Kopernik Observatory & Science Center facts for kids

The Kopernik Observatory & Science Center (KOSC) is a special place in Vestal, New York, where you can learn about astronomy and science. It opened to the public on June 16, 1974. The Kopernik Society of Broome County created it to celebrate the 500th birthday of the famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus in 1973.

KOSC's main goal is to help people of all ages explore science. They do this through fun, hands-on activities and programs. You can use advanced telescopes, computers, and other cool tools there. It was the first science lab in New York State made for students from kindergarten to 12th grade, their teachers, and families. For almost 50 years, it has been one of the best public observatories in the Northeast United States.

Exploring the History of Kopernik

How the Observatory Began

In 1973, the Kopernik Polish Cultural Society of Broome County decided to build a community observatory. This was to honor the 500th anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus's birth. The Society wanted everyone in the area to be able to see the universe up close.

Many people in the community helped by donating materials, services, and money. Construction started in the fall of 1973. Edward Nezelek, who was in charge of the project, finished the observatory in the spring of 1974. The building was designed by James Kilcy. It was about 2,500-square-foot (230 m²) and had two domes for telescopes.

After it opened on June 16, 1974, the Kopernik Society gave the observatory to the people of the Southern Tier region. The Roberson Museum and Science Center then managed it. It was called the Roberson-Kopernik Observatory and helped with Roberson's science education programs.

Growing Bigger: The Science Education Center

With lots of help from the Kopernik Society, the Decker Foundation, and other groups, the observatory grew much larger in 1992. A $2 million expansion created the Kopernik Space Education Center. The idea was to make it the first science lab in New York State for K-12 students, teachers, and families.

This expansion added a third room for a large telescope, four classrooms, a space science theater, and labs for laser physics and computer imaging. Construction began in the fall of 1992. Kenneth R. Gay II was the architect. The new 8,000-square-foot (740 m²) addition opened in June 1993.

On June 5, 1999, the Kopernik Society and Roberson Museum celebrated the center's 25th anniversary. The event showed off Kopernik's facilities and programs. Scientists, NASA officials, and students from Kopernik's special programs attended. It highlighted how the center had grown from a local observatory to a nationally important science education center.

Becoming Independent

Around 2005, the Kopernik Space Education Center faced financial challenges. The Roberson Museum, which was managing it, considered reducing its support.

After many discussions, the Kopernik Society took back ownership and control of the center in March 2007. The center's name changed to the Kopernik Observatory and Science Education Center. It needed to raise money each year from grants, fundraisers, and donations to keep running.

Later, the name changed again to Kopernik Observatory & Science Center. In 2014, it celebrated its 40th anniversary with a big event. Former NASA Astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock was a special guest speaker.

Leaders of the Observatory

• Richard DeLuca, (1973–1975)
• Richard Aguglia, (1975–1981)
• Vacant (1981)
• E. Jay Sarton, (1982–1996)
• Carol Stowell (1996–1999)
• Kristen Gordon (2006–2011)
• Andrew "Drew" Deskur, (2011 (interim), 2012–present)

Programs and Fun Activities

Kopernik Observatory & Science Center offers many ways to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It's a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers. This means if you're a member, you might get free entry to other science centers far from your home.

Public Events for Everyone

The Observatory hosts public events every Friday evening. The start times change with the seasons because of sunset times.

• March–May: 8:00 pm
• June–July: 8:30 pm
• August–November: 8:00 pm
• December–February: 7:00 pm

Friday evening topics include looking at stars with telescopes, learning about radio astronomy, and exploring technology.

There are also several special events throughout the year.

Winter Star Party

The annual Winter Star Party has been held since 2006, usually on the last Saturday in January. It starts at 6 pm, no matter the weather. You can listen to speakers talk about astronomy. Or, if it's clear, you can brave the cold and see winter constellations, the Moon, Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, and more through the large telescopes.

RocketFest

RocketFest has been a yearly event every June since 2008. You can join workshops to build your own model rocket. Help is available to put the rocket together, prepare the engine, and launch it! You need to reserve a spot in advance. There are different types of rockets for younger kids and beginners, and more advanced rockets for those with more experience.

