The Custer Institute in Southold, Long Island’s oldest public observatory, is drawing large crowds for its Saturday night stargazing events, which offer a chance to view the "parade of planets" this month.
The volunteer-run program, held weather permitting, has become a popular destination for locals looking to explore the night sky with more than just the naked eye.
“It is quite popular,” Custer Institute & Observatory Vice President Alan Cousins told South Shore Press. “On a given Saturday evening, we can get upwards of a couple hundred people coming throughout the evening.”
Winter hours (up until Memorial Day) are 7 p.m. to midnight, whereas summer’s longer daylight hours shift it back to 8 p.m. There’s a suggested donation of $5 for adults and $3 for kids for the volunteer-run program.
Established in 1927, the Custer Institute & Observatory offers a main dome, smaller domes maintained by amateur astronomers, and various telescopes on the grounds that expose the night sky and its treasures, whether it be planets, comets, or meteors.
Besides the four planets visible to the naked eye right now—Mars, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter—guests may discover Uranus and Neptune with the help of telescopes.
When there’s nothing like these phenomena to dazzle the eye, Cousins explained that camera technology allows Custer to spotlight distant galaxies.
“We always try to give them a wow,” Cousins said of what awaits the public. There’s always something to explore—even when weather prohibits astronomical viewing. That’s when, Cousins suggests, the public can tour the site and learn about its founder’s connection to the Hubble Space Telescope, how the site got its start, the equipment, and much more.
“Some of the older telescopes predate the facility and are just excellent examples from 100 to 200 years ago,” he said. A library, museum, and gift shop are also part of the experience at the institute, located at 1115 Main Bayview Road.
Besides stargazing, the Custer Institute offers the Music Project, which combines music and art with science and discovery through performances during favorable seasons throughout the year.
“There’s also a bee club where some members maintain hives, so it’s more than just astronomy,” said Cousins.
The history of this North Fork attraction dates back to 1927, when Charles Elmer and a group of amateur astronomers decided to take the next step after many informal sessions. The astronomy organization they launched took on the maiden name of Elmer's wife, who had served as a longtime hostess for the group.
The current site was purchased in 1937, the first building went up the very next year, and new telescopes and domes have been added over time.
The name Charles Elmer also lives on, Cousins said, because he cofounded Massachusetts-based PerkinElmer Corporation, which had a role in creating the Hubble Space Telescope’s primary mirror, albeit after Elmer's death.
Can stargazing be a hobby later in life? Cousins, who developed this passion in his early 40s, is proof that the interest can spark at any time.
“I found a telescope and looked at the night sky and eventually I was hooked,” he said. “Now I help run the show, so to speak, and I’m on the board.”
An occasional supernova, which Cousins defines as a “cataclysmic star explosion,” as well as comets, are just some of the highlights he has found rewarding over the years. But he also enjoys serving as a guide to the night skies for residents.
Besides welcoming visitors to the observatory, volunteers bring the magic of the night sky to retirement communities and local wineries, traveling with their telescopes.
For more information, check out the website at https://custerobservatory.org or call 631-765-2626.