Welcome to the Custer Institute & Observatory

Long Island's oldest public observatory (est. 1927)

For the Curious

The Custer Institute and Observatory is Long Island's oldest public observatory (est.1927). Open to the public every Saturday evening from dusk until midnight, our staff of volunteers will give you a tour of the facilities and the night sky through our powerful telescopes. Custer has a library, museum, and gift shop. Frequent lectures, classes,concerts, art exhibits and other special events.


Custer Links

Saturday Night Observing: Open 7pm-Midnight

Table of meteor showers




Name Dates Peak dates Speed (km/s) Hourly Rate Rating
Quadrantids 1 Jan-5 Jan 3 January 41 120 Strong
Gamma Velids 1 Jan-15 Jan 5 January 35 2 Weak
Alpha Crucids 6 Jan-28 Jan 15 January 50 3 Weak
Delta Cancrids 1 Jan-31 Jan 17 January 28 4 Medium
Alpha Hydrids 5 Jan-14 Feb 19 January 44 2 Weak
Eta Carinids 14 Jan-27 Jan 21 January   2 Weak
Alpha Carinids 24 Jan-9 Feb 30 January 25 2 Weak
Delta Velids 22 Jan-21 Feb 5 February 35 1 Weak
Alpha Centaurids 28 Jan-21 Feb 7 February 56 6 Medium
Omicron Centaurids 31 Jan-19 Feb 11 February 51 2 Weak
Theta Centaurids 23 Jan-12 March 21 February 60 4 Weak
February Leonids 1 Feb-28 Feb several 30 5 Medium
Delta Leonids 15 Feb-10 March 24 February 23 2 Medium
Gamma Normids 25 Feb-22 March 13 March 56 8 Medium
Virginids 1 March-15 April several 30 5 Medium
Delta Pavonids 11 March-16 April 30 March 31 5 Weak
Librids 15 April-30 April several 30 5 Medium
Lyrids 15 April-28 April 22 April 49 15 Strong
Pi Puppids 15 April-28 April 23 April 18 variable Irregular
Alpha Bootids 14 April-12 May 28 April 20 2 Weak
Mu Virginids 1 April-12 May 29 April 30 2 Weak
Omega Capricornids 19 April-15 May 2 May 50 2 Weak
Eta Aquarids 19 April-28 May 6 May 66 60 Strong
Alpha Scorpiids 1 May-31 May 16 May 35 5 Medium
Beta Corona Austrinids 23 April-30 May 16 May 45 3 Weak
Omega Scorpiids 23 May-15 June 2 June 21 5 Weak
Arietids 22 May-2 July 7 June 38 54 Strong
Sagittarids 1 June-15 July 19 June 30 5 Medium
Tau Cetids 18 June-4 July 27 June 66 4 Weak
June Bootids 28 June-28 June 28 June 14 variable Irregular
Tau Aquarids 19 June-5 July 28 June 63 7 Weak
Theta Ophiuchids 4 June-15 July 29 June 29 2 Weak
July Pegasids 7 July-13 July 10 July 70 3 Medium
July Phoenicids 10 July-16 July 13 July 47 variable Irregular
Alpha Cygnids 11 July-30 July 18 July 37 2 Weak
Sigma Capricornids 15 July-11 Aug 20 July 30 5 Weak
Piscis Austrinids 15 July-10 Aug 28 July 35 5 Medium
South Delta Aquarids 12 July-19 Aug 28 July 41 20 Strong
Alpha Capricornids 3 July-15 Aug 30 July 23 4 Medium
South Iota Aquarids 25 July-15 Aug 4 August 34 2 Medium
North Delta Aquarids 15 July-25 Aug 8 August 42 4 Medium
Perseids 17 July-24 Aug 12 August 59 90 Strong
Kappa Cygnids 3 Aug-25 Aug 17 August 25 3 Medium
North Iota Aquarids 11 Aug-31 Aug 20 August 31 3 Medium
Pi Eridanids 20 Aug-5 Sept 25 August 59 4 Weak
Gamma Doradids 19 Aug-6 Sept 28 August 41 5 Weak
Alpha Aurigids 25 Aug-8 Sept 1 September 66 7 Medium
September Perseids 5 Sept-10 Oct 8 September 64 6 Medium
Aries-triangulids 9 Sept-16 Sept 12 September 35 3 Weak
Piscids 1 Sept-30 Sept 20 September 26 3 Medium
Kappa Aquarids 8 Sept-30 Sept 20 September 16 3 Weak
October Arietids 1 Oct-31 Oct 8 October 28 5 Medium
Giacobinids 6 Oct-10 Oct 8 October 20 variable Irregular
Delta Aurigids 22 Sept-23 Oct 10 October 64 6 Medium
Epsilon Geminids 14 Oct-27 Oct 18 October 71 2 Medium
Orionids 2 Oct-7 Nov 21 October 66 20 Strong
Leo Minorids 21 Oct-23 Oct 22 October 62 2 Weak
Southern Taurids 1 Nov-25 Nov 5 November 27 5 Medium
Delta Eridanids 6 Nov-29 Nov 10 November 31 2 Weak
Northern Taurids 1 Nov-25 Nov 12 November 29 5 Medium
Zeta Puppids 2 Nov-20 Dec 13 November 41 3 Weak
Leonids 14 Nov-21 Nov 17 November 71 variable Irregular
Alpha Monocerotids 15 Nov-25 Nov 21 November 60 variable Irregular
Chi Orionids 25 Nov-31 Dec 2 December 28 3 Medium
Phoenicids 28 Nov-9 Dec 6 December 18 variable Irregular
Monocerotids 27 Nov-17 Dec 9 December 43 3 Medium
Sigma Hydrids 3 Dec-15 Dec 12 December 58 2 Medium
Puppid-velids 2 Dec-16 Dec 12 December 40 4 Medium
Geminids 7 Dec-17 Dec 14 December 35 120 Strong
Coma Berenicids 12 Dec-23 Jan 20 December 65 5 Medium
Ursids 17 Dec-26 Dec 22 December 33 10 Strong