SITE DETAILS (See below for Staten Island, NYC and NJ observing sites)

 SAFETY WARNINGS AND COMFORT TIPS:

-Please dress very warmly in the winter months (winter coat, hat & gloves) as the observatory is not heated while operating.

-NO CELL PHONE LIGHTS OR FLASHLIGHTS...THEY DESTROY YOUR NIGHT VISION AND YOU AND OTHERS YOU WILL "BLIND" WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE CELESTIAL DETAILS--USE THE RED LIGHT SYSTEM IN THE OBSERVATORY TO WRITE YOUR INFORMATION AND PRESERVE YOU NIGHT VISION

-Smoking, eating or drinking is not permitted at this or any other observatory.

-Students should come prepared with their required observing form and an optional red flashlight. NO WHITE LIGHT PLEASE!

-Parents.. Children over the age of five are welcomed, but please ensure to  supervise your children.

-It is suggested that you come as a group of 2 or more for added safety on late night observings here or elsewhere.  You may find yourself leaving an observatory, observing area (like a beach) or Museum alone and in the dark and you should not be in that situation.  

FOCUS THE TELESCOPE TO YOUR EYE:  IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FOCUS THE TELESCOPE ASK THE OBSERVER TO SHOW YOU SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE DETAILS AND BEAUTY OF THE CELESTIAL OBJECT YOU ARE LOOKING AT.. YOU ARE OUT OF FOCUS IF YOU SEE VERY BLURRY STAR IMAGES OR A LOT OF "DONUTS" IN THE VIEW!

DRESS WARMLY with a hat on cool days for observing sessions.

DRESS Extremely warm with layers, hat, scarf and warm gloves on cold days.

EXTREME COLD( below freezing)  usually cancels an event. 

NOTE: You will be in cold air outside or even in an observatory ( which has no heat) it can be very cold as you wait around for your turn at a telescope. Hot  ( non-alcoholic ) drinks (hot chocolate ) help!

 IMPORTANCE OF  SKY CONDITIONS

If it is raining, snowing, storming of any type or very cloudy it is unlikely an observing session will take place. Partly cloudy or sudden sky changes that clear up the atmosphere usually mean there will be a session. If the sky is questionable you can call in some places(see below).  It is best to go when skies are very blue and the air is dry during the day and the weather reports are for fair clear skies during the night.  The latter is especially true for the sites that are further away.

 Do not show up with an umbrella on a rainy day at an observing site and expect to get credit!

OBSERVING SITES:

STATEN ISLAND

College of Staten Island — Astrophysical Observatory — See Schedule

Director: Irving K. Robbins  

718 982 3260   

Specific notes about observing at the CSI Astrophysical Observatory

 SEE THE CURRENT SCHEDULE:  If the sky is predominantly cloudy or if it is raining or snowing, then the session for

that evening is canceled. If you are unsure of the sky conditions and want to confirm if the event is on, please call

the observatory at 982 3260 one hour prior to the scheduled opening on the night or day in question. The observatory may

close earlier than 11:00pm on nights when the weather makes observing difficult or impossible, such as clouds, rain,

extreme cold temperatures, or when wind chill effects may pose a winter health hazard. It is suggested that you

arrive before 9:30pm on very cold nights to ensure completion of an observing run.

 Other observing sites are, check schedule and directions by linking to the following: 

Amateur Astronomers Association of New York City  observing done at following locations
* Great Kills Park, Hylan Blvd, S.I. (model airplane field).
* Cadman Plaza Park, Brooklyn.
* Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn.
* Carl Shurz Park (promenade), Manhattan (upper East side). Also: Solar Observing during some days

Additional notes for  Amateur Astronomers Association of NY

STATEN ISLAND  at Great Kills Park, Staten Island

Saturday evening "deep sky" (no visible moon!) observing sessions are sponsored by The Staten Island Chapter of

the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York City, Inc. Observing sessions are conditions permitting, of

course: These are given at Great Kills Park (Gateway National Park) in the model airplane flying field. Sessions

begin just after sunset until about 10:00pm: Enter the park from Hylan Boulevard — about a third of mile down the

main road is the side road marked with RED markers to the airplane flying field. Take that road all the way back

and park our car with the other folks on the left. WATCH YOUR HEADLIGHTS LIGHTS and FOR

PEDESTRIANS. For more information call 390 3432.

BROOKLYN

Amateur Astronomers Association of NY — Floyd Bennet Field — s e l e c t

Friday nights

Friday night observing sessions are sponsored by The Brooklyn Chapter of the Amateur Astronomers Association

of New York City, Inc. Observing sessions are conditions permitting, of course: Directions follow on next page

with a detailed map of Floyd Bennett Field (part of Gateway National Park). Make sure you follow the directions

and map carefully and go to the site by car. If you get lost, look for the Parks Police; they can guide you to the

observing sites. All events start at 8:00 pm. NOTE: some days have scheduled rain dates. Call 212 535 2922 for

more info.

MANHATTAN

Amateur Astronomers Association of NY — Carl Shultz Park — select Friday nights

& Saturday days

Evening observing or solar observing session are sponsored by the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York

City, Inc. Carl Shultz Park is located at E86th Street and The East River. (Next to and south of Gracie Mansion

(Mayor’s home). Saturday Day sessions are from noon to 2pm. Call 212 535 2922 for more info.

NEW JERSEY SITES:

SPERRY OBSERVATORY run by the Amateur Astronomers, Inc. ,, Union College, Cranford, NJ.         Close by and easy to get to! Usually open FRIDAY nights.

Sperry Observatory is open to the public every Friday night sponsored by the Amateur Astronomers, Inc. at the

Cranford Campus of Union County College. A lecture series is also held once a month. A map for directions

follows. The best route is to take the Garden State Parkway North to Exit 137 ® North Av. ® Springfield Ave

® then follow map. The travel time is about 35 minutes from CSI. For more information call 908 276 7827 or

908 709 7520.

Robinson Observatory, Voorhees State Park, NJ. — 

Observing sessions at the Robinson Observatory in Voorhees State Park are sponsored by the New Jersey

Astronomical Association. The Robinson Observatory is open to the public each Saturday evening and Sunday

afternoon (solar observing) from May through October (Memorial Day to Halloween) and the 4th Saturday evening

of the month during the winter — weather permitting. Make sure weather is perfect before going on this field trip.

The state park is also about 1½ hr from campus. Check a New Jersey map and web site for the location. By car, go to 78 West(NJ Turnpike®Exit 14 or Outerbridge Crossing®287 North®78 West); from 78 West, exit to Route 31 North

and then take 513 North (look for signs); just after the town of Highbridge NJ, make a left and go to the top of the

hill (observatory location);  For more info, call 908 638 8500.

 United Astronomy CLubs of New Jersey Jenny Jump State Park Observatory.,  United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey runs the Jenny Jump Observatory- use the Public Program link for the lecture series and also the UACNJ CLUBS link for numerous astronomy club links throughout New Jersey 

Observing sessions at Jenny Jump are held every Saturday from Mid-April to mid-October on a mountain with excellent dark

skies. Make sure weather is perfect before going on this field trip. The state park is about 1¼ hr from campus.

Check a New Jersey map for the location. By car, go to Route 80 (SUGGESTION: 280 connection from the NJ

Turnpike) and get off at exit 12; go towards Hope NJ; left at light in Hope (look for signs to State Park); make first

right after crossing small bridge (travel 2 miles) then make left onto Farview Road; 1 mile to observatory cutoff (look

for sign to observatory). For park info, call 908 459 9813.

 

See also Astronomy Magazine for special astronomical events

that can take place within a reasonable driving time from the campus.