woods and the 100-Mile Wilderness for biological conservation, sustainable forestry, backcountry recreation, and environmental education. Now that conservation lens is being applied to the night sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 2001, the International Dark Sky Places program encourages communities, parks, and protected areas around the world to be stewards of the night. Places are awarded a designation through a rigorous application process that involves a thorough inventory, responsible lighting policies, and public education. Jenny Ward, who has been stargazing in the Greenville region for over 50 years, is leading the Dark Sky certification process for AMC. \u201cOur planet, and the evolution of species on this planet, revolves around periods of dark and light,\u201d Ward says. \u201cIt\u2019s how people learned to survive\u2014cycles of the moon, navigation of the stars. We lived our lives with that cycle of day and night. It hasn\u2019t been until the last 100 years or so that we created a society that\u2019s built around keeping the lights on all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider the impacts of lighting up the night. For plants and animals, the dark supports rhythms of reproduction, food hunting, sleep, and protection. Light pollution changes the habits of nocturnal animals, leaves prey more susceptible to predators, muddles migration patterns for birds, sea turtles, and butterflies who navigate by the stars and moon, and can even affect the seasonal cycle of deciduous trees. Artificial light at nighttime poses health risks to humans, too: when our circadian rhythm is disrupted we produce less of the health-inducing hormone melatonin, leaving us at higher risk for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, and breast cancer among other issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The night sky inspired our ancestors\u2019 forays into science, literature, art, religion, and philosophy. Now, according to Ward, 80 percent of people living in the world cannot see the Milky Way, and 99 percent of the U.S. population lives somewhere impacted by light pollution\u2014which means that our newest generations are losing touch with our common and universal heritage. \u201cWe had one group of students from New York City,\u201d Ward says. \u201cThey didn\u2019t realize they had stars above New York. They didn\u2019t know they existed everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe get so subconsciously used to human interference in our audiovisual realities,\u201d says Tatko. \u201cThere are people who are afraid of the absence of those things. That feels like a big injustice, that we haven\u2019t been able to empower them to embrace that level of discomfort. It feels like a taking of a right, in a way\u2014the right to be in the dark.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, there\u2019s a quick and easy fix to the problem\u2014all we have to do to preserve the night sky is switch off the lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay, it\u2019s not quite that simple, but it\u2019s close. Assessing and reducing outdoor light impact at home, spreading the word, advocating for dark skies in your community, becoming an AMC or International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) member, and participating in dark sky research as a citizen scientist are all great ways to get involved. The nonprofitDark Sky Maine (darkskymaine.com) organizes seasonal \u201cStar Parties\u201d that connect people to the night sky, and educates communities on safe and efficient lighting. \u201cTake a look at where you\u2019re living, and where you\u2019re working. Make those simple changes,\u201d Ward says. \u201cDark sky lighting is beautiful light. It\u2019s easy on your eyes. It\u2019s still doing the task you\u2019re asking it to do. It\u2019s less consumptive, and less costly.\u201d The IDA\u2019s website (darksky.org) offers resources for assessing inefficient, poorly installed, and unnecessary outdoor lighting at your home and workplace and installing dark-sky-friendly lighting\u2014products that keep lights pointed at the ground, light only their intended target, reduce harmful blue-rich white light, and use less energy. \u201cIt makes sense now in a way it didn\u2019t a little bit ago,\u201d Ward says, citing high energy costs. As part of their Dark Sky Park designation, AMC has partnered with the North Maine Woods association and the Katahdin Ironworks and Hedgehog checkpoints to install dark-sky-compliant lighting. They\u2019ve also collaborated with the town of Greenville to change 188 streetlights, which saved the town over $10,000 in the first year. This June at their annual town meeting, Greenville voted to make changes in their signage and outdoor lighting ordinances to align with dark sky guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But why stop there? \u201cWouldn\u2019t it be great to have a state that recognized the value of dark skies?\u201d Ward says. \u201cThat would be incredibly cool, to be a dark sky state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tonight, as I stand under the last exceptionally dark skies east of the Mississippi, it all feels very personal. The times I have felt most deeply connected to the world and my place within it are the times I have been sitting or walking under a starry sky. Growing up, stargazing was something my family did to come together at the end of the day. I remember dark skies and blazing shooting stars, laughter, gasps of awe. As people around us built bigger houses and developed the land, the stars became muffled by patio lights, and inside me bloomed a deep grief. We had forgotten how to sit still and watch the sky without thumbing through yesterday\u2019s photos. How to notice the birds gone quiet, the night rushing in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It hasn\u2019t occurred to me until now that this is reversible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we don\u2019t have the stage, the show can\u2019t go on,\u201d Tatko says. \u201cWe are conserving this space, and this stage, and trying to do right by it. It feels like the best we can do is carry forward in some way, so that other people will find value in it in ways that we may not understand right now.\u201d As he talks about future generations, I\u2019m thinking too about what it is to be young under the night sky. How stars remind us of our own insignificance. How that can be a relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last night, a couple miles south of here, at Horseshoe Pond, we watched, breathless and hopeful, as the first constellations appeared on the southern horizon. We stayed up for hours, shivering in the cold, to watch the night sky come alive with stars. It\u2019s cloudy tonight, and warm. The black flies are biting, and my eyelids are growing heavy. But I am aware of the privilege I have in this moment, and the people who made it possible. Soon, I will crawl into my tent and sleep, as the world falls comfortably dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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STARGAZING TIPS<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Follow these suggestions from AMC\u2019s Jenny Ward to make the most of your stargazing experience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Check the weather for clear skies before you go.