AstroFest

Kopernik AstroFest is a celebration of the night sky and amateur astronomy. It happens every October and has been going on since 1982. This 3-day event is put on by the Observatory and the Kopernik Astronomical Society. AstroFest includes talks on many topics, demonstrations, and discussions for amateur astronomers. If the sky is clear, you can observe stars every night. You can even camp overnight on the grounds for a small fee.

Moonlight Café

On certain Saturday evenings in the spring and fall, the main building turns into a Moonlight Café. This is an evening for adults where they can enjoy coffee, tea, and desserts. They also get a fascinating introduction to the stars and outer space.

School Programs and Camps

The Observatory provides many opportunities for students of all ages to learn about STEM. Classes run during the school year, on weekends, and school holidays. They also bring programs directly to schools. These programs match New York State and Pennsylvania education standards, helping students with what they learn in class.

Link Summer STEM Exploration Camps

Since 1992, Kopernik Observatory & Science Center has offered week-long camps for students in grades 1–12. The Link Foundation has sponsored these camps since 1994, in memory of local inventor Edwin Albert Link. These camps offer hands-on, high-tech adventures in science, technology, engineering, and math. Students can stay at Binghamton University or just come for the day.

Starting after the July 4th weekend, the Observatory offers these summer camps. The camps are designed so that students can come back each year and learn something new.

Cool Tools and Equipment

Kopernik Observatory is known for being one of the best-equipped public observatories in the Northeast United States. It has many different types of equipment to help with its mission.

Powerful Telescopes

The observatory has three main optical telescopes:

• The E. Jay Sarton Telescope is in the eastern dome. It's a 6 in (150 mm) refractor telescope made by Astro-Physics. It's named after a former Observatory Director, E. Jay Sarton.
• The Broome County Telescope is in the western dome. This is a 14 in (360 mm) Schmidt–Cassegrain reflector made by Celestron. It was given to the Observatory in 1987 as a gift from the people of the Southern Tier.
• The KAS Telescope is in the southern dome. It's a 20 in (510 mm) Ritchey–Chrétien reflector. This telescope was donated by the Kopernik Astronomical Society. It is one of the largest telescopes available for public use in New York State.
• The Robert "Barlow Bob" Godfrey Heliostat is in the main building's physics lab. It uses two mirrors to reflect sunlight into a 4 in (100 mm) refractor telescope. This projects a 7 in (180 mm) wide image of the sun onto a classroom wall. The mirrors move to follow the sun. This telescope was dedicated in 2014 to Robert A. "Barlow Bob" Godfrey.

There are also other telescopes available, including several Orion Newtonians, a Meade Newtonian, and twelve Astroscan telescopes.

Amateur Radio Station

The Kopernik Observatory & Science Center has its own amateur radio station with the call sign K2ZRO. You can often visit the station during public programs on Friday evenings. The call sign K2ZRO belonged to Kazimierz Deskur, one of the people who helped start the Kopernik Society and build the Observatory. He was very interested in amateur radio satellites and even heard some of the first signals from Sputnik.

Where is Kopernik Located?

The Observatory is located on top of a 1,740 ft (530.35 m) hill in Vestal, New York. This is about 13 mi (20.92 km) southwest of Binghamton, New York. It's part of the Allegheny Plateau. The area around it was shaped by glaciers long ago, making the hills smoother.

The climate here has cold, snowy winters and warm, wet summers. It's known for having many rainy and cloudy days each year.

Groups That Work With Kopernik

Kopernik Astronomical Society

The Observatory is also home to the Kopernik Astronomical Society (KAS). This is a group of people who love observing the stars. Their goal is to help others in the Binghamton, NY area who are interested in astronomy and space. They support the Kopernik Observatory by volunteering, hosting public events, and sharing their knowledge. They also go on trips to dark sky parks and attend star parties.

The Society meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 pm. After the meeting, if the sky is clear, they often go observing.

Binghamton Amateur Radio Association

The Binghamton Amateur Radio Association, Inc. (BARA) was founded in 1919. This group has a long history of technical achievements and community service related to amateur radio. Their general meetings are open to everyone and are held on the third Wednesday of every month at 7 pm at the Kopernik Observatory.

See also

• List of astronomical societies
• List of science centers in the United States
• List of astronomical observatories
• List of amateur radio organizations