Welcome to your free bi-weekly newsletter from Connecticut Explored with the latest stories, the newest Grating the Nutmeg podcast, programs and exhibitions from our partners to see/watch this month, and more! In this issue, we bring you the first stories from our Winter issue, “History in the Sky.”
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The Distance to the Stars: Astronomy at the Van Vleck Observatory
For Frederick Slocum, the first Director of the Van Vleck Observatory at Wesleyan, winters were bountiful. They were when he could make the most progress towards determining the distance to the stars. Van Vleck Observatory was one of nine research institutions that contributed to an effort to calculate the distance between Earth and as many stars as possible. Amrys O. Williams’ writes this undertaking furthered our, “understanding of the universe: its scale, its age, and its history.”
Describing the photograph of Slocum above, captured circa 1920, Williams explains why he looks so bundled up:
While today a telescope operator sits in a warm room, directing observations remotely with the aid of a computer, in Slocum’s day, observing was an active, physically demanding undertaking that, though technically indoors, was essentially an open-air pursuit. Observing logs still held at Van Vleck demonstrate that, to avoid humidity that might refract light or condense on the lenses and fog the image, Slocum and his colleagues made as many observations as possible in the winter. They observed in an unheated dome set off from the rest of the building to avoid temperature differences that could create air currents and distort their images.
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Attend a public program at the Van Vleck Observatory on the Wesleyan University campus in Middletown. For information, see the calendar at wesleyan.edu/astro/events/
Cosmic Connecticut: Astronomy in the Constitution State
Kristine Larsen, a Professor of Earth and Space Sciences at CCSU, wrote mini-biographies of seven Connecticut residents that have made contributions to the field of astronomy. Take a look at one of the profiles:
Noreen Grice (1963–) has dedicated her career to making the universe accessible to everyone, no matter their physical circumstances. Her distinguished career in the planetarium field includes over 25 years at the Boston Museum of Science and, more recently, at the Children’s Museum in West Hartford. Grice currently serves as president of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society. The author of several Braille and tactile astronomy books, Grice received the 2007 Klumpke-Roberts Award from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for outstanding contributions to the public’s understanding and appreciation of astronomy.
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The Latest From Grating the Nutmeg
Mark Twain, Spiritualism and Ghost Stories
What did Hartford’s most famous resident of the Gilded Age, Mark Twain, think about the possibility of contacting his deceased loved ones through spiritual mediums? And what about the ghosts seen in the Twain House? Whether you believe in the afterlife, don’t believe in it at all, or just want to come to your own conclusions, this is an episode for you!
Guests today are Mallory Howard, Assistant Curator at The Mark Twain House & Museum and Dr. Jason Scappaticci, historian and Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Connecticut State Community College Capital in Hartford.
Listen: Mark Twain, Spiritualism and Ghost Stories
Programs and Exhibitions to Enjoy This Month
Annual Gingerbread House Festival
Friday & Saturday, December 16 & 17 | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wood Memorial Library, South Windsor
Stop in at Wood Memorial Library & Museum to view incredible gingerbread houses including this replica of the The Mark Twain House & Museum (see above image) created by Warren Hardman of Max Downtown fame! Don't miss Ye Olde Gingerbread Shoppe upstairs with over 50 local crafters and artisans offering the perfect one of a kind holiday gift.
The festival is FREE and open to the public. However, donations from individuals visiting the festival are greatly appreciated, and they suggest an entry donation of $1-5 per person. You can additionally support the festival by purchasing raffle tickets and patronizing the gift shop.
See details on woodmemoriallibrary.org
See Behind the Scenes
Saturday, December 16 | 11:00 am, or 2:00 pm
Connecticut Museum of Culture & History, Hartford
Join the Connecticut Museum for a behind-the scenes tour to see their collection of memorabilia from Hartford’s most iconic department store. The archives contain hundreds of goods sold over the years at G. Fox & Co., ranging from wedding gowns to toilet paper! You’ll also learn about Beatrice Fox Auerbach, the pioneering businesswoman who led G. Fox & Co. through its golden age.
Tickets: $15 per person. $10 for Connecticut Museum general members, free for NARM-level members. Ticket includes admission to the museum’s galleries.
Tickets must be purchased in advance online. You can purchase your tickets here.
Can't make it in person? Tune into the FREE virtual presentation on December 19th @ noon! https://ow.ly/J5zN50QfccI
Train Show Celebrates 30th Anniversary!
Tuesdays – Sundays | 10AM – 5PM
Connecticut River Museum, Essex
Visit the Connecticut River Museum’s annual Train Show. Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Steve Cryan’s delightful displays are full of visual surprises. Watch as trains zip through tunnels, over bridges, and around River Valley landscapes. Don’t miss this annual New England tradition. A fully operational 30-foot train layout, “I SPY” scavenger hunts, and toddler-sized viewing layout are all part of the fun!
Plan your visit at ctrivermuseum.org
Editor’s Picks
Want to explore the topics featured in this edition of the e-Newsletter? Check out these stories from the archives of ConnecticutHistory.org. Plus, a Grating The Nutmeg classic!
Rachele Merliss, “The Van Vleck Observatory: A Reflection of Environmental Conditions,” ConnecticutHistory.org
Ben Gammell, “Transit of Venus: German Scientists Visit Hartford,” ConnecticutHistory.org
Communicating with the Spirits: Theodate Pope Riddle, Grating the Nutmeg
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