Press Releases

April 23, 2006

Montauk Observatory Captures Saturn

Dr. Inglis lectures on the theory of black holes.

On Friday April 20, 2007 Montauk Observatory held its first public lecture at the Montauk Public Library. Dr. Michael Inglis, Professor of Astronomy at Suffolk County Community College and advisor to Montauk Observatory, wowed the public with an incredible lecture on the nature of black holes.. This was the first in what will hopefully be many public lectures designed for amatuer astronomers, the casual observer or any astronomy entusiast.

Following the lecture a star party was held at the future site of the observatory, Theodore Roosevelt County Park. This was the first public viewing using the new 20" Meade RCX purchased last fall and the evening couldn't have been better. Under the clear dark Montauk skies and through the chorus of spring peepers members of the public were able to see, in some cases for the very first time, our planetary neighbors such as Saturn and Venus along with some not so near neighbors such as distant galaxies and the remnants of exploding stars.

First light: Image of Saturn taken April 20 2007- Dr Michael Inglis

Also attended the star party were members of the Amateur Observers Society who were more than happy to share their telescopes with all who came.

In a posting to the AOS Rich Huber said, "The site [Theodore Roosevelt Park] is definitely worth the trip. The Milky Way was just becoming visible down on the eastern horizon as we were packing up, something you don't see at Robert Moses."

As the crowd thinned, the telescope was once again aimed at Saturn for one last look and a "first light" image to commemorate a fabulous beginning to Montauk Observatory public lecture series.

November 16, 2006

Telescope Arrives in Montauk, Revolutionary Design is Nation’s First

 

The Montauk Observatory Project announced today the delivery of its new professional-grade telescope, which will be housed at the future site of the Montauk Observatory at Theodore Roosevelt County Park in Montauk. The 20-inch Meade telescope will be shown to the public for the first time this Monday, November 20 at 11AM , at a press conference held at the park.

The telescope is the first of its kind deployed in the United States by Meade Instruments, a leading manufacturer of professional and amateur telescopes. “The new 20-inch is a revolutionary design that will satisfy both professional and amateur astronomers alike,” stated Rich Jorgensen, S.V.P. of Marketing for Meade Instruments. “We are delighted to deliver our first one to a public facility, so everyone can enjoy it.”

The telescope’s purchase was made possible through private donations, as well as a $25,000 grant secured by Suffolk County Legislator and Montauk resident, Jay Schneiderman, a former science teacher who has been a leading proponent of establishing an astronomical observatory in Montauk. “Today we open a window into the universe from our own backyard,” said Schneiderman. “We now have the means for every child and adult to gaze into the heavens and marvel at the beauty and vastness of space.”

The telescope is the first step in the construction of a fully functional, astronomical observatory, taking advantage of the unusually dark skies in Montauk. The Montauk Observatory is a not-for-profit organization established over a year ago by far-sighted citizens and prominent scholars, educators, public officials, writers, and scientists to privately fund a research-caliber astronomical observatory on the East End of Long Island. The architectural plans for the observatory building will be compatible with the historic nature of the Third House on the site. The County has offered the use of one of the cabins for lectures, provided the observatory undertakes the renovations. The project is envisioned in two phases. Phase One will be the construction of a freestanding observatory building to house the telescope, designed in harmony with the historical nature of the park, estimated to cost $500,000. Phase Two will undertake a renovation of the existing cabin to provide a meeting place for observatory participants and other interested groups. Funds need to be raised for the observatory building and the renovation of this cabin.

The Montauk Observatory will be operated by astronomers to benefit all county residents and visitors, many of whom are “back yard” astronomers, including members of the Long Island-based Amateur Observers Society. Through the use of astrophotography, images will be available to all those linked to the group’s website and the telescope can be operated remotely. A plasma screen television and viewing area is included in the plan so that groups may view the images gathered through telescope, which at the same time will be broadcast via the Internet.

As well as being used by amateur and professional astronomers, the greater community will benefit from The Montauk Observatory—artists, eco-tourists, naturalists, environmentalists, and star gazers of all ages, as well local businesses, especially during the cool months when the skies are dry and clear. Along with the free public sessions, the observatory will serve astronomy programs at SUNY and Suffolk County Community College , with easy access for university programs in the tri-state region. Coordinated programs will be scheduled with the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium being renovated this year, as well as the Custer Institute, which operates a private observatory in Southold.

