New York City has a beautiful skyline, but the lights on all of those buildings can sometimes blind us to the real beauty–the sky itself! This guide gives great locations to stargaze in the NY metro area.
New York City may have a beautiful skyline, but the lights on all of those buildings can sometimes blind us to the real beauty–the sky itself! These locations offer prime stargazing opportunities in the NY metro area. Make sure to send up a howl at the moon. We recommend you call ahead, as events are weather-dependent and dates and times are subject to change. To make your own telescope to look at the stars, follow our easy DIY steps, and to gaze at the stars indoors, search our list for local planetariums.
Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Bronx
Alley Pond Environmental Center Star Safari Astronomy Adventure
Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston, Queens
718-229-4000; http://www.alleypond.com
June 14, 7:30-9:30pm. $10 members; $16 non-members; $7 children.
Join professor and astronomer Mark Freilich for an evening of stargazing, learning about the sights in the night sky, and fun and games.
Stargazing on the High Line
On the High Line between W. 13th and W. 14th streets, Chelsea, Manhattan
212-206-9922; http://www.thehighline.org
Every Tuesday through October 28, weather permitting, beginning at dusk. Free.
You can gaze at the stars, the moon, and the planets through the high-powered telescopes of the Amateur Astronomers Association and chat with experts about all the sights the sky has in store.
Amateur Astronomer Association of New York Public Events|
Various locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island
http://www.aaa.org/
View calendar on website for dates and times. Free.
Learn about your view of the skies from experts at these public stargazing events presented by the AAA throughout New York City. Events vary, please check website for details.
Columbia Astronomy Public Outreach Present: SciFi Film Series & Star-Gazing Nights
Pupin Hall, Columbia University campus, Morningside Heights, Manhattan
212-854-4608; http://outreach.astro.columbia.edu
View schedule on website for dates and times. Free.
Columbia University’s Astronomy Public Outreach program is active yearly, bringing astronomy to the public. Over the summer, it offers screenings of science-fiction films followed by a short lecture of the relevant science lessons portrayed in the film and, weather permitting, star-gazing through their telescopes.
Long Island
Amateur Observers’ Society of New York Public Stargazing
Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center, Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh
516-640-4433; aosny.org
View calendar on website for dates and times. Free.
The Amateur Observers’ Society of New York, based on Long Island, hosts stargazing events open to the public. An indoor astronomy presentation or workshop is followed by stargazing, weather permitting.
Astronomical Society of Long Island Observing Nights
Various locations on Long Island
asliclub.org
View calendar on website for dates and times. Free.
This society meets multiple times a month for sky observation. Observation nights often takes place at the Vanderbilt Planetarium, but they also meet at other locations across Long Island, and you do not have to be a member of the society to participate.
Custer Institute and Observatory Saturday Night Observing
Custer Institute, 1115 Main Bayview Rd., Southold
631-765-2626; custerobservatory.org
Saturday nights, dark to 12pm. Free.
The Custer Institute and Observatory is the oldest observatory on Long Island. It is open to the public with institute-provided stargazing equipment every Saturday night, weather permitting. They recommend to check the moon calendar provided on their website to see when the moon is smallest, which makes for better observation of the stars.
Westchester County
Westchester Amateur Astronomers Star Parties
The Meadow in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River
877-456-5778; westchesterastronomers.org
View calendar on website for dates and times. Free.
The Westchester Amateur Astronomers organization hosts a star party event every month. Free and open to the public, attendees are encouraged to bring their own telescopes but can also use those belonging to the club.
Rockland County
Eugene Levy Memorial Park
Route 45 N., Spring Valley
845-357-6100; rocktourism.com
Open dawn to dusk. Free.
The Eugene Levy Memorial Park has a star-gazing platform–perfect for putting your DIY telescope to good use!
Rockland Astronomy Club’s Summer Star Party
Peppermint Park Camping Resort, Plainfield, MA
845-446-4336; rocklandastronomy.com
July 25-August 3. Price varies by package purchased.
The Rockland Astronomy Club has a fun- and star-filled trip planned for astronomy lovers. Though it’s a few hours away, the event is sure to satisfy any star-gazers appetite with all of the celestial activities in store. See website for event information.
Fairfield, CT County
Public Nights at the Western Connecticut State University Planetarium and Observatory
The Westside Observatory, WCSU campus, Danbury, CT
877-837-8672; wcsu.edu/starwatch
View calendar on website for dates and times. Free.
WCSU hosts public nights at their campus planetarium and observatory, where all are welcome to behold the night skies. On such nights the university presents a planetarium show, followed by outdoor observation, weather permitting. The schedule is posted online, as well as a guide to celestial events occurring during the current season.
Stamford Observatory Open Houses
Stamford Observatory, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, CT
203-977-6537; stamford-observatory.com
Select Fridays, 8:30-10:30pm. Free.
The Stamford Observatory hosts open houses on select Fridays, listed on their online calendar. An astronomer is available to answer any questions about the night sky.
