Dudley Observatory

All you want to know about Dudley Observatory

The observatory shown on a postcard (c. 1911)

Dudley Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Along with Albany College of Pharmacy, Albany Law School, Albany Medical College, the Graduate College of Union University, and Union College, it is one of the constituent entities of Union University.

The observatory was founded in 1852. It is the oldest independent astronomical research organization in the United States. The Dudley Observatory now offers some research awards for professional research and outreach funding to younger students. It no longer operates an astronomical observatory.

The Dudley Observatory was named for Charles E. Dudley of Albany, a former United States Senator (1828-1833), who was the son of Charles Dudley, son of Thomas and Mary (Levett) Dudley of Staffordshire, England. Charles Dudley was the last Royal Collector of the Customs at Newport, Rhode Island, which he was forced to flee as a Loyalist. His son Charles lived in New York State, died in 1841, and his widow Blandina (Bleeker) Dudley endowed the Dudley Observatory after his death.^[1]