Welcome to the Custer Institute & Observatory

Long Island's oldest public observatory (est. 1927)
Suggested donation of $5 adults and $3 children.

All observing is done out in the open air, under the stars. Dress appropriately.

For the Curious

The Custer Institute and Observatory is Long Island's oldest public observatory (est.1927). Open to the public every Saturday evening from dusk until midnight, our staff of volunteers will give you a tour of the facilities and the night sky through our powerful telescopes. Custer has a library, museum, and gift shop. Frequent lectures, classes,concerts, art exhibits and other special events.

Custer Links

Updated: 09/16/Two Thousand Eighteen

Saturday Night Observing: Open 7pm-Midnight

Check our weather and the moon phase

Weather permitting, Saturday Night Observing is from 7pm to midnight where volunteer Staff provide guided tours of the sky.



  More to come! Plans are being made! Check back often!
  October 2018
Saturday,
Oct 13th
4:30pm

Board Meeting
Open to members
Saturday,
Oct. 13th
5:00pm

Serenade Under the Stars
The award-winning, international touring and recording duo of flutist Michelle LaPorte and guitarist Gerry Saulter bring concert music of the world to life in an intimate performance held inside Custer Observatory's 22 foot observation dome.

Enjoy an evening under the stars of contemporary flute and guitar music celebrating the beauty of Latin heritage, culture, and spirit. This program of works by composers from Brazil, Argentina and Spain features favorite classics by Heitor Villa-Lobos and Enrique Granados, alongside original arrangements of works by Astor Piazzolla and more!

Stargazing will follow beginning at nightfall (weather permitting).

Suggested Donation:
$20 General Admission, $15 Observatory Members


Seating is extremely limited for this performance; reserve your seats early!

Advisory: the observation dome is located on the third floor of the observatory and can only be accessed by climbing two flights of steep stairs.
  November 2018
Fri-Sun,
2nd-4th		 StarFest 2018 (aka 40th Astronomy Jamboree, but now with a more modern and catchy name! Events are better too – wait and see!)
Details to follow, but mark your calendars!
  Debember 2018
Saturday,
Dec 15.
6:30pm		 A Jazzy Holiday with the Transitions Saxophone Quartet

Join us for a jazz-infused concert of holiday favorites including Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" Vince Guaraldi's music from "A Charlie Brown Christmas", selections from "The Nutcracker" as well as jazz arrangements of some popular holiday tunes. Stargazing (weather permitting) will follow.

Suggested Donation: $5 Adults, $3 Children Under 12

Visit Custer!

Get a feel for the place and part of our must-see-in-person collection!

NASA TV Public-Education

NASA TV airs a variety of regularly scheduled, pre-recorded educational and public relations programming 24 hours a day on its various channels. The network also provides an array of live programming, such as 24-hour coverage of International Space Station events (spacewalks, media interviews, educational broadcasts), and rocket launches.