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• July, 2008: On July 4^th, the APO participated in the Kiwanis of Tupper Lake's "Celebrate Youth Day" by setting up telescopes for solar observing, and a scale model of the solar system. More photos from the event can be found on this page.



Solar observing at Celebrate Youth Day, Tupper Lake Click each image for a larger view

• January, 2008: Happy New Year! On December 27^th, 2007, Jan Wojcik gave a presentation entitled "A Star of Bethlehem in Year Zero?" at the Wild Center. Following the talk, the Everest Telescope was formally dedicated. The Everest "Old Town Pump" Telescope was built in the 1920's by famed amateur telescope maker A.W. (Wally) Everest, and was dedicated by his son, Wallie Everest II, who talked about the history of the telescope, and how it came to Tupper Lake.



The Everest "Old Town Pump" Telescope is dedictated by Wallie Everest
Wally Everest examining his 21½" mirror, late 1930's. This is 1 of 6 mirrors cast along with the final 200" Mt. Palomar mirror. Most were used as test pieces by Corning Glass. No others are known to be in existence. The mirror was ground to f/4.5 and is at the final polishing stage. It is planned for educational display at the facilities of the APO Click each image for a larger view

• November, 2007: With the approval of the Town of Tupper Lake, the APO has purchased the plot of land adjacent to our existing site. This brings the total area for the observatory grounds to about 4 acres. A topographic map of the observatory site appears at right (click image for a larger view).

• November, 2007: Tupper Lake hosted the 2^nd Annual NorthWoods Challenge, a community-wide 5K run/walk, on October 14, 2007. About $4000 was raised from this community event, and donated to the Observatory. The APO Board thanks all those who participated and contributed to our organization.

• August, 2007: Tupper Lake will host the 2^nd Annual NorthWoods Challenge, a community-wide 5K run/walk (1K for kids), on October 14, 2007. Last year, the NorthWoods Challenge had 130 participants who raised approximately $8,000, which was donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This year the APO has been chosen to benefit from the event, making the NorthWoods Challenge a community event which gives back to the community.

• March 26, 2007: Board member Aileen O'Donoghue has written an article for the March/April 2007 edition of Adirondack Explorer about the importance of protecting the dark skies of the Adirondack Mountains and the APO's mission to keep them dark.

• March, 2007: Receive a 25% Tax Credit for Your Donation to the Adirondack Public Observatory Building Fund!

  As of January 31, 2007 the Adirondack Public Observatory Building Fund is an approved community development project of the Franklin County Empire Zone. This means that the Adirondack Public Observatory (APO) can offer a tax credit on New York State personal or corporate income taxes worth 25% of your donation (monetary contributions only) to the observatory building fund if made on or after January 31, 2007. For example, if you contribute $1,000 to the fund, you could receive a tax credit worth $250 on your New York State taxes. Please note that each taxpayer has a lifetime limit of $100,000 in total Zone Capital Credits for community development projects.

  In addition to the Zone Capital Credits, your donation may also be eligible for federal and State charitable deductions. Please consider whether the availability of these Zone Capital Credits will allow you to make a larger contribution to the observatory building fund and contact Tim Moeller at (518) 359-8471 to verify that your donation is eligible. If so, all you need to do is fill out Form Z7 and return it along with your contribution.

• January, 2007: Board member Carol Levy spent a chilly day at Mt. Palomar Observatory

Carol Levy visits Mt. Palomar
Click image for a larger view

• November 25, 2006: Board members Aileen O'Donoghue and Jeffrey Miller proudly displayed their APO colors during a four-night observing run at the Arecibo Radio Telescope in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

Astronomers Jeffrey Miller & Aileen O'Donghue visit Arecibo
Click image for a larger view

• November 10, 2006: APO Board members Jan Wojcik and Jeffrey Miller gave a series of public talks at the Wild Center. A rave review appeared in the Tupper Lake Free Press.

Jan & Jeff are introduced Click image for a larger view

Jeff wow's the crowd with his sparkling personality! Click image for a larger view

• August 26, 2006: APO President Marc Staves was quoted in an article entitled "Look to the Stars" in the PressRepublican.com. Marc extolled the virtues of binocular observing under dark skies.

• August 24, 2006: The APO held a fund raising raffle. The first prize, a birch framed Adirondack print entitled "Shooting Star" by Gary Casagrain, was won by a local youth.

APO President Marc Staves with the First Prize winner
Click image for a larger view

• July 8, 2006: APO Board members Jan Wojcik, Aileen O'Donoghue and Jeffrey Miller set up two telescopes and an information booth at the "2006 Potsdam Summer Festival". Participants were afforded views of sunspots in visible light and and solar flares and prominences in the red light of hydrogen (Hα).

Jan Wojcik shows solar flares to a young observer Click image for a larger view

Jeffrey Miller shows off sunspots Click image for a larger view

• July 4, 2006: The APO was invited to participate in the grand opening of The WILD Center, The Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks located in Tupper Lake. Telescopes were set up to view the sun, and astronomy questions were answered.

