Dudley Observations

Volume 8, No4 - June 2009

Think Spring!

Tonight, twelve new Rising Star Interns will receive their new telescopes!  They will also receive a membership in the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers, and a one-year Family Membership to the Schenectady Museum and Suits-Bueche Planetarium.

We are happy to announce that Owen Gingerich, senior astronomer emeritus at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Research Professor of Astronomy and of the History of Science at Harvard University, will be one of the speakers during our fall Skywatch lecture series.  Keep an eye on our calendar for events that might interest you and your family.

Clear Skies,
Janie Schwab
Executive Director

 

Annual Membership 

Become a Member!

It's International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA 2009).  Galileo first used a telescope to look at the stars 400 years ago, and the astronauts first walked on the moon 40 years ago! We cordially invite you to join us in the celebration by becoming a member, or renewing your membership to Dudley Observatory with a tax-deductible donation. Please take a moment to review our new set of levels and benefits for members:
 
$20.09 IYA 2009 Members of Dudley Observatory will receive:
  *Dudley Observations, our electronic newsletter containing the
             calendar of events, news of all of our programs, and
             articles on recent activities
  *Invitations to participate in special events, such as exhibit
             openings and Friends' Nights at local observatories
             and planetariums
  *10% off all items in our gift shop, including telescopes
  *Exclusive Dudley Observatory Membership Card
  *Acknowledgement of support in annual publication
 
$50 Nova Members will receive the above, plus 3D glasses and a 3D photo of Mars
 
$100 Supernova Members will receive the above, plus the use of a loaner telescope and a lesson on its use
 
$150 Pulsar Members will receive the above, plus the popular Dudley Observatory tee shirt ($140 tax deductible)
 
$250 Quasar Members will receive the above, plus a personal tour of the Dudley Observatory facilities, including telescope observing ($240 tax deductible)
 
$500 Galaxy Members will receive the above, plus Skywatch Lecture Series Honorary Committee Membership for two, including two tickets to each Skywatch Lecture and two invitations to each reception following the Skywatch Lectures ($450 tax deductible)
 
$1000 "Sky's the Limit" Members will receive the above, plus dinner for two with the Skywatch lecturer of your choice. ($900 tax deductible)

This link will take you to our website, where you can enter the amount you wish to donate.
 
Your tax-deductible contribution to the Dudley Observatory will ensure that astronomy education, history, and research programs will continue to play an important role in linking our area's technological past to its emerging Tech Valley future.  Please join us on this journey!
 
Memberships postmarked by July 20, the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, will also receive a set of four Dudley Observatory postcards!

Exhibit Twofer

Henry Hudson Planetarium Groundbreaking 50th Anniversary

San Luis Observatory 100th Anniversary

Through June
Albany Heritage Visitors Center

This exhibit commemorates two important events in the history of the Dudley Observatory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fifty years ago, the major event for the 350th anniversary of Hudson's trip was the groundbreaking by Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands for the Henry Hudson Planetarium, which was to be part of the Dudley Observatory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One hundred years ago, astronomers from the Dudley Observatory embarked on the historic trip to Argentina to open a southern observatory.

Dudley Observatory's astronomers achieved world class status in the field of astrometry by their accurate determination of the positions and motions of more than 30,000 stars. They produced two major reference works widely used by astronomers around the world, the Preliminary General Catalog of 6788 Stars (1909), and the General Catalog of 33,343 Stars (1937).

This research was supported by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. From 1905 until 1937 the Observatory served as the Department of Meridian Astrometry of the Carnegie Institution. In that capacity, it operated the San Luis, Argentina, Observatory from 1909 to 1913, where precise observations of star positions were made with the Dudley Observatory's Olcott Meridian Circle.

The results of these observations, published as the San Luis Catalog of 15,333 Stars for the Epoch 1910 (1928). When these are combined with the subsequent Albany Catalog of 20,811 Stars for the Epoch 1910 (1931) they form the sole example in the history of astronomy of the precise position and proper motion determination of all stars visible to the unaided eye with a single high precision telescope.

Observing & Outrach

"Where in the World" Contest

 

Do you remember the popular show "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego"?  Dudley will start a new version of that entitled "Where in the Capital Region are the Dudley Rising Star Interns?"  Send us a photo, and you'll be entered into a drawing for a prize. Photos become the property of the Dudley Observatory.

This month you can find them at the following locations:

June 9th 8:00 -10:00 pm
  Award Ceremony at Pine Bush Discovery Center, Albany, NY

June 23rd 7:00 - 9:00 pm
  Dudley Observatory, 107 Nott Terrace, Schenectady, NY

June 28th 7:00 - 9:00 pm 

Freedom Park, during The Puppet People Show, Scotia, NY

 

June 30th 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Dudley Observatory, 107 Nott Terrace, Schenectady, NY

Professional Development Workshop

Starry, Starry Night: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Formation of the Universe

Greater Capital Region Teacher Center

8/13/2009 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
10/1/2009 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Children's Museum of Science and Technology (CMOST), Rensselaer Technology Park

"I believe our future depends on how well we know this Cosmos in which we float like a mote of dust in the morning sky"...Carl Sagan.

Since elements were formed from exploding stars, one can say there is a little stardust in all of us. Learn about your beginnings! Dr. Heidi Newberg, Professor of Astrophysics at RPI will provide background and present the most current research on the formation of the universe through the use of lectures, discussion, and even song! Staff and Board Members of the Dudley Observatory will then show participants how to navigate the universe through hands-on use of star maps and telescopes.

All participants will be provided with a Planisphere and activities age appropriate for the elementary, IL and HS classroom. Though the emphasis is science, the activities support interdisciplinary teaching by integrating math, social studies, and language arts standards and skills. The Dudley Observatory encourages interdisciplinary teams of teachers from schools to participate.

This mini-course will meet for 3 hours during the summer with a follow-up meeting of 1.5 hours in the fall. In between, participants will be asked to apply the learning in the classroom and "attend" the Online Forum that will be set up on the Dudley Observatory website. Participants will be able to ask questions, share ideas, receive online support from the Dudley Observatory Forum and earn up to 3 course credit hours in addition to the 5 face-to- face contact hours. Maximum number of participants is 20. Sign up early to ensure a spot. NOTE: No fee is charged for this program; however, participants must register in advance. Attendees not pre-registered will not receive Certificate of Completion.

 

Clear Skies,

Janie Schwab
Dudley Observatory