Astrophotography Blog: Astronomical Observatory

Showing posts with label Astronomical Observatory. Show all posts

Monday, September 24, 2018

Adirondack Public Observatory

The Adirondack Public Observatory in Tupper Lake, New York is one of the best dark-sky locations in the Northeast United States. With low light pollution, high visibility, and excellent community outreach programs, this observatory is a top destination for both amateur astronomers and serious astrophotographers.

Located just outside the village of Tupper Lake in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, the site offers exceptionally dark skies — rare on the East Coast. On clear nights the Milky Way is clearly visible to the naked eye, stretching directly above the domes.

Below are several images from my visit, including views under the Milky Way and daytime photos of the observatory grounds.

Three telescopes inside Adirondack Public Observatory under the Milky Way, Tupper Lake NY

Adirondack Public Observatory and Milky Way

Inside the observatory domes, multiple telescopes are available for public programs, star parties, and deep-sky viewing. On a truly clear night, the Adirondack sky becomes one of the darkest on the East Coast, revealing rich detail in the Milky Way directly above the observatory.

Adirondack Public Observatory building in daytime, Tupper Lake New York

Adirondack Public Observatory in the day time

During the day, the Adirondack Public Observatory sits quietly among the trees and mountains, ready for the next clear night. The site hosts public outreach events, educational programs, and observing sessions that introduce visitors to planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.

Adirondack Public Observatory at night with the Milky Way overhead in Tupper Lake New York

Adirondack Public Observatory -Tupper Lake - New York

At night, the observatory is surrounded by deep darkness and a brilliant star field. The Milky Way arches overhead, and on the best nights you can see faint nebulae and galaxies with the naked eye. For astrophotography, this location offers outstanding sky quality compared to most of the East Coast.

If you are traveling through the Adirondacks and love astronomy, the Adirondack Public Observatory is well worth a visit for both visual observing and night-sky photography.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Los Angeles Astrophotography and Night Skyline from Griffith Observatory, California

"Man's sense of values ought to be revised.

If all mankind could look through that telescope,

it would change the world!"

-- Griffith J. Griffith

These are a few of my Los Angeles astrophotography and night skyline photos from a trip to California. Even in a city filled with light pollution, the view from Griffith Observatory remains one of the most iconic places to photograph Los Angeles after sunset.

Ironically, the observatory closes at night, so I did not have much time for photography. Still, the location offered beautiful panoramic views of the city, the glowing skyline, and the famous observatory itself against the evening sky.

Los Angeles night view from Griffith Observatory in California

Los Angeles Astrophotography night view from the Griffith Observatory California

Los Angeles city skyline at night from Griffith Observatory

Los Angels city skyline at night Griffith Observatory Astrophotography

Griffith Observatory at night in Los Angeles California

Griffith Observatory at night, Los Angeles, CA

Hollywood night city lights and light pollution in Los Angeles

Night City Light pollution Hollywood

Los Angeles may not be the easiest place for traditional astrophotography, but it is still a fascinating city for photographing the night. The combination of urban light, famous landmarks, and the astronomy history of Griffith Observatory gives these images a special atmosphere.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Long Island Astrophotography - Custer Astronomical Observatory

Custer Astronomical Observatory is the oldest public observatory on Long Island, founded in 1927 and still active today. It remains a community hub for astronomy education, public stargazing events, and member observing sessions. These night-sky photos were taken during my visit, using a Canon 60Da and EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM lens (ISO 6400, 20–30 seconds). The observatory grounds include a classic research dome, a large radio telescope — an inspiring place for both amateur and professional astronomers, as well as astrophotographers who enjoy night-sky observation and imaging.

