Cincinnati Observatory
| Cincinnati Observatory | |
|---|---|
 Original building |
|
| founding | 1842 |
| IAU code | 765 |
| Type | Observatory |
| Coordinates | 39 ° 8 '20.4 " N , 84 ° 25' 22.8" W |
| place | Cincinnati |
| management | University of Cincinnati |
| Website | Cincinnati Observatory Center |
The Cincinnati Observatory is located in Cincinnati , Ohio (USA) on Mount Lookout . It consists of two observatory buildings that house refractors with openings of 11 " (28 cm) and 16" (41 cm). It is the oldest professional observatory in the United States . It was an important facility for astronomical research and teaching at the University of Cincinnati and currently serves as a 19th century observatory. There are regular visits to historical telescopes as well as guided tours and additional programs. The observatory also has an extensive contact program that provides astronomical training for the Ohio / Kentucky / Indiana region. The observatory is part of the Cincinnati Historic District.
history
The Cincinnati Observatory was built by Ormsby M. Mitchel on the summit of Mount Ida, a hill overlooking downtown Cincinnati. Nicholas Longworth donated 1.6 hectares of land for this purpose. The monastery and the chapel of the Holy Cross stand at this point today. The cornerstone was laid on November 9, 1843, and the chairman was former President John Quincy Adams with a recommendation from Judge Jacob Burnet . It would be his last public speech at 77, and Mount Ida was renamed Mount Adams in his honor.
The Merz refractor was the largest telescope in the USA in the early 1840s.
In 1871 the observatory was attached to the University of Cincinnati and in 1873 it was moved from Mt. Adams to Mt. Lookout to escape the smoke and filth of the city on which the observatory still stands today. The land on which it stands was donated to the city in 1872 by John Kilgour. The Mitchell Building houses the original telescope from the Mount Adams Observatory. The 1873 building was built by the company of Cincinnati architect Samuel Hannaford. In 1998 the observatory was declared a National Historic Landmark.
The asteroid (1373) Cincinnati was named in honor of the observatory.
Instruments
- The Merz and Mahler 11 inch refractor from 1845 - housed in the "Mitchell Building". Possibly the oldest continuously used telescope in the world. It is currently used for public education programs.
- The 16-inch refractor from Alvan Clark & Sons from 1904 - housed in the "Herget Building". Used in public education programs and university research.
Web links
- Cincinnati Observatory Center (English)
- The Cincinnati Observatory Center in 3D
- Cincinnati Observatory Center Clear Sky Clock (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Cincinnati Observatory | Uptown Cincinnati | Visual Arts & Culture, Architecture & Landmarks, History & Culture. In: cincinnatiusa.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020 (English).
- ↑ from "Smith's Illustrated Astronomy," 1848