Artifacts of the Dudley Observatory

A description of the Dudley Observatory published in 1866 describes the appearance of the room just inside the Observatory's entrance as follows:

"Directly opposite to the front entrance is a niche cut in the base of the Equatorial pier, in which is placed a bust in marble, executed by Palmer, of the Hon. Charles H. Dudley. On the right of the entrance is a marble dial of the magnetic mean-time clock, the pendulum of which occupies the left of the entrance. Near the middle of the east and west sides of the hall are portraits in oil and marble slabs commemorative of the former director, Prof. O.M. Mitchel, and the assistant astronomer, Mr. August Sonntag. On the North are marble slabs on which are inscribed the names of the original Observatory donors." (Annals of the Dudley Observatory, vol. I, p. 5.).

The bust of Dudley, as well as the oil portraits, are still in the Dudley Observatory offices.

Several artifacts described in that 1866 account, an astronomical clock and the marble slabs engraved with the names of the original donors, are in storage at the New York State Museum, along with other artifacts from the Observatory's early history.

Artifacts currently on display at the Dudley Observatory Library include a Warner and Swasey chronograph, purchased in 1893 as part of the equipment of the second Dudley Observatory inaugurated that year; a clock built by Charles Fasoldt, an Albany clockmaker and acquired by the Dudley Observatory in the late 19th century; and a "comet catcher" telescope built by Alvan Clark of Boston and acquired by the Dudley Observatory in 1856.

Artifacts in storage at the State Museum in Albany include the Pruyn Equatorial and Olcott Meridian Circle telescopes.

Several examples of dust and micrometeroite collectors from the time that the Dudley Observatory was engaged in space research are in the artifact collection.

Telescopes:

Olcott Meridian Circle

Transit Telescope

Fitz Equatorial Telescope

Pruyn Equatorial Telescope

Alvan Clark "Comet Catcher" telescope

Frank L. Fullam Radio Telescope

Equipment:

Fasoldt Clock

Scheutz Difference Engine

Chronograph

Reifler clocks

Micrometeorite Collection Apparatus

 

Artwork:

Bust of Charles E. Dudley

Bas relief medallion of Blandina Dudley

Portrait of Ormsby McKnight Mitchel

Portrait of August Sonntag

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Dudley Observatory
107 Nott Terrace, Suite 201
Schenectady, NY 12308
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