PRESS RELEASE

         For Immediate Release

          November 16, 2006

 

  PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED to “unveil” the new Montauk Observatory Telescope

 

            Where:              Montauk “Theodore Roosevelt” County Park. The Park is located about 2.3 miles east of Montauk Village on the left.

            When:               11 am, Monday, November 20

            Contact:           Jay Schneiderman:  631-852-8400

                     Susan Harder:  631 329-0456

     

High Powered Telescope Arrives in Montauk,

 Revolutionary Design is Nation’s First

               

The Board of the Montauk Observatory announces the delivery of a professional grade telescope which will be housed at the future site of the Montauk Observatory located at Theodore Roosevelt County Park in Montauk. The newly designed 20” Meade telescope will be shown to the public for the first time on Monday, November 20 at 11 am at a Press Conference held at the Park.

 

The 20 inch (mirror size) RCX400 Advanced Ritchey-Chretien on the MAX Robotic EQ Mount/AZ Pier telescope is the first deployed in the United States and was designed by Meade Instruments, a leading manufacturer of professional and amateur telescopes.  “The new 20 inch telescope is a revolutionary design that will satisfy both professional and amateur astronomers alike,” stated Rich Jorgensen, S.V.P. of Marketing for Meade Instruments.  “We are delighted to deliver our first one to a public facility so everyone can enjoy it.”

 

The acquisition of this telescope is the first step in establishing a fully functional astronomical observatory, taking advantage of the exceptionally dark skies in Montauk. The Montauk Observatory will be operated by astronomers to benefit all County residents and visitors, many of whom are “back yard” astronomers, including members of the Long Island based Amateur Observers Society.  Along with the free public sessions, the Observatory will serve the many Long Island based astronomy programs and at SUNY and SCCC, with easy access for university programs in the tri-state region.  Coordinated programs will be scheduled with the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium being renovated this year, as well as the Tupper Planetarium, and the Custer Institute, a private observatory in Southold. 

 

As well as being used by amateur and professional astronomers, the greater community will benefit from the Montauk Observatory:  artists, eco-tourists, naturalists, environmentalists, local businesses and stargazers of all ages. Viewing is best during the cooler, “off-season” months when the skies are dry and clear. Through the use of astrophotography, images will be available to all those linked to the Observatory website and the telescope can be operated remotely.  A plasma screen television and viewing area is included in the plan so that groups may view the images gathered through the telescope, which at the same time will be broadcast via the Internet. 

 

The Montauk Observatory is a not-for-profit organization established over a year ago by far-sighted citizens and prominent scholars, educators, public officials, writers, and scientists to privately fund a research caliber astronomical observatory on the East End of Long Island.  The architectural plans for the observatory building will be compatible with the historic nature of the Third House at the Park.  The County has offered the use of one of the “camp style” cabins on the historic site for educational programs.  Funds are now being sought to construct the observatory building and renovate the cabin, estimated to cost approximately $500,000. 

 

The Executive Board is comprised of Suffolk County residents who have financially supported the project to date and who will help raise funds and oversee the initial operations:  Terry Bienstock of Montauk, David Larkin, John Imperatore, and Susan Harder of East Hampton, and Sean Tvelia of Suffolk County Community College. The Montauk Observatory, Inc. relies on tax deductible donations from private individuals, organizations, and educational grants in order to construct and operate the Observatory, as well as offer programs about astronomy to the public.  The Board of Advisors includes educators, environmentalists, scientists, writers, architects, artists, historians, preservationists, and public officials, including East Hampton local best-selling author Dava Sobel, along with Long Island astronomers, including Dr. Deane Peterson, David Cohn, Dr. Mike Inglis, Sean Tvelia, and Joe Malave, an astronomer and Montauk public school science teacher. 

 

The telescope‘s purchase was made possible through private donations as well as a $25,000 grant secured by Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman, a Montauk resident and former science teacher, who has been a leading proponent of establishing an astronomical observatory in Montauk.  “Today we open a window into the universe from our own backyard,” said Legislator Schneiderman. “We now have the means for every child and adult to gaze into the heavens and marvel at the beauty and vastness of space.”

 

Last year Legislator Schneiderman sponsored a bill that established Theodore Roosevelt Park as a “Dark Sky Park,” the first in New York State, which will be available for regularly scheduled “Star Parties” in which the public can view the night sky through telescopes with the aid of astronomers.  Additionally Schneiderman’s bill was signed into law by County Executive Steve Levy, restricting all county lighting to “dark sky friendly” illumination stating that he saw it helping to “maintain the type of beautiful dark open skies that we enjoy on the East End.”  The master plan developed for the Montauk County Park nearly two decades ago envisioned public astronomy programs and when finished, the Observatory will tie-in to a future environmental education center located there.  The park’s historic Third House building is currently undergoing a major renovation to restore the site to its former glory.

 

“The East End of Long Island has the darkest night skies on the Northeast corridor, and is a place where the dazzling star-filled night sky is still visible,” noted Susan Harder, founder of the Dark Sky Society.  “The Milky Way is not visible to over two thirds of the US population,” she said, “due to light pollution from artificial light and over-development”.  Montauk is surrounded by the sea and is endowed with vast open space preserves.  Montauk has benefited from publicly funded open-space preservation on State, Federal, and County land, resulting in clear star-filled night skies. And due to Ms. Harder’s efforts to encourage East Hampton Town’s “dark sky” initiative, Montauk is guaranteed future clear night skies, free from the light pollution which afflicts most of Long Island. 

 

South Fork New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, a founding member of the Montauk Observatory Board of Advisors, recently awarded $1000 in state funds to the project, "to assist the Observatory with your continued efforts toward serving our local community."  He acknowledged the group "for it's commitment to the community and for your efforts to provide for future generations of area residents.  It is through the selfless efforts of groups such as yours that we can, and do, make a difference in the lives of those we serve."

 

Those interested in information about the telescope, the progress of the Observatory or in making donations and joining as members, are encouraged to visit the Montauk Observatory website: www.montaukobservatory.com . Large jpeg of telescope is available here: