The Custer Institute and Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Custer Institute, located in at the edge of Long Island, just 92 miles (148 km) northeast of Brooklyn, New York. The observatory staff of volunteers offers visitors a tour of the facilities and the night sky using powerful telescopes, as well as assist with the frequent lectures, classes, concerts, art exhibits and other special events held on site; a library, museum, and gift shop are offered as well. Camping is not allowed here, however admission is open to the public every Saturday evening from dusk until midnight. For more information, please visit online or call 631-765-2626.
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.