Custer Observatory

Custer Observatory sits in Southold on Long Island, New York, facing Peconic Bay and Shelter Island, where comparatively low light pollution makes for some of the darkest night skies in the region.

About Custer Observatory

Owned and operated by the Custer Institute, it is recognised as Long Island's oldest public observatory. Alongside its telescope, the site includes a library, a small museum and a gift shop, and it regularly hosts lectures, classes, concerts and art exhibits for the community.

History

The observatory was founded in 1927 by Charles Wesley Elmer, co-founder of the Perkin-Elmer Optical Company, together with fellow amateur astronomers.

Telescopes & research

Its main instrument is a 10-inch refracting telescope, the largest of its type in the United States, fitted with apochromatic dialyte lenses and a computer-controlled equatorial mount.

Location & getting there

The observatory is at 1115 Main Bayview Road in Southold, New York, on Long Island's North Fork. The map above shows the exact position and driving directions.

Visiting Custer Observatory

The observatory opens to the public on Saturday evenings from dusk until midnight, with volunteer staff giving tours of the telescope and grounds. Call +1 631-765-2626 or check the official website for current schedules before visiting.

See your named star from here

Once you have named a star through one of our star packages, we hand you its exact right ascension and declination. Any observatory staff member with a computerised telescope, including a team at Custer Observatory, can slew to those coordinates and point the eyepiece straight at "your" star. Browse the catalogue to see how a naming looks, or check our list of observatories to plan a visit.