38th Astronomy Jamboree - Nov. 5, 2016

Custer Institute and Observatory's 

38th Annual Astronomy Jamboree

November 4 - 6, 2016

On November 5th the Custer Observatory held the second day of its Astronomy Jamboree at the Southold High School, Southold, NY. The evening consisted of Lectures, Vendors, Workshops, Planetarium and Raffles. Afterwards the festivities moved to the Custer Observatory for Stargazing. 

Solar Observing

Registration Table

Lecturers

Brian Koehler from the Treworgy Planetarium at Mystic Seaport, CN

"A Rover's Eye View of the Surface and Climate of Mars"  Dr. Joel Hurowitz, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences at SUNY , Stony Brook, NY

Keynote Speaker: Sam Storch, lecturer at NY Hayden Planetarium. "Basking in the Shadow of the Moon"

Raffle Prizes

Buffet Dinner at 631 Restaurant

NEAF: North East Astronomy Forum - April 10, 2016

 NEAF: North East Astronomy Forum

Rockland County Community College
Suffern, New York

April 9-10, 2016

NEAF selling floor

Space X Display Booth

Sextant Lessons

Many Solar Telescopes to look at the sun and the giant Sunspot (AR) 2529

Giant Sunspot (AR) 2529, at the top. The Sun viewed through a Hydrogen Alpha Filter. 
(NEVER look at the sun without the proper equipment and filters!)

Giant Sunspot (AR) 2529, on the right. The Sun viewed through a White Light Filter. This Sun Spot is several times larger then Earth! 

(NEVER look at the sun without the proper equipment and filters!)

 Close-up of (AR) 2529. Several of our Earths will fit into this massive Sun Spot!

Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX, Vice President of Flight Reliability ‘SpaceX, Exploration through Innovation‘

Nice Silver and Abalone Astronomy earrings

Very large 65 pound Gibeon Iron Meteorite

Great display of meteorites for sale at NEAF!

Aurora Borealis from Long Island, NY

Aurora Borealis seen from New York

Cedar Beach, Mt. Sinai, Long Island, NY

June 23, 2015

On June 22, 2015 Space Weather Live put out a KP index of 7. In order to see an Aurora from Long Island the KP index needs to be a 7 or higher. I saw a reading as high as KP8.67 in the early morning hours of June 23, 2015. Although the Aurora was not seen visually I continued to take photos of the dark sky in hopes of capturing something of the Aurora. It is rare to capture and see an Aurora from Long Island, NY. Although the seeing was not optimal I was able to capture enough of the Aurora to confirm it from Long Island. 

Special Thanks to Elias Bonaros for  the Aurora alert and help confirming the final Aurora photos.

The following photos were taken between one and two am in the morning.

1:15am Some green above the Sky-glow of Connecticut.

1:24am - Some dark pupleish-red appears visible above the green of the Aurora

1:27am - The Aurora appears in the north under the Constellation Cassiopeia.

1:45am

1:46am

1:47am

1:48am

2:08am - The Aurora seemed to dissipate after 2 am. Green no longer seen above the Connecticut sky-glow.

Custer Observatory - New Years Eve Party!

NEW YEARS EVE UNDER THE STARS

Come and celebrate 2015 with us! 

    Where: Custer Institute and Observatory

    
    When: Wed., December 31, 2014   8:00pm 

     
    What: Dinner, Music, Desert, Hats, Noisemakers
                & Champagne Toast at midnight!

Now in its 10th year! There's no better way to celebrate another trip around the sun than being at Custer's New Years Eve party! Refreshments include a buffet, desserts, and beverages (you're welcome to bring your favorite dish or dessert to add to the buffet). Dance to live r&b, jazz, and favorites by Ahmad Ali and Friends. Champagne toast at midnight and more!

Ahmed Ali and Friends

Seats are limited! The easiest way to reserve yours is by going to custerobservatory.org/newyears.htm

Do NOT call for reservations - we are only there Saturdays. 

$30 Members
$45 Non-Members
$25 Students
$15 Children 12 and under.

If you are unable or completely against registering and paying online via paypal from Custer’s website, you MUST at least RSVP so a place can be saved to any of the following people:

David Van Popering: dobsoniandave@gmail.com

Justine Haupt: justine.haupt@gmail.com

Bill Crispino: wcrispino@verizon.net

 Hope to see you there!

 

Custer Institute & The Southold Indian Museum 

Joint Lecture 

“The Clovis and the Comet”

Saturday,  November 22, 2014 

Dr. Lucinda Hemmick of the Southold Indian Museum spoke on how both archaeological and recent geological evidence are providing evidence that the North American Clovis culture was almost wiped out by a comet strike. The talk was held at Custer Institute in Southold. After her talk and discussion guests went across the street to visit the Indian Museum.

Native American Utensils and Bowls

Native American Woman's Clothing

Indian Corn Display

Pigments used in Indian Paint

The Native American Diet: Animal remains found at the dig site in a Native American Kitchen.

The Native American Diet: Animal remains found at a dig site in a Native American Kitchen.

Native American clothing

Scorpion Design Basket

Dr. Lucinda Hemmick of the Southold Indian Museum speaking on the artifacts at the Indian Museum.

Southwest Pueblo Indians

Southwest Pueblo Indians

Iraquois Longhouse Model

Native American Medicine

Algonquin Wig Wam Model

The George Penny Memorial Collection

Custer Members visiting the Southold Indian Museum after the program

Native American Story Teller depicted on a Blanket telling stories of the Constellations of the night sky.

Indian Pet Dog found at an Indian Dig Site.

Arrowhead Art

Wedding Vases