Custer Institute and Observatory is Long Island's oldest public observatory - open from 8 pm to midnight on Saturdays!
Explore the night sky with our volunteers, powerful telescopes, tours, and live events.
Join us every Saturday night for public observing sessions, where you can explore the cosmos through our powerful telescopes.
When the skies are clear, our knowledgeable volunteer staff will guide you on a tour of the stars, planets, and beyond.
Saturday Night Public Observing
Doors open at 8 PM
Observing from dark until midnight (weather permitting)
All observing takes place outdoors—please dress appropriately. Seasonal hours and times of darkness may affect skywatching times.
EVENTS
Outdoor Events: Most events take place on our lawn. We encourage you to bring a blanket or chair to make your experience more comfortable.
Rain Dates: Rain dates (when necessary) will be noted on our website, social media, and/or Eventbrite for your convenience.
Stargazing Nights @ Silver Sands
Friday, June 26. 9:30pm-11:00pm
This event was previously scheduled for June 12 and postponed due to weather.
Enjoy a special night of stargazing on the bay in partnership with Silver Sands Greenport!
Join us on Friday, June 26th from 9:30pm-11pm for an evening of early summer stargazing at Silver Sands, hosted on the boardwalk at 1400 Silvermere Road in Greenport. Guided by the team from Custer Observatory, guests will explore stars, planets, and distant galaxies through high-powered telescopes set along the beach overlooking Pipes Cove. Jupiter and Venus will be visible soon after sunset, and with darker skies later in the evening, the Hercules Globular Cluster and Ring Nebula will be in view.
To keep the night comfortable, complimentary hibiscus iced tea, cosmic brownie bites, and blankets will be available as you take in the sky above. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children, with all proceeds directly supporting Custer Observatory and its mission to bring astronomy to the community.
Turn the experience into a full evening by pairing stargazing with dinner at The Boathouse before or after the program. Space-themed films will be playing on the jumbo TV, extending the atmosphere well beyond the shoreline. Whether you are deeply familiar with the night sky or simply curious, this is an intimate and memorable way to spend an early summer evening on the North Fork.
Space is limited so reserve now! Note: This is a weather-permitting event. In the case of overcast skies or rain, the event will be cancelled and full refunds issued. Event changes will be emailed to the address provided at checkout, posted at www.custerobservatory.org and on the Eventbrite page. Please check for weather updates before arriving.
Exploring & Navigating the Summer Night Sky
Saturday, July 11. 9:00pm
Learn how to explore and navigate the summer night sky, including the summer constellations and stories behind them!
Gazing up at a star-filled night sky is awesome and humbling. To the novice stargazer, it can be overwhelming and disorienting. Throughout history, the night sky has served many functions to humanity- a clock, a calendar, a compass, a map and even a story book. Join stargazing lecturer Randall DiGiuseppe of the Custer Institute & Observatory for an evening of learning the basics of navigating the night sky as well as learning the locations and the folklore behind the most prominent constellations of summer.
Learn how to spot the North Star, the Summer Triangle, the Milky Way Galaxy, and the stories behind summer’s most well-known constellations. Learn also how to find your way around the night sky and how to use it to orient yourself on the ground.
This event is open to everyone. Just bring an inquisitive mind, a blanket and your imagination.
Randall DiGiuseppe is a professional artist, lecturer, telescope builder and amateur astronomer for over four decades. He is a lifetime member of the Custer Institute and Observatory and recipient of the Astronomical League’s Messier Award. He conducts lectures on the dynamics, history and art of the night sky throughout the country.
Following the presentation, Observatory staff will provide guided tours of the night sky (weather permitting) through the many telescopes on site, including the apochromatic Zerochromat telescope in our historic observation dome.
$5 Adult, $3 Children Under 16, Observatory Member FREE. Your donations make it possible to offer programs like these and are greatly appreciated. Due to limited space, registration is strongly encouraged. A rain date will be scheduled if skies are expected to be completely overcast or if rain is forecast for the evening. Event changes will be emailed to the address provided at checkout, posted at www.custerobservatory.org and on the Eventbrite ticketing page. We recommend checking for weather updates before arriving.
Please bring a blanket or chair to enjoy the presentation.
