Celestron and Caroline Moore Give Local Students the Stars

World’s #1 telescope maker teams up with “Real Life SkyProdigy” teen to open Hudson Valley observatory.

Warwick, NY (December 8, 2012) – The edge of the universe is trillions of light years away, but for students in New York’s Hudson Valley it’s no further than their local school. Thanks to the efforts of local teen Caroline Moore and a donation from Celestron, the world’s #1 telescope maker, Warwick now has a state-of-the-art astronomical observatory so local students can discover the wonders of the universe. Housed inside the observatory is a powerful EdgeHD 1400 optical tube, Celestron’s largest and highest-quality optical instrument.

In 2008, Caroline Moore became the youngest person to discover a supernova. Celestron partnered with Moore in 2009, proclaiming her a “Real Life SkyProdigy” and collaborating with her on several events, including the White House’s premiere star party. Now a freshman at George Washington University, Moore wanted to realize her longtime personal ambition: building an observatory in her hometown to motivate young people to develop an interest in astronomy.

With Celestron’s help, her dream was realized: the $75,000 facility opened October 26, 2012, on the campus of Sanfordville Elementary School. Moore and her father, Bob, assembled a team of dedicated volunteers and constructed the observatory from the ground up, including high-tech astronomical equipment such as a retractable dome and the Celestron EdgeHD 1400 optical tube.

“This observatory is a place where kids and adults of all ages can gather for a first-hand astronomical learning experience that many never would have experienced otherwise,” Caroline said.  “Without Celestron’s generous donation, this project would not have been possible and the young rising stars in our community may have missed out in discovering a passion.” 

“Caroline is a truly inspiring young woman, through both her contributions to astronomy and her desire to give back to her hometown,” said Joe Lupica, CEO of Celestron. “Celestron is happy to continue supporting her efforts and excited to hear about her future discoveries.” 

“Celestron understands the importance of connecting today’s youth with our expansive universe, and they’re always supportive of educational outreach,” added Caroline’s father Bob Moore. “With this observatory, we have the opportunity to reach tens of thousands of young people. Celestron, as a major sponsor, has helped make this observatory a reality and we appreciate their continued support.”

About Celestron
Celestron is a leading designer, manufacturer, and importer of high-quality optical products including computerized and non-computerized telescopes and related accessories, binoculars, spotting scopes, and microscopes. Since manufacturing its first telescope in 1960, Celestron has grown to become the world's #1 telescope maker, and enjoys brand-name recognition among serious amateur astronomers for superior optics, outstanding design, and innovative technology. Celestron’s extraordinary products continue to receive numerous industry and consumer media accolades, adding to an already impressive list that includes awards for product innovation from Reader's Digest, Popular Science, PC Magazine, Popular Mechanics, the Consumer Electronics Association, and more. Celestron is a privately-held company with corporate offices and manufacturing facilities in Torrance, California.