Do Some Planetary Pondering This Week On The North Fork

Jupiter is the king of the planets because it is the largest in the solar system and Saturn is the rock star because of its beautiful rings. Do you know that with binoculars, four of Jupiter’s moons can be seen in different positions every night, and that some of Saturn’s moons are visible through a telescope?

Ed Anderson certainly does. A member of the Astronomical Society of Long Island (ASLI), on Saturday, August 3, at 8 p.m. at the Custer Institute in Southold, Mr. Anderson will present “Observing the gas Giants: Jupiter and Saturn,” providing tips on how to get the most out of viewing these two planets as well as tools and techniques that will help you see more.

After the session, if the weather is good, he will open the ASLI dome on the grounds of Custer Observatory and turn the 14” telescope on Jupiter as he discusses the view and answers questions. If conditions are good, Custer Observatory staff will also give tours of the night sky through the Zerochromat telescope in the main observatory dome and other powerful telescopes on site.

Feel free to bring your own binoculars or telescope to look through after the presentation. Or just enjoy the view from the telescopes on site.

There is a $5 suggested donation for adults ($3 children under 12). Reserve your spot at custerobservatory.org.

Also coming up at Custer Observatory on Saturday, August 10, at 8 p.m. is a concert by “Blow Up Hollywood,” an underground American art-rock collective. The critically-acclaimed group will perform “Dust From the Stars,” works from their newest, unreleased album which reflects on the cosmos and our journey and genesis from stardust to our current state of being.

Fittingly, this concert occurs as the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower nears, when the Earth passes through the dust left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. This dramatic meteor shower can be viewed with the naked eye. Bring a blanket or chair. Following the concert (weather permitting), guests will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower and look through the many telescopes on site, guided by expert staff.

Tickets for the concert are $15 in advance ($20 at the door), $12 members ($10 children under 16) at custeroberavtory.org. Custer Observatory is located at 1115 Main Bayview Road, Southold.