Tim Moeller & Marc Staves show off the Sun Click image for a larger view	Tim Moeller describes his telescope Click image for a larger view
More photos from the WILD Center opening!

• June 19, 2006: The APO is holding a fund raising raffle. Details can be found on this page.

• January 31, 2006: The Associated Press interview with APO board members Marc Staves and Jan Wojcik entitled "Adirondacks a skygazer's paradise" has appeared on many news websites, including CNN and CBS News (you can Google more copies of this interview).

• November 8, 2005: Listen to the interview (5 minutes – mp3 audio) of APO board members Aileen O'Donoghue and Jan Wojcik on North Country Public Radio. More of Aileen's astronomical musings can be heard on NCPR's Astronomy News page.

• November 5, 2005: An Associated Press interview with APO board members Marc Staves and Jan Wojcik appeared in a Newsday Magazine article entitled "Adirondacks seen as dark skygazer paradise".

• July 23, 2005: The APO set up an information table at the "Celebrate Tupper Lake Street Fair". Fund-raising raffle tickets were sold, and visitors were able to view the Sun. Piercefield, NY resident E. Dingman won a one year subscription to Astronomy Magazine.

(L-R) Gib Brown, Steve Durham, Carol Levy
Click image for a larger view

• June 2, 2005 (as reported in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise by Geoff Hayward): The Tupper Lake Town Board passed a resolution Thursday which will allow the Adirondack Public Observatory to purchase 1.5 acres of land at the intersection of North Little Wolf and Big Wolf roads.

  The 1.5-acre plot sits on top of a 5.8-acre parcel, according to Marc Staves, president of the observatory, and will cost the not-for-profit organization $15,000.

  "We have been waiting for this for quite some time," Staves said.

  Other properties that were under consideration for purchase include a site near the soon-to-be-completed Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks and a parcel in the industrial park, near Pitchfork Pond, according to Staves. Among other things, the organization had to look into the availability of high-speed Internet access at each site and how much infrastructure, such as electricity and sewer, would have to be constructed.

  Recently, observatory representatives have been giving presentations around the North Country, including one to the Astronomical Society of New York. A separate presentation, on the topic of good lighting versus bad lighting, was recently held for the Adirondack Research Consortium.

  "And, as always, we are always looking for donations, from $10 to $10,000," Staves said. He could not give a tentative opening date for the observatory, as that depends largely on fund-raising. He said the organization has raised $30,000 of the estimated $500,000 it will need in total. Included in that $30,000 is $10,000 given by a donor who wished to remain anonymous, according to Staves.

• April 15 , 2005: The stars were out Friday night when a group of Tupper Lake Girl Scouts went star gazing with members of the Adirondack Public Observatory. Marc Staves, Gordie Duval and Steve Durham afforded local Girl Scouts of all ages the opportunity to view Saturn and Jupiter along with many different stars and constellations. They provided all of the telescopes including the one pictured in the background with the girls, a home made 10" Dobsonian Telescope that Steve Durham handcrafted, along with many interesting facts about astronomy.

Click image for a larger view

• March 29, 2005: Saranac Lake resident John Singel generously donated an 8" Celestron telescope to the Adirondack Public Observatory. The Organization will loan the telescope to the newly formed Tupper Lake High School astronomy club for use as a first scope in their fledgling program. This summer plans for the instrument include public programs at Little Wolf beach in Tupper with others in Long Lake and Raquette Lake.

(L-R) Mr. John Singel, Tupper Lake High students Matt Sanford
& Samantha Pickering, APO President Marc Staves
Click image for a larger view

• March 23, 2005: The new APO website goes live!

• June 8th, 2004: The APO holds a public session to observe the transit of Venus across the Sun. Over 50 people were able to view the transit and will forever be able to say..."I saw it".

(L-R) Marge Durham, Carol Levy, Tim Moeller
Click image for a larger view

• July 24th, 2004: The Observatory holds a public star party at Little Wolf Beach. Al Nagler of TELEVUE Optics (a premier maker of eyepieces and telescopes) spends the evening with us and helps entertain the crowds. Power Point presentations were given on the beach.

(L-R) M. Staves, J. Wocjik, S. Durham,
A. Nagler, Al (LL), G. Duval, T. Moeller & sons
Click image for a larger view

• June 28th, 2004: The Adirondack Public Observatory holds a press conference at the Natural History Museum project center announcing the start of its fund raising campaign.

• May 6th, 2004: The Adirondack Public Observatory officials also meet with Architectural & Design Associates, P.C. to discuss design renderings.

• May 6th, 2004: Town of Altamont officials pass a resolution to enter a long term lease with the Adirondack public observatory Inc. for a 1 acre parcel located at Little Wolf Campground.

• April 28th, 2004: Internal Revenue Service grants the corporation Not For Profit Status.

• December 2003: 501(c)(3) paper work is submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

• November 2003: The Adirondack Public Observatory is Incorporated in the State of N.Y.