Peek the Universe at North Jersey’s Hidden Gem: William D. McDowell Observatory

William D. McDowell Observatory: A Public Gateway to the Cosmos

Tucked into a rear corner of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority complex at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, the William D. McDowell Observatory may appear modest at first glance. But on Wednesday evenings, when staff open the dome and invite the public to peer through its large telescope, the site becomes one of northern New Jersey’s most distinctive and accessible astronomy experiences.

Open to all ages 10 and up: Director Bob Laura operates the observatory year-round, weather permitting. Seasonal hours vary; in November and December public sessions run from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Powerful, research-grade optics: The observatory’s main instrument features a 20-inch mirror — which Laura says is the largest telescope mirror open to the public in the New York metropolitan area. On a clear October night, dozens of visitors had the chance to view Saturn and its rings, as well as Titan, one of the largest moons in the solar system.

Attendance fluctuates: some evenings draw only a few visitors, while other nights attract hundreds waiting for a turn. To manage crowds, staff admit roughly 15 people into the dome at a time; larger groups wait in the adjacent, temperature-controlled science center and are organized into lettered groups before rotating through the dome.

'This is a teaching telescope for teaching everybody. Some people know a lot, but most do not,' Laura said. 'I sit with them and talk to them a little bit when I come up here.'

The observatory is funded by the state through the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. NJSEA Chairman John Ballantyne — who also chairs the authority’s Science and Environment Committee — said the facility is one of several educational programs the authority supports to 'enhance the community’s quality of life.' Ballantyne added that weekly viewing nights draw visitors from across New Jersey, New York State, the five boroughs and neighboring states.

Volunteers Power the Experience

Volunteers are essential to the observatory’s operation. They handle crowd management, answer questions, and help visitors get the most from their viewing experience. Bob Laura began as a volunteer in 2009 and now trains new team members. Volunteers mentioned in the program include Jose Mediavilla of North Arlington, Karla Gonzalez (who travels from across the New York border) and her husband David, and Olena Malyarchuk, a recent volunteer and Ukrainian refugee who first visited the site as a guest.

Practical Constraints and Accessibility

Although situating a telescope in the low-lying Meadowlands marshes near Manhattan’s bright lights isn’t ideal for darkest-sky observing, the DeKorte Park location is highly accessible to residents of the region and regularly draws visitors from distant parts of New Jersey, New York City and upstate New York. The observatory’s dome is not temperature-controlled: the telescope must match outside air temperature to prevent condensation and preserve instrument performance. Laura opens the dome early to help regulate conditions, but visitors should be prepared for warm summer nights and very cold winter evenings.

Cost and mission: The observatory’s research-grade telescope is freely accessible to the public, serving an educational mission to give people the opportunity to 'see the universe' up close.

Visitor note: Sessions are weather-dependent and intended for ages 10 and up. Check the observatory or NJSEA website or contact the facility for the most current schedule and any special events.

Article originally reported by Katie Sobko for NorthJersey.com.