Mahon About Town Nantucket Blog

Paid Advertisement

Ben Murphy died on Monday, January 14, 2008 at the age of 56. A memorial service will be held today (Friday, January 18th) at 2 pm at the Madaket Admiralty Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marla Lamb Fund.

Albert Brock died on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at the age of 88. The wake will be at the First Congregational Church, Friday (18th) from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral service will be at the First Congregational Church on Saturday (19th) at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Brock’s name may be made to the First Congregational Church of Nantucket or the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. More about Al Brock at the Independent and the I&M.

Alan Brown died at the Nantucket Cottage Hospital on Tuesday, January 8th, 2008 at the age of 82. More about Alan Brown at the Independent.

Florence E. Clifford died on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at the age of 88. Services will be held at the Congregational Church on Wednesday, January 23rd at 10:30 am.

Alan Newhouse died Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at the age of 88. For more on the life of Alan Newhouse: Independent and I&M.

The Nantucket Sky in January 2008

(All times are given in Eastern Standard Time)

The Sun (for the middle of the month, January 15)
Rises at 7:04 a.m.
Sets at 4:36 p.m.

The Moon
First Quarter: January 15, 02:46 pm
Full Moon: January 22, 08:35 am
Last Quarter: January 30, 12:03 am

Planets
Mercury: It is a difficult planet to observe in general, because of its closeness to the Sun. Relatively very good conditions for its observations will be from about January 19th to 26th. Look at the west-southwest horizon about a half-hour after sunset. Mercury is the brightest ’star’ at about 10 degrees (two vertically-oriented fists at an extended arm’s length) above the horizon.

Venus: The last month to see it as the Morning Star. Very bright in the East, before sunrise, but lower and lower each morning. At the very end of the month, it will be very close to Jupiter, low above the horizon before dawn. Should be an impressive view on January 31 and February 1.

Mars: An all-night object, still close to the Earth (opposition) and relatively bright.

Jupiter: Still close to the Sun in the sky. At the end of the month, it will be seen for a short period of time before sunrise. It will be low above the horizon, but at the very end of the month it will be next to Venus, and the pair of the two brightest planets seen next to each other should be spectacular.

Saturn: Rises earlier and earlier in the evening and in January will be best seen by midnight, in the south.

Comets
Comet Holmes that flared up in October 2007, may still be visible in January, in Perseus. (go to http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/10775326.html for many pictures of the comet and a map).

Another periodic comet, 8P/Tuttle, goes through its perihelion (closest point to the Sun) in January and will be easily observable with binoculars and maybe even with an unaided eye. See more at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance and/or come to the Loines Observatory open nights to observe the comets and other miracles of the sky.

CONCERT

Violinist Arman Ghazaryan and pianist Robert Behrman open the Nantucket Arts Council Winter Series this Sunday, 4:00 pm at the Coffin School. The duo will perform a concert in three sonatas, by Handel, Beethoven and Franck. Details.

BENEFIT:
The annual Spelling Bee is this Saturday night, beginning at 6 pm at the High School. The Culinary Arts Program will serve dinner from 5 to 7:30 pm.

Family Sea Fair is part of the One Book One Island week, with hands-on activities presented by the Maria Mitchell Association, U.S. Coast Guard, artist Katie Trinkle Legge, Nantucket Community Sailing, scrimshanders, scallopers and fishermen. Free. Saturday, February 2nd from noon to 3:00 pm at the Cyrus Peirce School Gym.

NIGHTLIFE
At the Rose & Crown, it’s Trivia Quiz Night every Tuesday (at 7 pm), karaoke on Thursday (9pm), and DJ Bri Guy Friday and Saturday nights.

SPEAKERS AND DISCUSSIONS

Library director Molly Anderson and NHS teacher Page Martineau will facilitate a book discussion on Ernest Hemingway’s ‘The Old Man and The Sea.’ Free copies of the book are available at the Atheneum, Town Building, Saltmarsh, NHA, Hospital, Annye’s Whole Foods, and schools. Tuesday, February 5th from 5:00 to 6:30 pm at the Atheneum.

EXHIBITION

In Search of the Giant Squid opens Friday, February 1st at the Peter Foulger Gallery, with giant squid specimens, myths and legends, how they hunt, move, and defend themselves, and their anatomy and behavior. Open Fridays and Saturdays, 11 am to 4 pm; Sundays, noon to 4 pm through April 20.

FILM
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea will be shown at the Whaling Museum Friday night (1st) at 7:00 pm.