Kopernik Space Center
Image: Wikimedia Commons
In Vestal, New York, Kopernik Space Center has introduced generations of visitors to astronomy since it opened on the 500th anniversary of Copernicus's birth.
About Kopernik Space Center
The Kopernik Observatory & Science Center is a public observatory and science education facility in Vestal, New York, opened by the Kopernik Society of Broome County on June 16, 1974, to mark 500 years since the birth of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.
History
Founded in 1974, Kopernik was the first science laboratory facility in New York State built specifically for K-12 teachers, students, and their families, and has remained one of the best-equipped public observatories in the northeastern United States for decades.
Telescopes & research
The center's mission centres on hands-on outreach: it runs educational programs using advanced optical telescopes and computers to teach astronomy and science to visitors of all ages.
Location & getting there
Kopernik Space Center sits at around 1,740 feet elevation in Vestal, New York, in the Southern Tier of the state.
Visiting Kopernik Space Center
As a public observatory built for outreach, Kopernik welcomes visitors and school groups; check its official website for current program schedules and opening hours before you go.
See your named star from here
Kopernik's telescopes are built to help people of all ages find their way around the night sky, a perfect match for tracking down a star you've named yourself. Name a star with Star Register and browse the catalogue to see the coordinates you'll receive.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
