CityRealty Insider > Urban Astronomy: City Lights and Starry Nights

Urban Astronomy: City Lights and Starry Nights

DECEMBER 31, 2009

Urban astronomers find the best ways to star-gaze.

Although there’s plenty of competition from bright lights (A.K.A. “light pollution”) below, you can still see the stars—the kind that don’t need rehab—if you know where to look. The Amateur Astronomers Association of New York hosts regular observing sessions at locations like Carl Schurtz Park in Manhattan and Floyd Bennett Field—the 1,200-acre open space at the end of Flatbush Avenue is relatively light-free and great for star-gazing—and Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn as well as regular meetings, lectures and seminars. The group also posts regular sky reports so you’ll know when to expect the best viewing conditions and special planetary events. The group’s annual Urban Starfest happens on a Saturday evening in the Sheep Meadow of Central Park in the fall. The Inwood Astronomy Project also meets regularly at parks in the neighborhood.

If you’re just getting started navigating the night sky, urban astronomy organizations can also help you find the right equipment, and the Dome at the Hayden Planetarium is a good place to get started on your knowledge of all things celestial.

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