AAA OBSERVING

Far from letting life under some of the world’s most light-polluted skies deter us from actively viewing the night sky, we in the AAA are dedicated to not only observing the heavens ourselves but also introducing the public to the wonders of astronomy. In cooperation with the New York City Department of Parks, the United States National Park Service, and other organizations, the Amateur Astronomers Association holds observing sessions at several locations in and around New York City. Thousands of New Yorkers attend our eclipse watches, public observing sessions, and annual Urban Starfest held in the fall in Central Park’s Sheep Meadow. Members bring telescopes and binoculars through which everyone is invited to look. We provide instruction on how to find objects in the night sky. If you’re thinking of getting binoculars or a telescope yourself, this is a good opportunity to look at and through some equipment and ask questions of experienced users. The club hosts regular observing sessions at a number of locations (see below) in New York City and at a dark-sky spot at North-South Lake in the Catskills. Each location has its own webpage here, with details and instructions on getting there:

          Urban Starfest, Central Park, Manhattan
          Spring Starfest, Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx
          Solar Observing, Central Park, Manhattan   
          Solar Observing, Riverwalk Entrance - Bronx Zoo, The Bronx
          Solar Observing, Highline, Manhattan
          Carl Schurz Park, Manhattan
          Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn      
          Prospect Park, Brooklyn
          Great Kills, Staten Island
          Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan
          High Line, Manhattan
          Van Cortlandt Park, The Bronx
          Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx
          North-South Lake, Haines Falls, N.Y.
          Out-of-Town, Various locations
          Movies With A View, Pier 1, Brooklyn
          Charles Dana Discovery Center, Central Park, Manhattan

A number of members write reports on their observing sessions. It’s a good way to communicate the feeling of a night under the stars. These can be found on our Observing Reports page. AAA members are encouraged to attend meetings of the Seminar on Recent Advances in Astronomy, which usually meets on the evening of the second Thursday in each month. Last but not least, check out This Month’s Sky to see what’s currently happening above, and the Clear Sky Clock to see an astronomy-oriented weather forecast for the next 48 hours or so.