WelcomeThe Custer Institute and Observatory is Long Island's oldest public observatory (est.1927). Open to the public every Saturday evening from 7pm until midnight, our staff of volunteers will give you a tour of the facilities and the night sky through our powerful telescopes. Custer has frequent lectures, classes,concerts, art exhibits and other special events. Consider our observatory for your next meeting or theme party. |
CURRENT
MOON
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See us on FiOS !
See our 25 Inch Obsession in the Observatory Dome
UPCOMING EVENTS: Winter 2012
GENERAL ADMISSION: Minimum suggested donation of $5 Adults, $3 Children under 14; FREE for Members. The suggested donation for the specific events listed below includes the cost of General Admission.
After the events..., remain for refreshments and guided tours of the night sky through Custer's telescopes. The observatory is open every Saturday evening from dark until midnight.
IN-SERVICE CREDIT: Letters will be supplied upon request from teachers who attend classes and other educational events.
The
musical performances
are, in part, made possible by grants from the Suffolk County Community
Arts
Regrant Program and the NYS Council for the Arts
Saturday, Feb. 11, 7:00 PM - midnight
SATURDAY EVENING STARGAZING (weather permitting)
The Custer Institute will be open for guided tours of the night sky through the observatory's powerful telescopes. Admission: Suggested donation of $5 Adults, $3 Children under 14, Free for Members.
Saturday, Feb. 18, 7:00 PM - midnight
SATURDAY EVENING STARGAZING (weather permitting)
The Custer Institute will be open for guided tours of the night sky through the observatory's powerful telescopes. Admission: Suggested donation of $5 Adults, $3 Children under 14, Free for Members.
Saturday, Feb. 25, 7:00 PM - midnight
MERCURY APPRECIATION NIGHT (weather permitting)
Feb. 20 to March 12 will be the best chance this year to view Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun. During this period, Mercury will be far enough away from the Sun's glare to be seen after sunset through Custer's powerful telescopes. Other celestial objects will also be viewed this night. Suggested Donation: $5 Non-Members, $3 Children, free for Members.
Friday, Feb. 24, 7:00 PM - ?
MEMBERS' NIGHT
A Members-Only (and their guests) evening for mingling, observing, enjoying the observatory and its resources. Admission: FREE.
Saturday, March 3, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
LECTURE: "MARS, WATER & THE SEARCH FOR LIFE"
We are in a golden age for the exploration of Mars, with the recent launch of the Curiosity Rover just the latest in a long line of missions to the Red planet. Astronomer Dr. Mike Inglis will discuss the latest findings about Mars and using the latest images and results he will discuss our current knowledge of the planet, and ask, and possibly answer, the big question - whether life ever existed on the Red Planet! Dr. Mike Inglisis a Professor of Astrophysics at Suffolk County Community College. He worked on the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) project at Princeton University, is on the Advisory Board of Montauk Observatory (MO), and is a NASA Solar System Ambassador. He has authored several books on astronomy, including Astrophysics is Easy and Astronomy of the Milky Way, Parts 1 and 2. Suggested Donation: $5 Custer Members; $10 Non-Members; $5 Full-time Students. Admission includes stargazing after the event.
Saturday, March 3, 9:00 PM - midnight
MARS IN OPPOSITION & STARGAZING (weather permitting)
Tonight Mars will be at its closest approach to the earth than it will be all year. While it will not look as big as the moon, you'll have a great opportunity to view the fourth planet from the Sun through Custer's powerful telescopes. Other celestial objects will also be viewed this night. Suggested Donation: $5 Non-Members, $3 Children, free for Members and for those attending the earlier lecture.
Saturday, March 10, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
LECTURE: "AN INTRODUCTION TO YOUR BRAIN:
HOW WE STUDY IT AND WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?"
The human brain is the most complicated thing in the known universe, so studying it presents a formidable challenge. This talk describes how neuroscientists study the brain and the key things we've learned. We now understand that your brain defines who you are; it underlies your awareness, your moods, and your personality. But how do we know this? We have learned that the brain processes information using circuits composed of brain cells. But what does it mean for a brain cell to "process" information? This talk explains how a wide range of
experiments, from people to insects, provide answers to these questions. Presenter: Rob Campbell, Ph.D., is a Custer Member and a neuroscientist working at Cold Spring Harbor Lab, NY. Rob is currently studying how flies smell the world around them. Suggested Donation: $5 Custer Members; $10 Non-Members; $5 Full-time Students. Admission includes stargazing after the event.
Saturday, March 10, 9:00 PM - midnight
SATURDAY EVENING STARGAZING (weather permitting)
The Custer Institute will be open for guided tours of the night sky through the observatory's powerful telescopes. Admission: Suggested donation of $5 Adults, $3 Children under 14, Free for Members and for those attending the earlier lecture.
Saturday, March 17, 6:00 - 10:00 PM
VENUS & JUPITER IN CONJUNCTION (weather permitting)
During the middle of March, these two planets will be bright and viewable in close proximity for four hours after sunset--an exceptionally long period of time (next year, the conjunction will be on May 28 and only last 2 hours per evening). Suggested Donation: $5 Non-Members, $3 Children, free for Members.
Saturday, March 17, 10:00 PM - midnight
SATURDAY EVENING STARGAZING (weather permitting)
The Custer Institute will be open for guided tours of the night sky through the observatory's powerful telescopes. Admission: Suggested donation of $5 Adults, $3 Children under 14, Free for Members.
