What is Sidewalk Astronomy?

Sidewalk Astronomy is setting up a telescope in an urban spot and showing the people that walk by the beauty of the night sky. It is usually done free of any charge - the sidewalk astronomer wants to get people to appreciate what the sky has to offer. Personally, I get a real kick out of the reactions from people the first time they see the Moon or a planet in a telescope. Usually it’s an “Oh Wow!” or something like that.

Sidewalk Astronomy is done where the people are, which is often not a very good place to view the night sky as things like buildings, trees and lights make the view less than optimum. Sidewalk astronomers are usually limited to showing the Moon and a few planets, Venus, Mars, Jupiter or Saturn. Much more can be seen in a better (darker) location but one has to go where the people are.

The original sidewalk astronomer is 97-year-old John Dobson. He began the idea in San Francisco and it has spread across the world. Not only is John the founder of sidewalk astronomy, he is also the inventor of the dobsonian telescope mount, which he chose not to patent so it could be used freely by everyone. It is a relatively inexpensive mount for a reflector (or Newtonian) telescope and many self made telescopes use the design. See more about John Dobson in the link below - he is an incredible man. Although not self made, my telescope is a dobsonian.

Sidewalk Astronomy in Lynbrook is something that I do in the Atlantic Avenue Walkthru Parking Lot in Lynbrook. I try to do it at least twice per month but the weather (and life) get in the way sometimes. It is usually done on Friday or Saturday nights when the Moon is visible in the early evening. There is often a planet or two visible, as well.  It is completely free and I have a small step stool for kids. There is a Facebook page where you can find announcements about when I will be there – see link below. My telescope is a 12” dobsonian reflector – 12” wide and about 5 feet long, kind of looks like a cannon. In the nearly 2 years I have been doing this, over 1,000 people have looked through my telescope seeing mostly the Moon, but also at different times Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

So if you would like to look through a telescope this summer, stop by for some Sidewalk Astronomy in Lynbrook. Also check out the following additional opportunities:

Music and Astronomy Under the Stars

This is a Hofstra University program run by Dr. Donald Lubowich and sponsored by NASA and the Sierra Club of Long Island. Telescopes are set up for free viewing during and after the following concerts:

Monday, June 24 at 7:30pm – Italian-American International Festival, Eisenhower Park Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

Friday, July 26 at 8pm – Walking the Line – A Johnny Cash Tribute, Burns Park, Massapequa

Saturday, August 17 at 7:30pm – Empty Sky – An Elton John Tribute, Boardwalk Band Shell, Jones Beach, Wantagh

Friday, August 23 at 8PM – Songs in the Attic - A Billy Joel Tribute, Newbridge Road Park, South Bellmore

Hofsta University (and Dr. Lubowich) also sponsor a monthly Stars on Sunday Program on campus but that won’t re-start until the fall.

Thursday Nights at the Jones Beach Nature Center

Each Thursday night at 8pm from July 11th thru August 29th there will be an indoor astronomy presentation followed by stargazing at the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center in Jones Beach State Park. Registration in advance is required (call 516-785-3674 or 516-780-3295) and there is a $4 per person fee charged by the NYS Parks Dept. 

Saturday Nights at Custer Observatory

Saturday Night Observing, open to the public, from dark to midnight, weather permitting.  Staff provide guided tours of the sky. Custer Institute, Southold.

Members of the Amateur Observers’ Society of New York (AOS) assist at each of these events. AOS is an astronomy club located in Nassau County. See link below for more info. All telescope viewing is weather permitting.

For more info see the following links:

John Dobson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dobson_(amateur_astronomer)

Sidewalk Astronomy: http://www.sidewalkastronomers.us/

Sidewalk Astronomy in Lynbrook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sidewalk-Astronomy-in-Lynbrook/133963613371631?ref=hl#

Hofstra University: http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/HCLAS/PHYSIC/physic_astro_observatory.html

Custer Institute: http://www.custerobservatory.org/

Amateur Observer’s Society of New York (AOS):  http://www.aosny.org/