Long Island Astrophotography at Custer Astronomical Observatory – dome and radio telescope under night sky

Long Island Astrophotography - Custer Astronomical Observatory - Dome and Radio Telescope

Custer Observatory radio telescope with bright Jupiter over Long Island night sky

Custer Observatory Radio Telescope and Jupiter - Long Island Astrophotography

Big Dipper rising above the Custer Observatory dome during Long Island nightscape photography

Custer Observatory Dome and Big Dipper - Long Island Astrophotography

Interior of the Susan Mini Observatory at Custer Observatory during night landscape photography

Susan Mini Observatory inside Custer Observatory - Night Landscape

Silent Sky over Custer Astronomical Observatory on Long Island during night astrophotography

Silent Sky - Custer Observatory Long Island

Custer Astronomical Observatory continues to operate as an active nonprofit organization with weekly public observing nights, lectures, and special astronomy events. The site includes a main dome, a large radio telescope, and several smaller member-owned observatories. Amateur astronomers store their telescopes on-site and regularly conduct observations, making Custer one of the most vibrant astronomy communities in the New York region.

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Puerto Rico Radio-Telescope Arecibo Observatory

This post documents a daytime visit to the legendary Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, when the 305-meter radio telescope was still fully operational and open to the public. While these are not night-sky images, Arecibo was one of the most important scientific instruments ever built for radio astronomy, planetary radar, and the study of the ionosphere.

For many amateur astronomers and astrophotographers, visiting Arecibo felt like a pilgrimage — standing beneath a structure that helped characterize asteroids, study pulsars, and expand our understanding of the universe using radio waves rather than visible light.

View of the Arecibo Radio Telescope reflector dish and suspended receiver platform photographed from the observation deck during daytime

View of the Arecibo Radio Telescope reflector and suspended receiver platform, photographed from the observation deck

Receiver platform of the Arecibo Radio Telescope photographed from the observation deck, showing the suspended feed structure above the reflector

Receiver platform of the Arecibo Radio Telescope, viewed from the observation deck

Flowers in the foreground with the Arecibo Observatory structures and the suspended receiver platform visible in the background, photographed from the observation deck

Flowers in the foreground with the Arecibo Observatory and its suspended receiver platform visible in the background

Anatomy of the Arecibo Radio Telescope

Arecibo Observatory Logo


Galaxy Shop

Arecibo Observatory visitor center

Interior exhibits inside the Ángel Ramos Foundation visitor center at Arecibo Observatory

Angel Ramos Foundation Visitor Center inside

Additional exhibits inside the Arecibo Observatory visitor center in Puerto Rico

Observatory Visitor Center inside

Star planetarium

Milky Way Model

Poster

Flags displayed at the Arecibo Observatory site in Puerto Rico

Observatory Flags

Arecibo Observatory and Ángel Ramos Foundation visitor center

Arecibo observatory and Angel Ramos Foundation Visitor Center

Telephoto zoom view of the Arecibo Radio Telescope receiver platform photographed from the observation deck using a long focal length lens

Telephoto zoom of the Arecibo Radio Telescope receiver platform, captured from the observation deck

Anatomy diagram of the Arecibo Radio Telescope in the foreground with the suspended receiver platform visible in the background

Anatomy of the Arecibo Radio Telescope in the foreground, with the suspended receiver platform visible behind

Other Observatory Visits

In addition to Arecibo, I have visited and documented several major astronomical observatories across different regions. Each site reflects a distinct approach to exploring the universe, from optical telescopes to large-scale radio arrays.

Mauna Kea Observatories — Big Island, Hawaii
A collection of world-class optical and infrared observatories located above the clouds on Mauna Kea.
The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) — New Mexico
A radio astronomy interferometer consisting of 27 movable antennas, studying the universe at radio wavelengths.
Custer Institute & Observatory — Long Island, New York
One of the oldest public observatories in the United States, focused on education and amateur astronomy.
Lowell Observatory — Flagstaff, Arizona
Historic observatory associated with the discovery of Pluto and continued planetary research.
Sky’s The Limit Observatory — Joshua Tree National Park
A public observatory operating under exceptionally dark desert skies, supporting outreach and astrophotography.

Historical note:
All images in this post were captured while the Arecibo Observatory was fully active and intact. These photographs predate major damage from Hurricane Maria (2017) and the later structural failures in 2020, including the auxiliary cable break in August and the second cable break in November, which led to the telescope’s collapse on December 1, 2020.

Arecibo remains one of the most iconic sites in the history of astronomy. This post is preserved as a visual record of the observatory during its operational years.