Saturday, March 24, 7:00 PM - midnight
SATURDAY EVENING STARGAZING (weather permitting)
The Custer Institute will be open for guided tours of the night sky through the observatory's powerful telescopes. Admission: Suggested donation of $5 Adults, $3 Children under 14, Free for Members.
Friday, March 30, 7:00 PM - ?
MEMBERS' NIGHT
A Members-Only (and their guests) evening for mingling, observing, enjoying the observatory and its resources. Admission: FREE.
Saturday, March 31, 7:00 PM - midnight
SATURDAY EVENING STARGAZING (weather permitting)
The Custer Institute will be open for guided tours of the night sky through the observatory's powerful telescopes. Admission: Suggested donation of $5 Adults, $3 Children under 14, Free for Members.
Saturday, April 7, 7:00 PM - midnight
SATURDAY EVENING STARGAZING (weather permitting)
The Custer Institute will be open for guided tours of the night sky through the observatory's powerful telescopes. Admission: Suggested donation of $5 Adults, $3 Children under 14, Free for Members.
Saturday, April 14, 7:00 PM - ?
MESSIER MARATHON AT CUSTER (weather permitting)
A LECTURE and MARATHON by MARATHON FOUNDER, TOM HOFFELDER
Messier Marathons are events during which amateur astronomers attempt to observe as many Messier Objects as possible in one night. In the mid-1700s, French astronomer, Charles Messier, compiled a catalog of deep space objects (galaxies, star clusters, nebulae) that he observed when trying to find comets; there are 110 Messier objects. In 1976, amateur astronomers, Tom Hoffelder and Tom Reiland, created the Messier Marathon. At 7:00 PM, if the skies are clear, Tom Hoffelder will present a lecture about the Messier Marathon and Messier Objects then will lead a Messier Marathon that will last until dawn. Bring your telescope or share views through Custer's. Suggested Donation is: $5 Members; $10 Non-Members; $5 Full-time Students.
Saturday, April 21, 7PM - midnight (or later)
LYRID METEOR SHOWER PARTY (weather permitting)
Tonight is the peak of this shower, which extends from April 16th through the 25th. On average, 20 meteors per hour emanating from the constellation Lyra may be seen at the peak. Suggested Donation: $5 Non-Members, $3 Children, free for Members.
Friday, April 27, 7:00 PM - ?
MEMBERS' NIGHT
A Members-Only (and their guests) evening for mingling, observing, enjoying the observatory and its resources. Admission: FREE.
Saturday, April 28, 7:00 PM - midnight
SATURN APPRECIATION NIGHT (weather permitting)
On the 15th of this month, Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun, was in opposition, meaning that it came as close to the earth as it will all year. Tonight is still a perfect opportunity to view this amazing planet, its rings and moons, as well as other celestial objects. Suggested Donation: $5 Non-Members, $3 Children, free for Members.
OTHER UPCOMING CUSTER and/or CELESTIAL EVENTS
Saturday, May 5: Moon Appreciation Night at Custer (the night this year when the moon will be closest to the earth)Mon., June 4: Partial lunar eclipse, viewable from midnight until dawn
Tues., June 5: Partial transit of Venus across the Sun, viewable at sunset
Saturday, June 23: Custer's Annual Membership Meeting & Elections
Saturday, July 21: Celebration of Amateur Radio: A Mini-Conference at Custer
Saturday, July 28: Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower Party at Custer (peak of shower overnight July 28-29)
Saturday, Aug. 11: Perseid Meteor Shower Party at Custer (peak of shower overnight Aug. 12-13)
Saturday, Aug. 25: Neptune Appreciation Night at Custer (Neptune in opposition on Friday, 8/24)
Friday, Aug. 31: Blue moon (when a full moon occurs twice during one month)
Saturday, Oct. 20: Orionid Meteor Shower Party at Custer (peak of shower overnight Oct. 21-22)
Friday, Oct. 19 through Sun., Oct. 21: Custer's 34th Annual Astronomy Jamboree
Saturday, Nov. 17: Leonid Meteor Shower Party at Custer (peak of shower overnight Nov. 17-18)
Wed., Nov. 28: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Saturday, Dec. 1: Jupiter Appreciation Night at Custer (Jupiter in opposition on Mon. Dec. 3)
Saturday, Dec. 15: Geminid Meteor Shower Party at Custer (peak of shower overnight Dec. 13-14)
Mon., Dec. 31: New Year's Eve Under the Stars at Custer
The last Friday of every month is Members' Night.
ON-GOING: Every Saturday evening from 7PM until midnight, Custer is open to the general public. Staff provide guided tours of the sky (weather permitting) via laser pointers and powerful telescopes, and are more than happy to answer questions. Group visits by classes, scouts, and others are welcome (contact CusterDonna@yahoo.com to arrange). The facilities are also available for private functions.
See our events for a more complete listing.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
The Custer Institute is a 501(c)(3) N.Y. State educational nonprofit that operatesexclusively on public support (proceeds from events, dues, and small donations); it hasno endowment. It is staffed by volunteers dedicated to advancing Custer's educational andresearch goals, and its service to the community. In addition to the reward of supportinga unique organization such as Custer, Members also enjoy the following: Emailsubscription to our newsletter, library privileges; discounts on classes, lectures, andother events; invitations to members-only events; voting privileges; access to thefacilities; special training programs; opportunity to become an Observatory Staff Member.Annual Dues: $45 Individual; $60 Family; $25 Senior/Student; $100 Sponsor; $500 Patron;$1000 Corp. Sponsor.
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Updated 01.29.Two Thousand Twelve