Gene Casey & The Lone Sharks
Saturday, July 18. 8:30pm
Celebrate the summer with a live outdoor concert by Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks under the North Fork starry night sky!
Back by popular demand, Gene Casey and the band return to Custer Observatory!
A local legend with a self-described “rough-hewn and honest” style, Casey helped develop the North Fork music scene before one existed and has developed a reputation for his fun, upbeat performances that bring the crowd to their feet (The Sound of the North Fork, Northforker June2019).
Gene’s original music met with great acclaim and received significant local and international radio play. Several of his roots-drenched songs have been used in “A Prairie Home Companion” and on the soundtracks to television and feature films, including “Justified” and “Sons of Anarchy”, the 2012 thriller “The Tall Man” starring Jessica Biel, the 2013 release “The Killing Season” starring Robert DeNiro, and Rob Reiner’s “Being Charlie.”
In 2015, Gene, “the premier barroom troubadour of Eastern Long Island” (Josh Alan Friedman) received the Long Island Sound Award by the L.I. Music Hall of Fame, “for contributions to the Island’s musical landscape.”
Following the concert, Observatory staff will provide guided tours of the night sky (weather permitting) through our many telescopes on site, including the apochromatic Zerochromat telescope in our historic observation dome.
$25 Adult, $20 Observatory Member, Children Under 16 FREE. Attendance will be limited so advanced registration is strongly encouraged. A rain date for this program will be scheduled as needed depending on weather. Event changes will be emailed to the address provided at checkout, posted at www.custerobservatory.org and on the Eventbrite page. We recommend checking for weather updates before arriving.
Please bring a blanket or chair to enjoy this outdoor presentation.
PROGRAMS + RESOURCES
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WEATHER
Clear Skies Ahead!
Find the latest weather forecasts tailored for astronomers, including cloud cover, precipitation, dewpoint, wind conditions, and Moon phases. Our easy-to-read key helps you decide if it’s a perfect night to bring out your telescope!
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THE MUSIC PROJECT
Bringing music and stargazing together at Long Island’s oldest public observatory, tMP blends the performing arts with science and discovery. A unique stargazing experience follows each performance where audiences are invited to explore the night sky with guidance from our expert volunteer staff, using our historic observation dome and an array of on-site telescopes.
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WHAT'S UP?
Skywatching highlights each month, provided by NASA.
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RESOURCES
Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or just starting your journey into the cosmos, our collection of resources will help guide you.
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SCHOLARSHIP
Supporting the Next Generation of Scientists & Innovators. Available to High School Seniors throughout the North Fork.
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HONEY BEE CLUB
Custer's Honey Bee Club is an educational program focused on environmental sustainability and honeybee stewardship.
Send an email to learn more.
Support the North Fork Dark Sky Coalition
Take action to protect our night skies:
Pledge to turn off unnecessary lights and spread awareness,
Update Your Lighting by using dark sky-friendly fixtures and warm-toned bulbs, and
Become a Partner to advocate, educate, and support local Dark Sky initiatives.
Take the pledge and join the North Fork Dark Sky Coalition
AFFILIATIONS + SUPPORTERS + PARTNERS
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!["The Weakley Foundation" text on a white background.]()
The Weakely Foundation
SPONSOR
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![Ridgewood Savings Bank logo with acorn icon.]()
Ridgewood Savings Bank
SPONSOR
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![Logo featuring stylized letters 'S' and 'S' with text 'North Fork Side By Side' in a decorative font.]()
North Fork Side By Side
SPONSOR
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Suffolk County Office of Economic Development & Planning
SPONSOR
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!["The Joe & Hellen Darion Foundation" text in black letters on a white background]()
The Joe & Hellen Darion Foundation
SPONSOR
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![Logo of Amateur Observers' Society with a star and curved line design.]()
Amateur Observers' Society
PARTNER
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![North Fork Dark Sky Coalition logo with cloud and crescent moon icon on dark background.]()
North Fork Dark Sky Coalition
PARTNER
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![Pro Bono Partnership logo on blue background.]()
ProBono Partnership
SPONSOR
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!["The Harold Family Foundation" text in black lettering on a white background.]()
The Harold Family Foundation
SPONSOR
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![Logo of The New York Community Trust on a green background with yellow and white text and decorative lines.]()
The New York Community Trust
SPONSOR
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