CARIBOU, Maine — On Sunday, Feb. 10, a frozen force of students, staff and faculty from the Maine School of Science and Mathematics and the Francis Malcolm Science Center shared the universe at Caribou’s Hannaford Supermarket.
Buoyed by clear and clean skies, the team assembled an array of five optical instruments to permit shoppers and curious onlookers to peer at various cosmic destinations, including the moon, Mars, ice giant Uranus, and the Great Nebula of Orion.
Milica Samardzic, student and Astronomy Club president at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, takes a look through the giant telescope Goliath during a recent “Sidewalk Astronomy” offering in Caribou, coordinated by MSSM and the Francis Malcolm Science Center. (Courtesy of Ryan McDonald)
Lawrence Berz, Ryan McDonald and Mark Tasker supervised and coordinated the group work with the giant “Goliath” telescope, along with smaller scopes like 8-inch Toddler and 4.5-inch Astroscan “Baby.” A new addition included two heavy-duty tripods for rock-steady binocular views of the wonder above.
“MSSM students boldy braved the chill to guide and encourage onlookers to step up and out of this world to new horizons,” said Berz, planetarium director of the Malcolm Science Center.
Berz said he “strongly and urgently feels that sidewalk astronomy can ably quicken cosmic commitments and connections to a winter weary community drained of wonder. Saturated with artificial sky glow, a child’s momentary glimpse and gaze through a scope can breed new hope and awe in youth of all ages.”
A final foray into the final frontier will take place in early to mid-March, weather permitting. Onlookers of all ages will be welcome to gaze.
Further details and information regarding MSSM, FMSC, and sky watching in general are available upon request at (207) 488-5451 or (207) 325-3303.
