The brightest object that most Manhattanites ever see in the night sky is the beacon on the Empire State Building, but it’s also possible to marvel at the wonders of the universe for free with a stargazing club – right in the center of the city.
A dedicated group from the Amateur Astronomers’ Association allows the public to view the planets through their powerful telescopes on the High Line, countering the myth that New York is too light-polluted to stargaze from.
AAA member Rori Baldari who regularly attends the observations said: “People are often surprised to learn that there are many bright objects that can be seen from the city. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, various double stars and, of course, the Moon, are just some of the objects that can be viewed under urban skies.
“The best reactions are from those people who have never looked through a telescope before. They can’t believe their eyes and many jokingly suggest we’re using pictures in front of our scopes to trick them! I always prove them wrong!
“I like to show people objects that are bright and easy to see. So for example, if Saturn is out, you can clearly see the rings and possibly its largest moon, Titan. On Jupiter, you can expect to see some subtle surface markings in the form of weather bands, and possibly all four Galilean moons.
“Due to the Moon’s close proximity to Earth–roughly 250,000 miles–countless craters, ancient lava beds and other geologic features can be seen in astounding detail. All of these objects carry a big “wow” factor with first-time observers.”
For those wanting to take the hobby more seriously, decent starter telescopes come in at around $300, but it’s not necessary to splash out or even have any knowledge of the heavens: AAA members are happy to let people look through their telescopes, and answer questions about the stars.
The AAA specifically go to places where they will run into the public, such as parks, or even street corners, to get new people interested in astronomy. And although Rori admits the conditions can be far from perfect, it’s still worth it to see the awe in people’s faces and, sometimes, the change in their perspective on life.
She says: “There’s no denying the light pollution issues – we are always battling with street lights, car headlights and such. But this is where the action is, and it’s a real honor to be doing this type of outreach. I have so much fun speaking with people who are truly enthusiastic about astronomy and our place in the universe.
Rori – who is a graphic designer – explains: “We live on one small planet, and most of us constrict our thoughts and daily concerns here. When I look at the stars, I see that I am part of something vast, and suddenly my entire sphere of existence becomes expanded.”
The free High Line meetings are near the 14th St entrance every Tuesday at dusk, until the end of October. As well as the High Line sessions the AAA–which has around 600 members –holds two annual observing events: Spring Starfest in the Bronx in Mach and Fall Starfest, in November in Central Park.
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