Weekend Spotlight: Stargazing with the Montauk Observatory

Astronomer Tom Madigan will lead Montauk Observatory members and guests in a guided tour of the summer night sky on Saturday night at the Ross School.

Madigan is an astronomy professor in the State University of New York school system and a staff astronomer at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. He is also recognized by NASA as an Ambassador of the Solar System, part of a group devoted to public outreach programs across the nation.

He will use the night sky as his planetarium, taking stargazers on a journey through the solar system. The event will begin at 8:30 p.m. with an exploration of Saturn and its rings, situated high in the southwest, and continue with a discussion of the Galactic Center, the heart of the Milky Way galaxy.

Along the way, Madigan will highlight the majestic, rare and odd pieces of the night sky, while explaining the physics behind our universe.

Telescopes will be available to view and explore the deep-space, according to the Montauk Observatory website.

All are welcome to join in Madigan's presentation, and participants are encouraged to bring personal telescopes and binoculars.