Dudley Observatory facts for kids

The first building of the observatory (c.1880)

The Dudley Observatory is a famous place for studying astronomy (space and stars). It was first built in Albany, New York. Now, it is located in Loudonville, New York.

Even though it doesn't do scientific observations anymore, it is the oldest non-university place for astronomy research in America. The observatory officially started on February 11, 1852. The New York State government approved its creation.

The observatory is named after Charles E. Dudley. He was a United States Senator from 1828 to 1833. He lived in New York State and passed away in 1841. His wife, Blandina Bleeker Dudley, gave money to start the Dudley Observatory after he died.

The Dudley Observatory is part of a group of schools and institutions called Union University. This group also includes places like Albany College of Pharmacy and Union College.

A Moving History: Where Dudley Observatory Has Been

The Dudley Observatory has been in many different places since it began.

First Home: Goat Hill

Construction on the first building started in 1852. It was on a hill in Albany known as "Goat Hill." The building was officially opened on August 28, 1856. A famous speaker named Edward Everett gave a speech at the event.

By the 1890s, many trains were passing by the observatory. The ground would shake from the trains. These vibrations made it hard to use the sensitive astronomy tools. So, the original building was sold to the city of Albany. New land was bought at the Albany Alms-House.

Research for the Space Race

After World War II, the Dudley Observatory changed its focus. It moved from just looking at stars to doing research for the space race. This was a time when the United States and the Soviet Union competed to explore space.

Because of this change, the second observatory building was sold in 1963. The observatory then bought an office building in Albany. This new phase lasted until the space race ended. When funding from NASA (the space agency) became less available, the observatory rented its office to the University at Albany in 1976. After that, the observatory moved to a building in Schenectady.

Focus on Education Today

More recently, the Dudley Observatory has changed again. It is now more focused on teaching and education. It is no longer mainly a research center.

In 2015, it moved to the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady. In 2018, there were plans to build a new observatory at the museum. This would have been the first time Dudley was a working observatory in nearly 40 years.

In 2019, the Dudley Observatory moved to Siena College in Loudonville, New York. At the same time, its old documents and records were given to the New York State Archives. This ensures they will be kept safe and organized. Some of its scientific tools, like a special telescope, were given to the New York State Museum. The Dudley Observatory still has a collection of very old and rare books. These include first editions by famous scientists like Galileo and Copernicus.

All the Homes of Dudley Observatory

Here is a list of all the places the Dudley Observatory has been:

• Goat Hill, Schenectady (1856-1893)
• Property of Albany Alms House (1894-1963)
• 100 Fuller Road, Albany (1963-1976)
• Schaffer Heights, Schenectady (1976-2015)
• Museum of Innovation and Science, Schenectady (2015-2019)
• Roger Bacon Hall, Siena College, Loudonville (2019-Present)

See also

In Spanish: Observatorio Dudley para niños

• Henry Fitz
• List of astronomical observatories