named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Astronomy Education Programs at miSci
Developed and delivered astronomy education programs for children and adults in partnership with miSci in Schenectady from 2015 to 2019
Rising Stars
Teacher internship program that engages educators in astronomy education and professional development; serves as a pipeline for involvement in Dudley Observatory’s Education Committee
Webb Telescope Community Host Events
Community outreach initiative in collaboration with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center to bring space science to the public through events centered on the James Webb Space Telescope
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Public Astronomy & Space Science Education 7 activities
- Conduct original astronomical and astrophysical researchConducted historical research including the compilation of star catalogues such as the General Catalogue of 33,342 Stars and the Preliminary General Catalogue; published research on globular clusters, UBV color-magnitude diagrams, and developed a fast Fourier transform spectrometer for radio astronomy.
- Conduct public STEM outreach through special eventsEngages the public in space science through events such as Tedx Talks and Webb Telescope Community Host events in collaboration with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the Science Mission Directorate.
- Deliver astronomy education and outreach programs for K-12 studentsOffers 45-minute "Ask an Astronomer" sessions for students in grades K-12, available in person or remotely via Zoom, to cultivate interest and understanding of astronomy and science.
- Deliver astronomy lectures for adults and teensOffers 1-hour astronomy lectures for adults and teenagers with no prior knowledge required, covering a range of topics and delivered in person or via streaming to libraries, science clubs, senior living communities, and other organizations.
- Host public astronomy events and star partiesHosts monthly star party events at the Octagon Barn in Delanson, NY from April through November, featuring one-hour astronomy talks followed by nighttime sky observing; events are free and open to amateur astronomers, families, and the public.
- Provide experiential astronomy education using Starlab portable planetariumProvides access to Starlab, a portable planetarium, for immersive astronomy education at schools, libraries, and public organizations, and uses it in public outreach events and exhibits.
- Study micrometeorites and upper atmospheric phenomenaStudied micro-meteorites by launching probes and balloons into the upper atmosphere and using instruments on rockets and U2 spyplanes during the space race to collect and analyze samples.
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Real-Time Environmental Monitoring and Community Engagement 1 activity
- Conduct historical meteorological observationsConducted and published hourly meteorological observations from 1862 to 1871 as part of its scientific record-keeping activities.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Deliver hands-on astronomy programs for youth groupsOffers Space Science badge programs for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts with hands-on activities, and provides customizable mobile astronomy and astrophysics programs for student groups.
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University-Specific Endowment and Program Funding 1 activity
- Fund awards and programs to advance astronomy and educationFunds awards and programs that advance astronomy and astronomical education through its endowment.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Operate summer STEM camp for middle school studentsOffers a half-day summer camp for 6th to 8th grade students focused on astronomy, science, and the arts, featuring hands-on activities such as building cameras and rovers.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Support teacher training and education initiativesParticipates in the Rising Stars teacher internship program and serves on the Education Committee to support broader astronomy education initiatives.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Curate historical astronomy collections and exhibitsCurates exhibits in the Planetarium Gallery featuring historical astronomical instruments and scientific publications, and previously organized an exhibit of rare astronomical books at the Schenectady Museum in 2000.
- Preserve and study rare astronomical books and historical materialsCurates a rare book collection including early editions by Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Gauss, and engages in long-term preservation of historical materials related to astronomy.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$67K
Contributions & grants$17K25%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$50K75%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$102K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$150
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.91M
Cash$25K
Investments$1.87M
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.91M
Liquid reserves224.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +45.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 8
- DOUGLAS KLEIN — DIRECTOR
- GREGORY NOWELL — PRESIDENT
- JOAN WAGNER — SECRETARY
- JOHN MOUSTAKAS — DIRECTOR
- JOHN SHERMAN — DIRECTOR
- LORENA HARRIS — DIRECTOR
- MARY ODEKON — VICE PRESIDE
- PAUL SCHOCH — TREASURER
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- Albany Area Amateur Astronomers (AAAA) Network — Greg Nowell represents AAAA on the Dudley Observatory Board, indicating a formal affiliation between the organizations.
- Albany Area Amateur Astronomers (AAAA) Partner — Board member Greg Nowell represents AAAA on the Dudley Observatory Board, indicating an organizational partnership.
- Alvan Clark & Co. Partner — Historical collaboration involving the construction of the Comet Seeker telescope used by Dudley Observatory.