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  2. Check the phases of the moon. The closer you are to a new moon, the darker the sky will be, and the brighter the stars.
    <\/li>
  3. Scope out the darkest areas using a light pollution map\u2014see lightpollutionmap.info\u2014 and pick a park, hilltop, or body of water with a large horizon that will give you an unobstructed view of the sky.
    <\/li>
  4. Bring a blanket or a chair. A telescope or a pair of binoculars can be handy for taking a closer look.
    <\/li>
  5. Use a headlamp or a flashlight with a red light setting\u2014it\u2019ll take your eyes less time to adjust to the dark.
    <\/li>
  6. Download star-viewing apps that help you identify different constellations.
    <\/li>
  7. If you\u2019re uncomfortable in the dark, explore your star spot during the daytime so it feels familiar. Venture out at dusk when it\u2019s still light. Go with a friend. A lot of people are afraid of the dark, but this is something you can overcome\u2014and it\u2019s worth it!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    BECOMING AN ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

    Getting a clear picture of the night sky is challenging, but it can be done with a well-chosen location, the right camera settings, and some patience! Here are a few pro tips from photographer Andy Gagne.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    WHAT YOU WILL NEED<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Digital camera with manual mode
    \u2022 Wide-angle lens
    \u2022 Tripod<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TIP 1<\/strong>:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Location, location, location! Choose a stargazing spot with minimal light pollution\u2014away from city lights and during the new moon. Scouting your location ahead of time during the day will make creating a composition in the dark much easier. Apps such as PhotoPills and SkyView are great tools for gathering information about the night sky, including the current phase of the moon, sunrise and sunset times, and where and when the Milky Way will be visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TIP 2<\/strong>:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Set up your camera for success. Here\u2019s how to adjust your camera settings\u2014shutter, aperture, and ISO\u2014to allow optimal light into your camera\u2019s sensor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022<\/strong> With your camera on a tripod, set a long exposure (e.g., 15 seconds). Be careful not
    to touch or move your camera during the exposure. Even the gentle press of the shutter will blur the image. To avoid this, use a remote trigger or set your camera to a 5-second timer. If you set your exposure for too long, you\u2019ll notice star trails from the Earth\u2019s rotation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Use the widest (lowest number) aperture your lens will allow (e.g., F1.4, F1.8, F2.8, F4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 In a normal daylight setting there\u2019s enough light for you to use a low ISO. However, at night you\u2019ll likely need to have the ISO at a higher setting than normal (e.g., 1000\u20136400). Your camera\u2019s sensor is more sensitive to light at a higher ISO, but if your ISO is too high you will notice \u201cnoise\u201d or \u201cgrain\u201d in your image. The lower the ISO, the better the quality. Experiment with your camera\u2019s ISO to find the right balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Set your camera to shoot in RAW format. RAW files are very large files that hold a lot of i<\/strong>nformation, which will allow you to adjust and edit your photos as needed later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022<\/strong> For crisp and focused stars, set your lens in manual mode to infinity. On most lenses there is an infinity symbol at the end of your focus ring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Depending on your camera and lens, your settings will vary. Getting it right will take some trial and error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    COMPOSITION<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Think about what makes an interesting photograph. How can you frame the stars with trees, water, mountains, or other landscape features around you? Perhaps you have outdoor gear with you, such as a paddle, a boat, or a tent lit up from the inside. You can even get a friend to stand very still in the frame, and light them for a few seconds during the shot with a headlamp or flashlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Point your camera toward the south to catch the Milky Way, and enjoy the magic of the night sky!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    7 STUNNING PLACES TO STARGAZE ACROSS MAINE<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    1. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Millinocket<\/li>
