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.

Silhouette of a person under a colorful night sky filled with stars and the Milky Way.

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.

EXPLORING & NAVIGATING THE SUMMER NIGHT SKY

Saturday, July 19, 2025
9:00 pm

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.

Please bring a blanket or chair to enjoy the presentation.

SPICE UP THE
HIGH ENERGY

The Rites of Spring Music Festival

Saturday, July 26, 2025
7:00 pm

A slice of King’s Cake on the shores of the East End!

Real East End Brass (REEB!) brings the Big Easy to the Rites of Spring Festival. As we march along to Second Line sounds, we invite you to join our parade and sing along to those New Orleans classics.


Following the concert when the skies are dark, 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.


​Program
Bourbon Street Parade
A Closer Walk with Thee
Second Line
Feel Like Funkin’ It Up
IDK
Back to my East End Home
St. James Infirmary
Music To Your Life
Dynamite
Hey Pocky Way
What a Feeling
Mardi Gras in NO
I’ll Fly Away
Saints Go Marching In
Do Whatcha Wanna

$45 Adult, $30 Custer Observatory Members and Friends of R o S, Children Under 16 FREE. Attendance to this in-person performance will be limited - reserve your seats early! Due to the outdoor nature of this program, a rain date will be scheduled as needed.

Please bring a blanket or chair to enjoy this outdoor presentation.

REEB Real East End Band

  • Tye Granger, Tenor Saxophone

  • Dylan Green, Vocals

  • Troy Grindle, Drum Kit + Fiddle + Back Up Vocals

  • Chris Mandato, Trumpet

  • Nick Silipo, Guitar

  • Meghan Kelly, Baritone Saxophone + Clarinet

  • ​Shawn Ward, Sousaphone + Trombone

GENE CASEY & THE LONE SHARKS

Saturday, August 2, 2025
8:30 pm

Celebrate the summer with a live outdoor concert by Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks under the North Fork starry night sky!

Join us for a live outdoor concert under the stars with Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks!

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.

Please bring a blanket or chair to enjoy this outdoor presentation.

PROGRAMS + RESOURCES

  • Astronaut on the moon holding a yellow umbrella with Earth in the background.

    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!

    TODAY'S WEATHER
  • Silhouettes of musicians and text "Music Under the Stars The Music Project at Custer Institute & Observatory."

    THE MUSIC PROJECT

    Bring 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.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT TMP

  • WHAT'S UP?

    Skywatching highlights each month, provided by NASA.

    VIEW VIDEO
  • Telescope on tripod with accessories in a grassy field with trees in the background.

    RESOURCES

    Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or just starting your journey into the cosmos, our collection of resources will help guide you.

    RESOURCES
  • Blue background with white and gold text reading "Custer Institute & Observatory Scholarship Program" and a stylized star and comet graphic in the top left corner.

    SCHOLARSHIP

    Supporting the Next Generation of Scientists & Innovators. Available to High School Seniors throughout the North Fork.

    LEARN MORE
  • Illustration of Custer Institute Observatory with text "Honey of the Stars, 100% Pure Local Honey, Custer Institute Observatory, Southold, New York" and "Custer HoneyBee Club" on a building, under a starry sky.

    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.

    LEARN MORE & JOIN

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

Night sky with Milky Way over waterfront building and boats at a dock.

AFFILIATIONS + SUPPORTERS + PARTNERS

  • Ridgewood Savings Bank logo with acorn icon.

    Ridgewood Savings Bank

    SPONSOR

  • "The Weakley Foundation" text on a white background.

    The Weakely Foundation

    SPONSOR

  • Logo featuring stylized letters 'S' and 'S' with text 'North Fork Side By Side' in a decorative font.

    North Fork Side By Side

    SPONSOR

  • "The Joe & Hellen Darion Foundation" text in black letters on a white background

    The Joe & Hellen Darion Foundation

    SPONSOR

  • Logo of Amateur Observers' Society with a star and curved line design.

    Amateur Observers' Society

    PARTNER

  • Suffolk County Office of Economic Development & Planning

    SPONSOR

  • North Fork Dark Sky Coalition logo with cloud and crescent moon icon on dark background.

    North Fork Dark Sky Coalition

    PARTNER

  • Pro Bono Partnership logo on blue background.

    ProBono Partnership

    SPONSOR

  • "The Harold Family Foundation" text in black lettering on a white background.

    The Harold Family Foundation

    SPONSOR

  • 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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