WILLIAM D. MCDOWELL OBSERVATORY:

The William D. McDowell Observatory is a critical component of the Center for Environmental and Scientific Education. On June 27, 2007 the Board of Commissioners of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission dedicated the Meadowlands Observatory to William D. McDowell, the first Executive Director of the NJMC. McDowell was appointed Executive Director of the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission (now the NJMC) in 1969.

The observatory’s state-of-the-art telescope, contained within a six-meter retractable dome, has special filters designed to help minimize the effects of the area’s light pollution. This research-grade instrument is equipped with a variety of tools:  specialized cameras to photograph various astronomical objects, a photometer to measure the brightness of stars and study how they vary over time and a spectroscope to analyze the wavelengths of light to determine the chemical composition of a light-emitting object.

The Center will host astronomy classes for students from local schools as well as open viewings for the public. People will be able to either look directly through the telescope or view real-time display images on two eight-by-eight-foot screens in the Center. Individuals of all ages are welcome to become amateur astronomers. Students and residents of the region will be invited to take advantage of the technologies within the facility when they take part in astronomy research opportunities through a mentorship program.