Chamberlin Observatory
| Chamberlin Observatory | |
|---|---|
 Chamberlin Observatory, circa 1900 |
|
| founding | 1890 |
| IAU code | 708 |
| Type | Observatory |
| place | Northfield |
| management | University of Denver |
| Website | The University of Denver's historic Chamberlin Observatory |
The Chamberlin Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by the University of Denver . It is located in Denver , Colorado ( USA ), in the Observatory Park. It is named after Humphrey B. Chamberlin, a Denver real estate tycoon who donated a total of $ 50,000 to build and equip the facility in 1888.
The observatory building was designed by Robert S. Roeschlaub . The astronomical aspects and functions were designed by Professor Herbert Alonzo Howe after visiting many observatories in the east. It was modeled after the Goodsell Observatory at Carleton College in Northfield , Minnesota , and was built from red sandstone blocks. The Romanesque structure includes a central rotunda and a domed roof. Construction began in 1890.
The 20-inch objective lens for the observatory's main telescope was made by Alvan Clark & Sons , and the mount was made by George Nicholas Saegmüller . The mount rests on a cast iron column, which in turn is supported by a massive stone pillar. The assembly of the telescope was supervised by Professor Herbert Alonzo Howe. The telescope saw the first light in 1894.
In 2018, the Denver Astronomical Society hosted several public events at the observatory each month. Because the observatory is located in a large metropolitan area, it is severely affected by light pollution , which limits its use in scientific research.
In the late 19th century, large refractors were popular despite their small openings compared to reflectors . One factor that helped them were several failed reflector projects while the 26-inch Naval Observatory found the Martian moons in 1877 . In just ten years there was a shift to large reflectors like the 60-inch Hale from 1908.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Denver's Great Telescope. In: https://portfolio.du.edu . Retrieved May 15, 2020 .