The Kopernik Observatory & Science Center (KOSC), is a public observatory in Vestal, New York opened to the public on June 16, 1974, by the Kopernik Society of Broome County to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (Polish: Mikołaj Kopernik) in 1973. Its mission is to offer hands-on investigations and outreach programs for educating all ages about astronomy and science using advanced optical telescopes, computers and other tools. It is the first science laboratory facility in New York State designed for K-12 teachers, students and their families, and has been one of the best-sited and best equipped public observatories in the Northeast United States for nearly the last 40 years.
History
Original construction In 1973, the Kopernik Polish Cultural Society of Broome County organized to build a community observatory to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (Polish: Mikołaj Kopernik). The society's goal was for everyone in the region, regardless of ethnic background, to experience the universe firsthand at the new Kopernik Observatory. The Kopernik Society secured donations of materials, services and funds from the community and planned for construction to begin in the fall of 1973. General Contractor Edward Nezelek, Chairman of the Kopernik Observatory committee, completed the observatory in the spring of 1974. The facility, designed by James Kilcy, consisted of a 2,500-square-foot (230 m2) astronomical observatory with two telescope domes. After the Observatory was opened to the public on June 16, 1974, the Kopernik Society donated the facility to the people of the Southern Tier region, to be operated by the Roberson Museum and Science Center as the Roberson-Kopernik Observatory, part of Roberson's educational initiative and to complement the major planetarium already in operation at its Binghamton site.
Major expansion With major support from the Kopernik Society, the Decker Foundation, and many other community organizations, Roberson undertook a $2 million expansion of the Observatory to create the Kopernik Space Education Center in 1992. It would convert the Roberson-Kopernik Observatory into the first science laboratory facility in New York State designed for K-12 teachers, students and their families. The envisioned expansion would add a third equatorial room with a large telescopes, four classrooms, a space science theater, and laser physics and computer-imaging laboratories. Construction of the Center began in the fall of 1992, Kenneth R. Gay II was the Architect, and the 8,000-square-foot (740 m2) facility addition opened in June 1993. The Kopernik Society and the Roberson Museum hosted a grand 25th anniversary celebration event on June 5, 1999, at the Kopernik Space Education Center. The celebration showcased Kopernik's facilities, programs, and the partnership with the Polish community that made it all possible. The 25th anniversary guests included scientists, NASA officials, long time supporters and students from Kopernik Talent Search programs. The event highlighted the growth of the Kopernik facility from a local observatory into a science education center of national significance.
Financial troubles Fortunes changed by 2005 when the Kopernik Space Education Center operated at a $45,000 loss. The Roberson Museum and Science Center, under severe financial strain, was seriously considering cutting major funding and programs at the Observatory while continuing its summer program and Friday night astronomy sessions in 2006.
It's a separate physical entity and so it incurs a large cost there and it also has a large salary line because there are a number of people who teach through that program. The funding changes concerned the Kopernik Society of Broome County and supporters of the Observatory.
Certainally you can search on the internet and get a picture from hubble, but to look at a telescope and get hands on real hardware is a big difference than seeing things on a screen. The Kopernik Society conducted months of negotiations out of which an agreement was reached that returned ownership and operation of the Kopernik Space Education Center from the Roberson Museum back to the Kopernik Society in March 2007.
It will help in a certain capacity, it's not just finance that it's about, it's really focusing on the missions of the institutions. The name of the center changed to the Kopernik Observatory and Science Education Center and it needed to generate about $54,000 each year from federal / state grants, fund-raisers, and company / public donations. Under the transfer agreement Kopernik had to balance its operating budget through 2011, otherwise Roberson could resume control of the facility.
Independent operation The name was changed again to Kopernik Observatory & Science Center. Celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2014 with a grand gala at the Binghamton University campus. Windsor native and former NASA astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock was the keynote speaker.
Observatory directors 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 services Its mission is to offer hands-on investigations and outreach programs for educating all ages about astronomy and science using advanced optical telescopes, computers and other tools. It is the first science laboratory facility in New York State designed for K-12 teachers, students and their families and has been one of the best-sited and best equipped public observatories in the Northeast United States for nearly the last 40 years. The Observatory is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers and participates in the ASTC Passport Program. The Passport Program allows members of a participating institution to visit other participating institutions for free, provided the member is visiting an institution more than 90 miles from their home institution.
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