Custer Institute

7 pm

International Observe the Moon Night

In cooperation with NASA, Custer Observatory will be participating in this special International Observe the Moon Night event.  This is a worldwide celebration of lunar science and exploration held annually since 2010. One day each year, everyone on Earth is invited to observe and learn about the Moon together, and to celebrate the cultural and personal connections we all have with our nearest celestial neighbor.

Ed Anderson, a member of the Astronomical Society of Long Island (ASLI) and of the Custer Institute, will give a talk from 7pm-8pm about observing the moon.  He will discuss how you can view the moon with binoculars or small telescope, he'll discuss the best times to view the Moon, useful observing tools, and he'll identify interesting things that will be visible that night.

After the presentation, if the weather is clear, Custer Observatory dome and other telescopes on site will be open for viewing and guided by Observatory staff.

At 9:00pm we will take an official count of the number of people observing the Moon at one time. Join us!

Admission is FREE.  Donations may be given upon registration or at time of the event and are greatly appreciated. Face masks and social distancing required.

6 pm

CUSTER HONEY BEE CLUB MEET.

"If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than 4 years to live." - Albert Einstein

Custer's Honey Bee Club is a group of enthusiastic beekeepers and bee lovers who get together once a month to share their honey bee experiences and learn from each other about how to keep bees, sustainable bee practices and hive management. At these informal meetings, you will have a chance to meet and mingle with beekeepers of all levels, from the novice beekeeper to the professional. Custer's Honey Bee Club has a community bee yard and other facilities that allows for hands-on collaborative learning and demonstrations and which is surrounded by a beautiful arboretum. Not yet a beekeeper, but want to learn what beekeeping is all about? Are you a backyard beekeeper looking for other backyard beekeepers? Or a professional beekeeper interested in getting involved with the growing North Fork beekeeping movement? Come join us!

Registration is required while COVID-19 precautions are in place. FREE to attend.

Custer BOD Meeting.
EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING MUST WEAR A MASK.

7 pm

WHAT'S IN THE SKY THIS MONTH: Mars at Opposition & Much More!

Ed Anderson, a member of the Astronomical Society of Long Island (ASLI) and of the Custer Institute, will take us on a tour of things that can be seen in the sky this month. He will highlight objects that are visible to the naked eye, requiring no equipment at all, then he will take us deeper into the universe as he points out celestial sights that are visible with the kind of binoculars that many people own and he'll explore celestial wonders that can be seen with a small to medium sized telescope. Ed will discuss how to find them in the sky, so that after the talk you can try locating them through your own binoculars or telescope or you can just enjoy the view through ours!

This month, look for Mars at opposition. While Jupiter and Saturn appear brightest in the sky near opposition, Mars, a much closer planet, brightens even more dramatically when it is on the opposite side of Earth from the sun. Mars only reaches opposition with Earth about every two years, and viewing conditions for the Red Planet this October are slated to be spectacular! For most of the month of October, the light of Mars will grow brighter than even Jupiter, which is generally the second brightest planet in the sky. The brightness of Mars will peak on October 13 when the planet reaches opposition.

After the session, if the weather is good, he will open the ASLI dome on the grounds of Custer Observatory and turn the 14”  Meade LX200 telescope on some of the objects discussed and will be available to answer questions.  Custer Observatory staff will also give tours of night sky objects through the Zerochromat telescope in the main Observatory dome and other powerful telescopes on site.  Feel free to bring your own binoculars or telescope to look through after the presentation. Or just enjoy the view from ours! 

Suggested Donation: $5 Adults, $3 Children Under 12, Members FREE.

Custer BOD Meeting.
EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING MUST WEAR A MASK.