EST. 1869 © 2026 Mohonk Mountain House
New Paltz, New york
returning in summer 2026
Explore outer space at our historic resort in the Hudson Valley as we view the summer constellations and the night sky with the expertise of SUNY New Paltz astronomy professor and planetarium director Raj Pandya.
Your stay at Mohonk Mountain House includes access to countless activities and experiences for guest of all ages, including our indoor pool, tennis courts, show gardens, and an award-winning spa. Discover all that Mohonk has to offer during your mountaintop getaway.
Themed Mohonk Signature Events, featuring live music and engaging performances, changing daily
Join SUNY New Paltz astronomy professor and planetarium director Raj Pandya for a tour of the summer constellations and the night sky. The dark skies undisturbed by light pollution at Mohonk make it one of the most ideal stargazing locations in the Hudson Valley.
*Please note: A lecture will be hosted in the event of inclement weather. Towels will be supplied for viewing. Proper footwear is required.
If the stars don’t align for clear skies, we’ll head indoors for an insightful astronomy presentation where Raj Pandya brings the sky and stars to life!
Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered what sunspots are, why solar flares happen, or how the aurora borealis comes to life—and where you need to be to see them? SUNY New Paltz Astronomy Professor and Planetarium Director Raj Pandya will guide you through the fascinating world of solar activity, explaining how these incredible phenomena work, how often they occur, and how you can track them yourself.
Recently, astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope announced a potentially seminal discovery; the presence of dimethylsulfide in the atmosphere of the exoplanet K2-18b. This molecule is produced on Earth by marine algae, begging the question; could some form of primitive life exist on K2-18b? This would be the first ever indirect evidence for life beyond Earth! However, scientists must remain cautiously optimistic, as further study is needed. In this talk, SUNY New Paltz Astronomy professor and Planetarium Director Raj Pandya will breakdown extrasolar planets; how we find them, study them, and ultimately how they may answer the age-old question of life in the cosmos.
Raj Pandya earned his BS in Applied Physics from RPI in 2006 and MS in Astronomy from SDSU in 2008. His thesis was on extrasolar planets under extremely strong gravitational fields and is titled “On the Non-Axisymmetric Nature of Hot Jupiter Exoplanets.” Raj has taught introductory astronomy and physics as an adjunct in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, CA, Westchester County, NY, Staten Island, and the Bronx. He became the Director of the John R. Kirk Planetarium and a full-time lecturer in the department of Physics and Astronomy at SUNY New Paltz in fall 2011. He now teaches introductory and upper-level courses in astronomy and physics I labs. As Planetarium Director, he develops, organizes, promotes, and presents live planetarium shows for the campus community and the regional public. He is also the faculty advisor of the student astronomy club at New Paltz, the “Cosmic Club”. Raj is originally from Westchester, New York, and currently lives in New Paltz.
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