DIRECTIONS TO EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCES
LECTURE ROOM 001
From the North
Caution: Campus street names were all changed in late 2003. These directions refer to the new (old) names.
From State Route 25A take Nicolls Road south just past the LIRR underpass (100 yards) and turn right into the North Entrance. You are immediately on a short, steep incline which intersects the Circle (Loop) Road at the top. Turn right and proceed for almost a mile around the back of the Campus, passing athletic fields on the left, parking lots and the LIRR on the right (there's a pedestrian crossing there with a stop sign), then the power plant and cooling towers on the left and finally past some dormitories on the right. At the next (second) stop sign turn left onto Campus (SAC) Drive (divided) and then immediately left onto John S. Toll (Center) Drive. Shortly a right will take you into a big parking lot. ESS is the concrete building through the woods at the far left corner. Proceed to ESS as described below.
From the South
From the LIE take exit 62 (Nicolls Road, not Old Nicolls Road) north. Go over NYS 25 and through 347 (Nesconset Highway). After 347 take the left at the second stop light (south entrance to the west campus). Follow that a block or so and take the second right (Marburger [Forest] Drive). Follow Marburger (Forest) Drive for a half mile. When you get to a traffic circle (this is new, Fall 2006) take it 3/4 of the way around. Go through three stop signs (stopping, of course, and careful at the pedestrian cross walks) and take the right at the fourth stop sign, Campus (SAC) Drive. Immediately turn left off that (divided) road. You are on John S. Toll (Center) Drive and the first right takes you into a big parking lot. ESS is the concrete building through the woods at the far left corner.
The Lecture Room
Park as close as you can. As you walk toward the building you'll see that the sidewalk takes you through a breezeway under the building. In the middle of the breezeway to the right (south) is a door, enter there. Right away there are glass doors into the lecture room, room 001. That's where the lectures are held.
The Telescopes
From the hall in front of the lecture room you get to the telescopes as follows: Across from the lecture hall is an open staircase that will take you up to the main floor. At the top turn right and go past the main entrance and over the breezeway. Right after that you will see a door and stairwell on the right. That is the set of stairs you want. Particularly, do not use to the stairs at end of the main hall. The stairwell there only goes to the roof of the third floor, where you will not be able to gain access to the telescopes.
Take that center stairwell right to the top. On exit to the roof you will see the dome ahead of you. The entrance is on the far side.
Unless you have a physical condition that requires it (or there are no more than three or four people involved) we do not recommend taking the elevator to the 4th floor (where you must still walk up the last flight of stairs to the roof). The elevator has had a history of refusing to go to the 4th floor when heavily loaded. (They say its "all fixed now". If you believe it).
Map
If it would help at all, here is a Campus Map (click on an area to see higher resolution) with the new street names.
updated: 30-August-2006