Re: Cosmic Challenge

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tom wrote:
> 
[on topic stuff snipped so that I can go off topic :]
>
> I cannot expect to be taking many pictures of the stars here in New York
> City.  If the city lights don't get you, the roving bums will.  Central
> Park after dark is not like a mountain top in Hawaii.  Maybe the beach at
> Coney Island?  :^)
> 

Hey!  As a member of the Amateur Astronomers Association (see
<URL:http://www.aaa.org>) who has observed on several occassions in
Central Park (the AAA holds annual star parties there on July 20 (Moon
Landing Day) and in September for Starfest, along with special events
for comets, eclipses, etc.) and has participated in monthly star
parties at parks in Manhattan and Brooklyn (I haven't gotten to the
star parties in Staten Island yet), I have to step to the defense of
my home town.

It's the idea that "you can't see any stars from here" that has kept
many people from even trying to see the stars.  It is actually fairly
easy to see a dozen or so stars from the middle of Manhattan.
(Looking up past the streetlights!)  I've done some lunar and eclipse
photography from the backyard of a house I rented in Queens.

By the way, Coney Island isn't too bad a guess.  We observe down at
Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.

-- 
Brian Reynolds     | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
reynolds@xxxxxxxxx | "Oooh!"
NAR# 54438         |    -- Dexter and Dee Dee
                   |       "Dexter's Laboratory"