
The Hofstra University Observatory, located on the roof of Herman A. Berliner Hall, is the primary campus facility for astronomical education and research. Originally funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the observatory is used by students in astronomy courses to make observations of the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies for course and lab work, and by the general public during our "Stars on Sundays" and other astronomy outreach events.
The observatory includes an array of Celestron telescopes and a specialized solar-viewing telescope, including many GPS models with automated “go-to” functionality for thousands of celestial targets. The Unistellar electronic digital telescope allows faint galaxies and nebula to be observed from light-polluted suburban skies.
Physics majors and astronomy minors can use the HURCULAES camera — a research-grade, 8-megapixel CCD detector and filter wheel — for cutting-edge scientific research.
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY Department of Physics and Astronomy presents
Stars on Sundays
GPS: 826 Huntington Pl.
Uniondale, NY 11553
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- December 3, 2023 – 7-9 p.m. (POSTPONED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER)
- February 4, 2024 – 7-9 p.m.
- March 3, 2024 – 7-9 p.m.
- April 14, 2024 – 8-10 p.m.
FREE out-of-this-world event
Hofstra invites kids of all ages to view the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, star clusters, nebulae, and double stars with telescopes from the Hofstra Observatory, Berliner Hall, 4th floor, California Avenue and Huntington Place, south of Hempstead Turnpike. Program begins with a presentation about the sky in Room 117. Attendance is limited to 100 people per event. RSVPs will open after the preceding event.
Latest info and free registration: www.hofstra.edu/starsonsunday
GPS: 826 Huntington Pl., Uniondale, NY 11553
Email: observatory@hofstra.edu
Music and Astronomy Under the Stars will resume in the summer of 2023
Free Astronomy Festival with Stargazing at Outdoor Concerts and Events
Bringing Astronomy to the Public with Activities for Kids of All AgesDr. Donald Lubowich, coordinator of the Astronomy Outreach Program at Hofstra University, will give concertgoers a spectacular glimpse of the heavens. This Hofstra-sponsored program comprises videos, posters, banners, and hands-on-activities for all ages.
There will be special solar telescope observations prior to the concerts and telescope observations of the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, multicolored double stars, star clusters, and nebulae at intermission and after the events.
Since 2009, this NASA-funded Music and Astronomy Under the Stars program has brought the stars to 75,000 music lovers at Long Island parks and to the Newport Folk, Tanglewood, and Ravinia music festivals with the assistance of local astronomy clubs. Yo-Yo-Ma and the Chicago Symphony or Boston Symphony Orchestra, the McCoy Tyner Quartet with Ravi Coltrane, Esperanza Spalding, Phish, Blood Sweat & Tears, Deep Purple, Patti Smith, Tony Orlando, and Wilco have performed at these concerts.
The Amateur Observers' Society of New York is a partner with this program and has telescope viewing in July, August, and September at the Jones Beach Nature Center, Wantagh, NY (New York state fee for the program is $4) and at Sagamore Hill National Historic Monument, Oyster Bay, NY (free). For info, visit www.aosny.org.
Outreach Program
Hofstra's Astronomy Outreach Program has brought the wonder of stargazing to hundreds of children and adults at Long Island schools, hospitals, non-for-profit groups, parks, and beaches.
Contact the Observatory
The Observatory
Located on the roof of Herman A. Berliner Hall, at the intersection of California Avenue and Huntington Place, two blocks south of Hempstead Turnpike.