The Amateur Astronomers Association-backed observatory will offer stargazing in The Bronx.
New York City is finally getting itsfirst public observatory , thanks to the city ’s unskilled astronomer and some upcycled bit metal .
TheAmateur Astronomers Association , a non - earnings that has taught astronomical knowledge throughstargazingsessions , lectures , and classes across NYC for the last hundred , lately got its hand on a noodle that had previously belong to the Nassau Community College in Long Island and was manoeuvre for scrap metal . The group planned to upcycle it into the metropolis ’s first public observatory . All they needed was a location .
AAA ’s Vice President of Operations , Katherine Troche , recount , “ Executive Vice President Bart Fried , and I were in The Bronx for a stargazing tonic - up at Harris Park . We were driving around the neck of the woods , looking for parking , and we detect this little , dark strip of unused land near Jerome Park Reservoir . ”
NYC’s first public observatory in the midst of being transported, pre-refurbishment|Photo courtesy of the Amateur Astronomers Association
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation approved the project in a tranquil and minimally light - contaminated corner of The Bronx ’s Kingsbridge Heights neighborhood — an idealistic locus for the fresh lookout .
As part of the refurbishing , the upcycled dome will get a wise pelage of pigment and a state - of - the - art Celestron EdgeHD telescope , which will offerstargazersa liberal glimpse of ethereal beauty like star , comets , meteors , asteroid , and the sun .
At about nine - ft wide , the lookout station is on the small size , but will well fit about two to three hoi polloi at a time . When the observatory is overt ( seven nights a calendar week , weather permitting ) , there will always be a member of the AAA on - site to operate the high - powered telescopes and answer any queries .
For those who are not physically able to step into the dome , or on busier evenings , when a line has formed , a comparable scope will pose outside the attic for additional stargazing chance .
“ There are no dim questions , ” says Troche . “ If there ’s anything itching your brain , if you have any kind of wonder about an physical object you ’re consider , or just something in oecumenical , we ’re happy to divvy up the knowledge . ”
For those concerned in learn more about the AAA — especially before the upcomingtotal solar occultation , check out thewebsitefor upcoming stargazing events , lectures , and astronomy socio-economic class . AAAmembershipsare also available , which number with penis - only result , free loaner telescopes , and more .
New York City’sfirst public observatorywill open this twelvemonth near Jerome Park Reservoir in The Bronx . admittance will be free .
