Dudley Observatory

Dudley Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Schenectady, New York in the USA. It is operated by the Union University of the State of New York.

The observatory was founded in 1852. The Dudley Observatory is the oldest independent astronomical research facility of the United States. It is no longer used as a professional astronomical observatory today. Today it is the education of students of Union University.

The Dudley Observatory was named after Senator Charles E. Dudley of Albany ( between 1828-1833 ). Dudley lived in New York, and died 1841. His wife Blandina ( Bleeker ) Dudley donated after his death considerable sums, which made it possible to create the Dudley Observatory.

The observatory is registered ( after 1893 ) at the International Astronomical Union under the IAU code 793 (before 1893) and 296.