"If all of mankind could look through that telescope, it would change the world!" - Griffith J. Griffith
Capital Region residents will have the opportunity to see the sky in an entirely different way as the Dudley Observatory at miSci, holds its grand opening on Friday, July 27th, 2018! Inspire the future generation of stargazers by being one of the first to experience this modern roll-top observatory at miSci. Measuring 16 by 20 feet, the roof of the building rolls off onto a trellis, exposing the entire building to the sky. It will house a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrainian telescope, mounted on a metal pier in the center. The state-of-the-art telescope is computerized, operated via a hand controller and laptop, and suitable for both solar and night sky observation.
Witness the ribbon cutting at 10 AM on Friday, July 27th, 2018 and join the other scheduled activities. Rain or Shine:
6 to 9 PM - Hands-on Astronomy Activities
6 to 9 PM - Sky Observing
6 to 8 PM - Solar Observing with C14
10 to 11 PM - Venus, Jupiter, Mars (at opposition), Dark Sky Objects
The observatory will be open to the public and access will be included with miSci admission. Moving forward, the Dudley Observatory at miSci will host regular observation hours, introduce evening hours for Night Sky Adventures and star parties, and present other events surrounding significant astronomical events, such as Asteroid Day, Observe the Moon Night, eclipses, planetary transits, and more.
miSci is located at 15 Nott Terrace Heights in Schenectady. miSci general admission is: Children (3-12) $7.50; Seniors (65+) $9; Adults $10.50. Planetarium tickets are $5. The Dudley Observatory will open publicly on July 27, 2018, and access to telescope viewing will be included in miSci general admission. Click HERE to buy your tickets.
About Dudley Observatory
Founded in 1856, the Dudley Observatory is the nation’s oldest non-academic intuition of astronomical research. It has endured by adapting to the needs of the times and by always serving the community – both the scientific community and the greater Capital Region community. The legacy of Dudley’s observations is preserved in the original equipment, now housed in miSci collections. The Dudley archives and library, containing records of its astronomical work and many rare volumes, are now available to researchers. In 2015, due to the increasing need for greater science education along with the other STEM fields, Dudley entered into a partnership with miSci ( the Museum of Innovation and Science) to provide astronomy programs and education. www.dudleyobservatory.org
About miSci
At miSci, all exhibits, programs, and events are designed with its mission in mind: to inspire people to celebrate and explore science and technology, past, present and future. miSci is home to an extensive Archive and Collection, a Challenger Learning Center, the Dudley Observatory, the Suits-Bueche Planetarium, and various special exhibits and programs each year. miSci’s vast Archives house more than 1.6 million prints and negatives from the GE Photograph collection; an archival collection with more than 3,500 cubic feet of historic materials; and more than 15,000 objects relating to the history of science and technology. Featuring dynamic exhibits, state-of-the-art space learning centers, standards-based education for K-12 classes and students, and special programming for teens, miSci offers patrons hands-on exploration while fostering an understanding and appreciation of STEM subjects and careers. www.miSci.org