    2. AMC Maine Woods International Dark Sky Park, Greenville (The Dark Festival: October 16\u201323, 2022)<\/li>
    3. Acadia National Park (Night Sky Festival: September 21\u201325, 2022)<\/li>
    4. Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, Damariscotta<\/li>
    5. Cobscook Bay, Dennysville<\/li>
    6. Aroostook County<\/li>
    7. Blueberry Pond Observatory, Pownal<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      RAINY DAYS AT THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

      Can\u2019t see the stars because of weather? The University of Southern Maine\u2019s Southworth Planetarium offers shows Monday through Saturday for children and adults. Tag along on the GAIA Space Mission, walk on the moon, romp with dinosaurs, or celebrate solstice at Stonehenge. If you\u2019re curious about astronomy, you can get your questions answered by staff astronomer Edward Herrick-Gleason or sign up for the Daily Astronomer at usm.maine.edu\/planet<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      CELESTIAL EVENTS TO WATCH FOR<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

      PERSEID METEOR SHOWER | AUGUST 11\u201312, 2022<\/strong>
      This highly anticipated annual meteor shower lights up the sky at a rate of 50 to 100 meteors per hour. This year, you\u2019ll need to set an alarm for 2 to 3 hours before dawn because the Perseid\u2019s peak coincides with the full moon on August 12th\u2014the last of three supermoons in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      ORIONID METEOR SHOWER | OCTOBER 21\u201322, 2022<\/strong>
      Originating from dust grains left behind by the world-famous Halley\u2019s Comet, the Orionid occurs annually from October 2 to November 7, peaking this year on the night of October 21 and in the early morning of the 22nd. A crescent moon will leave the sky plenty dark for the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE | NOVEMBER 8, 2022<\/strong>
      Mainers who wake up between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. EST on the morning of November 8 will be rewarded with a full eclipse from start to finish! The moon will gradually grow darker, eventually turning a reddish hue. According to NASA, this rosy color occurs because during the eclipse the only sunlight that can reach the moon has to pass through Earth\u2019s dusty atmosphere first. The cloudier the atmosphere, the redder the moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      GEMINID METEOR SHOWER | DECEMBER 13\u201314, 2022<\/strong>
      Bundle up and head outside to gaze toward the constellation Gemini. Peak viewing hours for this meteor shower\u2014which rivals the Perseids in meteors per hour\u2014will be before midnight on December 13 and between 3 a.m. and dawn on December 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER | JANUARY 3\u20134, 2023<\/strong>
      Though the nearly full moon may block out most of the Quadrantid action in 2023, viewers after midnight may still catch a good show. With up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak, the Quadrantid is worth keeping an eye on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      NORTHERN LIGHTS | DECEMBER\u2013FEBRUARY<\/strong>
      If you don\u2019t mind the cold and are willing to drop everything to get in the car at a moment\u2019s notice, Maine is a good place to see the elusive aurora borealis. Be on the lookout for solar activity alerts through NOAA\u2019s Northern Lights Forecast or SpaceWeatherLive, and when the conditions are right, head north to Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, the AMC Maine Woods International Dark Sky Park, Sugarloaf Mountain, or Sebago, Moosehead, or Schoodic Lake. Midnight to 3 a.m. during the long, dark nights of winter is the best time to see the northern lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      LOOKING AHEAD: MAINE\u2019S FIRST TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE SINCE 1963 WILL OCCUR ON APRIL 8, 2024
      <\/strong>Grab a pair of eclipse glasses, because Maine is directly in the path of totality! Hot spots for viewing the eclipse include the Rangeley Lakes region, Moosehead Lake, Baxter State Park, Jackman, Caribou, Lincoln, Millinocket, and Presque Isle. Can\u2019t travel? No worries! You\u2019ll be able to see a near total eclipse from most places in the state. This won\u2019t happen again in Maine until 2079.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t

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