Custer Observatory

Custer Observatory

Custer Observatory Dome
Organization Custer Institute
Location Main Bayview Road, Southold, New York
Coordinates 41°3′6.75″N 72°26′4.25″W / 41.0518750°N 72.4345139°W
Installation of new dome (2007)

Custer Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Custer Institute. Located in Southold, New York (USA), facing Peconic Bay and Shelter Island, Custer's location boasts some of the darkest skies on Long Island.[1]

Long Island's oldest public observatory, Custer Institute was founded in 1927 by Charles Wesley Elmer (co-founder of the Perkin-Elmer Optical Company), along with a group of fellow amateur-astronomers. The name was adopted to honor the hospitality of Mrs. Elmer, the Grand Niece of General George Armstrong Custer. In 1942, the Custer Institute was incorporated as a non-profit educational corporation in the State of New York.

In 1938, the group purchased the land the institute presently occupies and initial construction was completed in the spring of 1939. The 100-seat lecture hall was added in 1945. In 1947, through donations by Charles Elmer and Mr. Polk, the 3-story tower/library and observatory dome were built. In 1954, Charles Elmer died; that same year, the Institute added the shed, which houses three sliding roof observatories. Over the years, Custer has acquired a large collection of telescopes of all sizes and descriptions. Most recently, this includes a 25-inch (f/5) Newtonian reflector, which is now the premier telescope in the newly-rebuilt dome.(Article not found) In order to bring the eyepiece of this telescope to a level that does not require observers to climb a high ladder, the optics on this telescope were modified by Custer's Research Director, Jeffrey Owen Katz, Ph.D., and Research Committee Member, Justine Haupt.

The Custer Library

The Custer Library contains a wealth of Astronomy and Science books dating from the 19th century to the present. It also houses the Institute's videotape collection and 35mm astronomical slide collection. It contains National Geographic, Sky & Telescope, Astronomy, and Scientific American magazines dating back numerous decades. Membership to the Custer Institute grants access to their library.

The Custer Museum

The Custer Institute Museum (in place prior to the dome renovation but currently unavailable) contains the following in its collection:

Telescopes

Custer has a large collection of telescopes of all sizes and description. Among them are:

Public access

Generally the Custer Institute is open every Saturday evening, from dusk until midnight. Custer Observatory welcomes the general public to guided tours of the heavens—weather permitting.[2] The Custer Institute also allows its lecture hall to be used for lectures, in-service courses for educators, concerts, theatrical performances, and other events.

Images

See also

References

  1. ↑ See the light pollution map on ClearSkyChart.com. Note that there is still quite a bit of light pollution compared to northern New York and other parts of the Northeast.
  2. ↑ Custer's current schedule of upcoming events (Consult the clear-sky-chart for current & predicted conditions.)
  1. "Custer Observatory Homepage". Custer Index | Web page designed by David van Popering. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  2. "Montauk Observatory Project". Retrieved August 19, 2007.

External links