Frequently asked questions
Why in Brooklyn? Why in Prospect Park?
As a borough of 2.6 million inhabitants embedded in a city of 8 million and a metropolitan area of 20 million, Brooklyn is an ideal location for a public observatory dedicated to education and entertainment. There is no other such facility in Brooklyn, and even through all of NYC, options for stargazing are extremely limited. An observatory/classroom site would have the advantages of being known to the public as the place to go for astronomy, and would permit larger, better telescopes as well as a location for classes and small lectures than anything that presently exists. Prospect Park is centrally located in Brooklyn, is a darker site than most other borough locations and already is a center for public education and entertainment.
What would our observatory look like?
Although recognizable as a domed observatory, the building would conform to and blend in with the existing architectural style of other Prospect Park buildings.
What would be its primary functions?
The primary function of the observatory would be to educate and entertain the public by offering regular sky tour observation sessions guided by a qualified docent, as well as classes and small lectures.
With urban light pollution, would anything substantial be observable?
Absolutely, yes! On any clear night, the planets of our solar system (and even their moons), our own Moon, countless stars, star clusters, bright nebulae and galaxies are all visible with the telescopes that would be available at the Brooklyn Observatory. As Yogi Berra once said, “you can observe a lot by just watching.”
Who would be able to use the facility? How many would be able to enjoy it at the same time?
The observatory would be open to the public at large, with experienced volunteer staff operating the telescope and serving as tour guides of the heavens. Because viewing through an eyepiece means taking turns, the number of guests in a viewing session is practically limited to about a dozen people at a time to avoid long queues. But the observatory would also have, in addition to the main telescope, binoculars and/or small telescopes on separate piers, allowing the observatory to accommodate as many simultaneous visitors as possible.
Who would be able to use the facility? How many would be able to enjoy it at the same time?
The observatory would be open to the public at large, with experienced volunteer staff operating the telescope and serving as tour guides of the heavens. Because viewing through an eyepiece means taking turns, the number of guests in a viewing session is practically limited to about a dozen people at a time to avoid long queues. But the observatory would also have, in addition to the main telescope, binoculars and/or small telescopes on separate piers, allowing the observatory to accommodate as many simultaneous visitors as possible.