Read on to find the best places to stargaze in New York.
With all of the bright lights and skyscrapers, many people don’t think New York is a great place for stargazing. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth, as The Big Apple and the state it is in have a plethora of areas for incredible stargazing.
Inwood Hill Park
If you travel to the most northern point of Manhattan, you will find the beautiful Inwood Hill Park. Not only is the park one of the best places to view the stars on the island, but you can also meet up with other avid astronomers in the Fall.
The Amateur Astronomers Association of New York meets up a few times during the Fall to stargaze; pack a couple of your favorite telescopes and spend a few nights enjoying the night sky with other like-minded people.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
If you want to participate in a few Amateur Astronomers Association events during the Summer, you should head to Brooklyn Park Bridge. The association gets together twice a month during the Summer to hold night-long events enjoying the stars.
Not only is Brooklyn Bridge Park a stargazer’s dream area, but you also get a great view of New York’s financial district and the surrounding areas.
Woodlawn Cemetery
While a cemetery may seem a bit grim for some people, Woodland Cemetery is one of the most calming and strangely beautiful parts of New York. It is a wide open space that is perfect for stargazing and also offers brilliant views of the city.
Once again, this is another area where the Amateur Astronomers Association has regular meet-ups in the cemetery and also offers educational walks around the area too.
Letchworth State Park
Found just outside of Geneseo, Letchwood State Park is a 17-mile expanse of land that is worth visiting whether you are looking for the stars or not. However, since it is the stars you are after, there is arguably no better place than here.
From May until October, there are multiple campsites and cabins available to stay at overnight, and you are going to want to. Staying for a couple of hours is most definitely not enough time to fully enjoy what Letchwood has to offer.
The High Line
Many people may not think that being in the heart of New York is the best place to see the stars. However, the High Line is a great spot to see the stars, and you don’t have to compete with the bright lights of the city.
During certain months of the year, it opens up to stargazers on clear nights to take in the stars; plus, multiple high-powered telescopes are provided to visitors to allow you to see far more than just the stars.
Montauk Point
Long Island also has several stargazing spots for you to enjoy, and many believe that there is no better spot than Montauk Point. If you aren’t looking at the stars, Montauk Point is also home to a very beautiful lighthouse that was commissioned by George Washington.
One of the biggest advantages of going to Montauk Point to see the stars is that you can plan your trip; they have a website called Clear Sky Chart, which allows you to see the best time to visit and when the stars are at their brightest.
Kopernik Observatory & Space Center
There is easily no better place to see the stars than at an observatory and space center. The Kopernik Observatory can be found at the top of a nearly 1800-foothill and has been the place where individuals come to learn about the stars and space for over 50 years.
The observatory and space center is a great place to learn, but it also provides three observatory telescopes and twelve portable ones, making it the perfect place for couples and families to spend a few hours.
Vanderbilt Museum & Planetarium
Back on Long Island, the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium offers visitors a taste of both history and stargazing. While the building doesn’t cater completely to stargazing, it is open between 9pm and 10pm on clear evenings.
If purely stargazing isn’t for you, the museum also has a 1-mile long solar system hiking trail, a 60-foot planetarium complete with a sound system, and mansion tours for discovering more about the history of Long Island and those who once called it home.
Walkway Over the Hudson
Finally, the Walkway over the Hudson is a massive, 200-foot walkway that spans the length of the Hudson River. It is a popular spot for locals and tourists throughout the day and year but has become particularly popular with amateur astronomers.
Thanks to the wide expanse of open land, water, and sky, the walkway is an amazing spot to look up at the stars. You can also enjoy several events during the Summer to take in the stars as well as the surrounding area.
These are a few of the best places in New York to stargaze the night away. Whether you are a seasoned expert or a family looking for a unique night out, you are sure to have an evening to remember.
