4 replies to this topic

[nitegeezer]

Please remember that guests can also read these posts, so don't be too specific about your location or provide other information you don't want the whole world to see.  One may want to PM other members in your area and meet at a public location.

[aeajr]

Hello Long Island amateur  astronomers.   I requested a place for introductions so we could find each other.

 

I am in Nassau County, where the light pollution is high and the street lights are abundant.  

Edited by aeajr, 23 March 2016 - 02:28 PM.

[Doc Willie]

Hello Long Island amateur  astronomers.   I requested a place for introductions so we could find each other.

 

I am in Nassau County, where the light pollution is high and the street lights are abundant.  

You also have TWO astronomy clubs to get involved with. I was in AOS, but take yer pick. 

[Cliff C]

Ed,

 I think your best bet is to visit the Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport. The Astronomical Society of Long Island meets there on Wednesdays I believe.

You'll get to meet a lot of local people and get the scoop on any "darker" locations in Nassau or western Suffolk. The state parks used to have night time observing passes for some of the parks. Nassau and Suffolk Counties might have a similar pass.

 Custer Observatory on the east end of the Island (Southold) is one of the darker areas. Every Saturday (clear weather permitting) the observatory is open to the public. Up in the dome they have a modified 25" Obsession Dobsonian.

 When I was younger, I would occasionally travel out to Montauk Point. There were two areas a few miles before the lighthouse where you could park. Once your eyes adjusted, the Milky Way was very obvious! There were so many more stars visible that finding some constellations that were obvious at home became difficult. The sky (for me at least) takes on a "domelike" appearance, quite cool!

 If you wind up observing down near the ocean watch out for windblown sand and salty moisture/mist.

Cliff

[aeajr]

I have been to two AOS outreach sessions at Jones Beach and two at ASLI.   I plan to attend an ASLI meeting tonight, if plans work out.   I like their dark site better than the AOS Jones beach site.    To my observation Vanderbilt skies are darker.