preK-12 outreach

A photo of a total solar eclipse

UMaine projects expanding nationwide access to 2024 total solar eclipse

Jules Vázquez’s eyes were glued to a four-foot-tall, high-tech telescope being assembled in front of her at the Versant Power Astronomy Center. The telescope has an 80-millimeter lens and is equipped with a specialized camera and small computer. Astronomy center Director Shawn Laatsch was teaching Jules, a high school student at Baxter Academy for Technology […]

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Eos highlights Laatsch’s team preparing for total solar eclipse

Eos highlighted Shawn Laatsch, director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center at the University of Maine, participating in the total solar eclipse by helping coordinate the Citizen Continental America Telescopic Eclipse (CATE) 2024 project. The effort, which builds on a similar project conducted around the 2017 total solar eclipse, is looking to place roughly 35 […]

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What to expect for April 8 solar eclipse viewed from Orono

Solar eclipse viewers watching the cosmic spectacle on April 8 from the University of Maine campus and surrounding town of Orono can expect to see the moon cover 98.9% of the sun, leaving a glowing sliver in the sky.  Orono is not located along the path of totality for the eclipse, in which the corona, […]

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Media interview Laatsch about eclipse research

The Bangor Daily News, The County and News Center Maine interviewed Shawn Laatsch, director of the University of Maine Versant Power Astronomy Center, regarding the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8. Laatsch, his students and citizen scientists that he trained will capture photographs of the eclipse as part of a research project called the Citizen […]

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‘The Maine Question’ shares how Mainers can experience total solar eclipse

On April 8, Mainers will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a rare cosmic event without traveling out of state: a total solar eclipse. Space enthusiasts from across the U.S. are flocking to communities in rural Maine like Jackman and Houlton to enjoy three-and-a-half minutes of totality, when they can see a ring of light […]

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Astronomy center hosting Minecraft camp during spring break

For youth curious about what Earth would be like without a moon or enjoy exploring unique worlds in Minecraft, the University of Maine Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium is offering a camp for kids that promotes science and learning by exploring “What-if” Hypothetical Implementations in Minecraft. The camp is during spring break, April […]

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WMTW highlights UMaine, Tyler Tech partnership to bolster STEM workforce

WMTW (Channel 8 in Portland) reported on a new collaborative effort from the University of Maine and Tyler Technologies Inc. to get students involved in STEM-related careers and education opportunities. Their work involves the company’s official participation in Pathways to Careers, a UMS TRANSFORMS initiative focused on increasing access to internships and experiential learning that […]

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