- Carnegie Institute Government — Provided a major grant in 1901 and established Dudley as its Department of Meridian Astronomy.
- Carnegie Institution of Washington Partner — Cooperated with Dudley Observatory on the completion of the General Catalogue of 33,342 Stars for the epoch 1950.
- Lauterbach Pokorny family Partner — Sponsors the Octagon Barn star parties hosted by Dudley Observatory.
- Lauterbach Pokorny family Partner — Sponsors the Octagon Barn star parties.
- NASA Partner — Collaborated during the space race to study micrometeorites.
- NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Partner — Collaborates with Dudley Observatory-affiliated educators to host Webb Telescope Community events and promote public engagement in space science.
- NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Partner — Collaborates with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center to bring space science to the community through Webb Telescope Community Host events.
- NY Heritage Network — Hosts digital collection materials related to Dudley Observatory's micro-meteorite research.
- RPI Partner — Hosts Dr. Heidi Newberg, who speaks at Dudley Observatory star parties.
- RPI Partner — Provides faculty speaker Dr. Heidi Newberg for Dudley Observatory's public star party lecture series.
- Schenectady Museum Partner — Hosted an exhibit of rare astronomical books from the Dudley Observatory collection in April 2000.
- Science Mission Directorate Partner — Partners with Dudley Observatory-affiliated educators to host Webb Telescope Community events and expand public access to space science.
- Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS) Network — Board member Joan Wagner is active in STANYS, serving as state speakers and grant chairperson.
- Siena University Partner — Collaborates with Siena University and its team of professionals to expand educational programs.
- Siena University Partner — Hosts Dr. Mindy Townsend, who speaks at Dudley Observatory star parties.
- Siena University Partner — Hosts Dudley Observatory as a temporary home starting in 2019 to support community astronomy programming.
- Siena University Partner — Hosts Dudley Observatory astronomer Dr. Mindy Townsend for public astronomy lectures.
- Siena University Partner — Hosts Dudley Observatory's summer camps and Astro Labs programs on its campus and collaborates on program delivery.
- Skidmore College Partner — Hosts Dr. Kendrah Murphy and Dr. Evan Halstead, who speak at Dudley Observatory star parties.
- Skidmore College Partner — Provides faculty speakers for Dudley Observatory's public star party lecture series.
- UAlbany Partner — Hosts Dr. Matthew Szydagis, who speaks at Dudley Observatory star parties.
- UAlbany Partner — Provides faculty speaker Dr. Matthew Szydagis for Dudley Observatory's public star party lecture series.
- Union College Partner — Hosted the International Astronomical Union Colloquium on astrophysical parameters for globular clusters in 1981, supported by Dudley Observatory.
- Union College Partner — Hosts Dr. James McKee, who speaks at Dudley Observatory star parties.
- Union College Partner — Provides speakers from its faculty for Dudley Observatory's public star party lecture series.
- miSci Partner — Partnered from 2015 to 2019 to develop astronomy education programs and enhance STEM education in the region.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Curiosity-Driven STEM Engagementmethodology: curiosity-driven_learningBy leveraging children’s innate curiosity about the night sky, the organization nurtures long-term engagement in STEM education, because early emotional and cognitive resonance with a subject sustains motivation to learn.
- Education-First Astronomy Outreachmethodology: education_first_astronomy_outreachBy prioritizing public education and historical preservation over active astronomical observation, the organization increases science literacy and public appreciation of astronomy, because grounding science in historical context and accessible formats makes it more relatable and meaningful to non-scientists.
- Hands-on, Experiential Learning Modelmethodology: experiential_learningBy using hands-on and interactive activities such as meteorite examination and observational experiences, the organization increases public understanding and retention of astronomy and science concepts, because active engagement fosters deeper cognitive connection and sustained interest.
- Inclusive, Lifelong Learning Access Modelmethodology: inclusive_lifelong_learningBy designing programs to be accessible to all adults regardless of prior knowledge and offering flexible delivery (on-site or virtual), the organization broadens participation in science learning, because removing structural and knowledge-based barriers enables sustained engagement across diverse adult learners.
- Teacher Capacity-Building Through Internshipsmethodology: teacher_internship_programBy engaging educators in internship programs, the organization strengthens community-based astronomy education, because training teachers amplifies reach and improves the quality of science instruction through peer-led dissemination.