Dozens and Dozens of Stars (Abstract)

Volume 21 number 2 (1992)

John Pazmino

New York, NY

Abstract

(Abstract only) The practice of astronomy in New york City is heavily modulated by various structural and social features. Those peculiar to the City's central borough of Manhattan are elaborated on and contrasted with the situation of the suburban or rural astronomer. These features derive form the raw fact that Manhattan is smaller in area than Nantucket Island but a population the size of all of Metropolitan Boston's lives on it. In consequence the notion that "amateur astronomy" equates to "backyard stargazing" never applied to the City astronomer.