The Edwin E. Aldrin Astronomical Center

The Edwin E. Aldrin Astronomical Center is the hub of our club's activities. Named for second man on the Moon, a Montclair New Jersey native, this is where we hold our monthly meetings and educational events. From Memorial Day to October 31, we are open every Saturday evening from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30p.m. and every Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 5:00.

WINTER SCHEDULE

We are open on the fourth Saturday of November, February, March and April from 8:30 to 10:30p.m. The NJAA is closed all month December and January. The Observatory is also closed Sundays during the winter schedule.

WEATHER ADVISORIES

NJ State Park System sometimes closes the road to the Observatory after heavy snowfalls. The NJAA will be closed when our road is closed. During inclement weather (cloudy, rain) our telescopes will be closed but the facility will remain open. For unexpected Observatory closures please (check the website/ call ahead) before coming out.

Become a member now, click here!

Please Be Careful in the Parking Lot!

An incident involving vehicle impact made something very clear, if you back up your car without enough light to see where you are going you will eventually hit something. Or someone. We try to keep things dark for obvious reasons, if you need to back your car out of a spot and your backup lights just arn't enough for you to see by, PLEASE ask somebody to help you out. A watchful eye assisting with a backup can save a lot of aggrivation and money.

40 Years of the NJAA

It began in 1965. But how did it happen? Where did the observatory come from? The telescope? Who were the people who launched the organization? Click Here to meet the people who made it happen and learn how an observatory is made.

The NJAA Virtual Solar System

On June 15, 2002, we dedicated our carefully constructed Solar System model. This gift from 3M, in cooperation with Project ASTRO NOVA and Voorhees High School is designed to educate those who take the 1/4 mile stroll. There are a handful of scale models available for perusal in the U.S., but this new addition to Voorhees State Park is a real standout. Here is its story and a point and click model
We invite you to point and click your way to the outer reaches of space!

Photo Album: Buzz Aldrin and the NJAA

The Center houses a lecture room with multimedia capabilities, a library, photographic darkroom and a sales counter where astronomically related items can be purchased. Our members come here to volunteer their time and talents to bring the fascinating science of astronomy to the public.
Photo Album: Serving the Public

Our monthly lectures often feature experts in various astronomical fields. Youth groups frequently tour the Center and three Adult Education sessions a year serve to teach astronomy to people of all ages. We periodically offer special courses in astronomy to members and train our qualified observers to operate the giant 26 inch telescope in the Dome.
Photo Album: Prestigious Visitors

The Research Committee and the Solar and Astrophotography Focus Groups hold their monthly meetings here; the activities at these meetings are dictated by the interests of the people who attend. Star parties are held frequently on the grounds outside the Center to give our members the opportunity to participate in group viewing sessions and to hone their observing skills. Experienced observers are always available and willing to help newcomers to the hobby to learn the rudiments of observational astronomy. We also have member picnics to members can socialize with their families.

If you are using software for charts and need a point of reference, US Geological survey map and original site survey for our High Bridge, NJ - Lat: North +40 Degrees, 40 minutes, 54 seconds, Lon: West 074 Degrees, 53 minutes, 54 seconds, Altitude is approximately 840 feet above sea level.

The NJAA and the Night Sky Network

The NJAA is proud to be part of NASA's Night Sky Network - a nationwide coalition of amateur astronomy clubs bringing the science, technology and inspiration of NASA's missions to the general public. We share our time and telescopes to provide you with unique astronomy experiences at our observatory and under the night sky.

The Paul Robinson Observatory

The heart of the telescope is the primary mirror which is 26 inches in diameter. The instrument is currently a Newtonian with a focal ratio of f/4, but is soon to be converted to a Cassegrain design.

The telescope mount, a modified German Equatorial, is from Indiana University, where it had been used in experimental work. Its mount is a massive iron casting nearly seven feet high and its foundation penetrates twenty feet underground to the mountain's bedrock! The entire assembly weighs over four tons, and towers fifteen feet above the floor. The Observatory is equipped for both photographic and visual observation. Using auxiliary equipment, spectrographic, CCD and other studies are possible. But that's not all! The Observatory has a number of smaller scopes including the 10 inch Robinson scope, a 12 1/2 inch Newtonian telescope, and a specially designed solar scope built by the Solar Focus Group. But we're still not finished! There are a number of club telescopes that members, who don't have scopes of their own, can borrow for an evening of observing on the grounds of the Observatory.
Photo Album: Telescope Facilities

The room under the observing deck is currently under renovation while it becomes a discovery center. Plans for the Discovery Center include an archive of the NJAA, astronomy in New Jersey, and a revolving display of astronomical topics. The Discover Center now houses the handmade grinder that fashioned and polished the main scope's 26" mirror back in 1966.

Directions to the Observatory

From 78 East or West
Exit at Clinton for Route 31 North. Approaching the second traffic light turn right onto Route 513 North (to High Bridge), right at the end of the ramp to head north and go through High Bridge. Note, 513 North turns sharply right at the train station just before Main street, then again at the end of Main St., which is only a few blocks long. Moments after turning off Main go left at the church (which keeps you on 513 North). Just over a mile later look for a small brown sign on the right for the NJAA Observatory. The next left is the south entrance to Voorhees State Park onto Observatory Road. The observatory parking lot is about 1/2 mile up on the left.

From 513 Southbound
Coming down 513 from the south (or east), about 5 minutes after you pass through Califon you will see Voorhees High School on the left. Directly across from the school entrance is the main park entrance. KEEP GOING!! 1 mile further down the road is the entrance you want, there is a small brown "NJAA Observatory" sign on the right, the entrance is just after that on the right.

A PDF of this map for printing