The East End of Long Island has the darkest night skies on the Northeast corridor. Montauk is surrounded by the sea and endowed with vast open space preserves made possible through land purchases at the county, state, and federal levels. And d ue to East Hampton Town ’s “dark sky” initiative, Montauk will be guaranteed a future night sky free of light pollution from artificial light that affects most of Long Island . On the East End , the dazzling Milky Way is clearly visible, something not seen by over two-thirds of the US population.

Last year Legislator Schneiderman sponsored a bill that established Theodore Roosevelt Park as a “ Dark Sky Park ,” the first in New York State . The bill, signed into law by County Executive Steve Levy, requiring all county lighting there be “dark sky friendly.” The legislation will help “maintain the type of beautiful dark open skies that we enjoy on the East End ,” Levy said.

The Montauk Observatory Project’s executive board is comprised of East End residents who have financially supported the project to date, and will help raise funds and oversee the initial operations, and includes Sean Tvelia of Suffolk County Community College, Terry Bienstock of Montauk, David Larkin, John Imperatore, and Susan Harder of East Hampton. The Montauk Observatory, Inc. is seeking tax-deductible donations from private individuals and organizations in order to construct and operate the observatory.

The group’s board of advisors includes educators, environmentalists, scientists, writers, architects, artists, historians, preservationists, and public officials, including best-selling author Dava Sobel, along with Long Island astronomers, including Dr. Deane Peterson, David Cohn, Dr. Mike Ingles and Sean Tvelia, and Joe Malave, an astronomer and Montauk public school science teacher. New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, a founding member of the Montauk Observatory Board of Advisors, recently awarded $1,000 in state funds to the project "to assist the observatory with your continued efforts toward serving our local community." He acknowledged the group "for its commitment to the community and for your efforts to provide for future generations of area residents. It is through the selfless efforts of groups such as yours that we can, and do, make a difference in the lives of those we serve."

 

Feb 13 , 2006

Montauk Observatory Wins County Approval

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy recently signed legislation to approve a license agreement between MontaukObservatory, Inc., and Suffolk County. The agreement will allow Montauk Observatory, a not-for-profit 501.3c organization, to construct and operate a research-grade observatory at Suffolk County’s Roosevelt Park in Montauk.

David Larkin, President of Montauk Observatory, was ecstatic about the news. "The Montauk Observatory will be a magnet for students, astronomers and the general public who will all be able to intimately experience the beauty of one of the East End's greatest resources - our spectacular starry night sky,"

Current plans for construction place the observatory near a large cabin to the north of the Roosevelt site. This facility will house a computer controlled S-C type research-grade telescope that will be operated by Montauk Observatory but will be open to public. As part of this agreement, Montauk Observatory will also contribute to the renovation of the cabin for use as classroom and office space.

"The private dollars raised for the telescope is resulting in a public/private partnership that will provide long-lasting benefits to the thousands of local astronomers in our county," said County Executive Steve Levy. "An astronomical observatory on the East End will provide a solid foundation for an outstanding environmental center at the County's Roosevelt Park to compliment the historical significance of the property," Levy said.

Once complete, the observatory will provide regular educational events in the form of public lectures by featured scientists and authors as well as regularly scheduled public observing nights during which members of the community will have access to the primary telescope.

“This is about our future,” local Suffolk Legislator Jay Schneiderman stated. “This is a great tool for social education and to see the extraordinary beauty which lies just beyond the naked eye. Imagine the impact of being able to see the rings of Saturn, the craters of the moon, the moons of Jupiter, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Orion Nebula and so many more celestial bodies. They are an inspiration.”

East Hampton resident and best selling author of Galileo’s Daughter, Longitude, and most recently, The Planets, Dava Sobel commented, “I think the observatory in Montauk is going to be great and I am very excited about it.”

"Citing an Astronomical Observatory in Suffolk County proves that we are light years ahead of most communities in the way we look at and into our future," says Legislator Jon Cooper (D - Huntington). "Students, residents, and visitors alike will be able to learn about the celestial world through the eye in the sky soon to be located on Long Island's East End."

According to Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Director of the Hayden Planetarium, Montauk has the darkest night skies of the Northeast corridor. With East Hampton Town’s recent adoption of a “Dark Sky Initiative,” Roosevelt Park is the perfect site for the construction of an observatory. “In my whole life, over the entire stretch between Washington DC and Boston, I’ve never seen the Milky Way at night until I came out here to the tip of Long Island, and I looked up and said, ‘it’s there!’” said DeGrasse Tyson