The Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory provides one of the best destinations for stargazing in the East. The combination of low-light pollution, low humidity, and high altitude creates ideal conditions for night sky viewing. Public observing events are ongoing year-round and held as weather permits. The roll-off roof opens, allowing telescopes to search the skies with programs starting at designated times. Updates on sky conditions are announced via the Sky Center Facebook page as well as email for anybody wishing to sign up. Events are free and open to the public. 

Coming soon is a 60+ seat state-of-the-art digital planetarium with an attached multipurpose classroom/lecture hall/event venue. Work is already underway, with some excavation having been done on the property already. This year’s goal is to complete the process of Design Development and Schematic Design. With sufficient funding, the construction could begin as early as 2024.  Mr. McGown says, “The pairing of the Wild Center's focus on the Adirondack wilderness, the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory focus on "the wilderness above" will be a match made in the heavens.” 

At the Roll-Off-Roof-Observatory visitors are treated to a spectacular program that includes an opening that outlines the evening’s program, laser tour of the sky, live viewing of selected objects through one of the many high-powered telescopes, and a live high-resolution video feed of deep space right from the observatory. The evening is peppered with stories of the constellations, discussion about recent events in space exploration, and often the possibility of life in outer space. 

The programs are often presented by founding members and amateur astronomers Marc Staves, Tim Moeller, Gordie Duval (retired Physics Teacher from the Tupper Lake Central School District), and Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory President Seth McGowan (retired Superintendent of the Tupper Lake Central School District). Additionally, members of the Board of Trustees Dr. Aileen O’Donoghue (Professor of Physics, St. Lawrence University), Jeff Miller (Astronomer & Physics Laboratory Coordinator, St. Lawrence University), Dr. Joshua Thomas (Assistant Professor of Astronomy & Director of the Stull Observatory), and David Aguilar (Author and past Director of Science Information at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) regularly present in person and online programs.

Vision & Mission 

The vision of the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory is to inspire curiosity and provide perspective on our Universe through wonder and enlightenment.

Mission

• Provide immersive educational experiences
• Create exciting adventures in astronomy
• Strive to cultivate new perspectives
• Discover means to understand, participate in, and belong to our Universe