December Edition of Dudley Observations

Dear Friends,

As we reach the end of another year, we pause to reflect on the outpouring of support from friends like you.  In the warm spirit of the season, we extend our gratitude and best wishes to those whose generosity makes our continued success possible.
While you and your family are planning your celebrations this month, please consider including Dudley Observatory in your holiday giving.  Your tax-deductible contribution of any amount ensures the future of our educational programs -- a true gift!  What better way to honor the season?

In the meantime, thank you for all of the ways you support Dudley all year long.  On behalf of the Board of Dudley Observatory, I wish you peace this holiday season. Clear Skies!

Best wishes,
Janie Schwab
Executive Director

 

 

 

The Dudley Observatory, chartered by the State of New York in 1852, is the oldest independent organization in the United States supporting research and education in astronomy and the history of astronomy. Our library contains one of the world's finest collections of historically significant astronomical texts, including rare books of Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler.  The Dudley Observatory Archives is a fascinating collection of historical records pertaining to both astronomy and Albany.

The Dudley Observatory was founded through the generosity of those who saw our Capital Region as an economic and intellectual center, the "Tech Valley" of its day.  In the last 150 years, the Dudley Observatory has periodically changed the focus of its work to reflect the needs of the community.

During the 20th century, Dudley Observatory astronomers achieved world class status with their accurate determination of the positions and motions of more than 30,000 stars. These observations 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.

The current focus of the Dudley Observatory is on using astronomy to promote science education, with an emphasis on education, recruitment and early career development in science and technology.  We have enjoyed a great deal of success with projects that fire the imaginations of the young, nurture them through the early stages of career development, and instill a life-long appreciation and enjoyment of science.