Rising Star Internships

 Application for Rising Star Internships (Word, pdf)

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED to APRIL 6

 Info for Rising Star Interns

Does the night sky fascinate you? Would you like to be able to gaze at planets, star clusters, and galaxies through a telescope? Would you like to be able to show these wonders to other astronomy lovers?

The Dudley Observatory is looking for student interns. We will teach you to find your way around the night sky, and to use a telescope to observe interesting celestial objects at public star parties.

Each intern who fulfills the program requirements will be awarded a telescope to keep, upon graduation, so that they will have the equipment, as well as the knowledge and experience to enjoy astronomy as a life-long quest.

Program description:

The Rising Star Internship Program is open to students in the 6th - 10th grades living in Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Washington counties. Applications for this award are due on March 1st. Here you can see a list of the winners for this and previous years.

The new interns will attend an introductory meeting at which the responsibilities of the internship will be detailed. At that meeting each intern will provided with a telescope, which the intern will retain for the duration of the internship. The intern will be instructed on use and maintenance of the telescope, and will be responsible for its proper care. The interns will then attend star parties with the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers during the summer months. During this time they will learn to locate interesting objects in the sky, to use and care for the telescope, and to introduce others to the pleasures of star gazing. Each intern will be required to keep a log book detailing his or her progress at these activities throughout the duration of the program. Once the training at the first summer's star parties is completed, the interns will conduct star parties for schools and other community groups. Each intern will be required to participate in a minimum of two Dudley sponsored astronomy events by the end of May. Each intern will also be required to demonstrate proficiency with the material in an evaluation to be conducted during the March through May interval.  Upon successful completion of the entire program, including meeting the requirements just outlined, the intern will be given the telescope to keep.

Interns should plan to participate in the Rising Star Internship Program at least two evenings a month. This is a weather dependent activity, and schedules will be flexible. Since the star watch programs are held at night, a commitment is also required of the intern's parents to assure the safe transportation of the intern to and from these meetings, and otherwise support the intern's participation in the Rising Star Internship.

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Dudley Observatory
107 Nott Terrace, Suite 201
Schenectady, NY 12308
(518) 382-7583
info@dudleyobservatory.org