Announcements
Site last updated:
May 21, 2012
Due to the possibility of inclement weather, feel free to call 201-777-2416 to check if the Observatory is open for viewing.
SPECIAL EVENT: Transit of Venus This will not occur again until 2117 so come and celebrate with us at the Observatory!
The Summer 2012 Public Viewing Nights schedule is now available! It's free so please join us for an evening and learn about our summer sky.
Have you heard the hype about the "end of the world" and wondered what the truth is? FAQ's about December 21, 2012 can be found by clicking here.
To request information for everything related to education, events,and membership, please click here and complete the form.
Welcome to the William D. McDowell Observatory
Latitude: 40° 47’ 8.178”N Longitude: 74° 6’ 19.118”W Elevation: 25ft
William D. McDowell was the first Executive Director of the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission (HMDC), the predecessor to the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, the state agency that built the Observatory and adjacent classrooms and oversees the Meadowlands Environment Center. In 1969, the New Jersey Legislature created the HMDC “to protect the delicate balance of nature while providing for orderly development.” Mr. McDowell, a resident of North Arlington, passed away in 2007 at the age of 80.
