Talk:Yerkes Observatory

Make up your minds: is it 100 or 102 cm?

Oh, dear ...

Tried to clear this up. Use of convert function gives slightly rounded numbers. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ozzie42 (talk • contribs) 22:26, 10 October 2020 (UTC)

Claim that Frederick Law Olmsted designed the grounds of Yerkes Observatory is misleading

Closer to the truth, I believe, that the grounds were designed by the architectural firm, Olmsted Brothers, comprised of John Charles Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. in 1906, three years after the death of the senior Olmsted. See:

• PROPOSAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE YERKES OBSERVATORY SITE IN WILLIAMS BAY, WISCONSIN prepared by Aurora University. The proposal cites John Olmsted as the landscape architect. See Historic Yerkes Landscape page 5.
• Treemendous,Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine See The Trees at Yerkes Observatory, at the bottom of the page.

I'll update the article myself when I have time; other editors are welcome to confirm these references and update as well. Gosgood 15:16, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

102 cm (40 inch) refractor at the Yerkes Observatory

The 102 cm (40 inch) refractor at the Yerkes Observatory is a landmark telescope and there is practically nothing about it in this article. This is a major oversite and i hope someone gets around to writing an article on it re: it's history, construction, place in the world as the worlds largest refractor...etc. 64.0.112.58 (talk) 16:03, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

Largest refracting telescope ever used?

The article claims it is 'the largest refracting telescope ever used'. I hate to be a stickler, but what about the Swedish 1 meter solar telescope finished in 2002? --Chetvorno^TALK 18:06, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Refracting telescopes are made of large pieces of glass whose edges are rounded in order to make small visible areas larger at a certain point (like a magnifying glass). While I have not read the whole article about the Swedish telescope, I find it highly unusual that they would make a refracting telescope which was dedicated to looking at the sun (it does not take up a small area comparatively). Even the eight inch refracting telescope that I used had to be covered so that only a 2 inch diameter or less of the area of the glass be available to accept the light from the sun. It is a large magnifying glass; have you ever used a magnifying glass to start a piece of paper on fire with the light from the sun focused onto it? Please reread that article and tell me if you think that this is a huge magnifying glass that they use to look at the sun with or not.

Dangerous text striken from this summary. The telescope cap for viewing the sun via a refracting telescope with had (iirc) 6 layers of mylar covering it. -- carol (talk) 23:34, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

That cap with the ~2 inch diameter opening in it (the F-stop) was to make that telescope safe for viewing the moon with. Without that cap on, I could feel my eye being damaged from the intensity of that light -- light which is the moon reflecting sunlight, if I might add to this treatise which could be titled The Swedes do not have a one meter refracting telescope which is dedicated to looking at the sun with! -- carol (talk) 23:37, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

The Yerkes telescope is a 40 inch magnifying glass and since the time that these giant refracting scopes were made they started to use curved mirrored surfaces which need less length (which is possibly the real reason that this is the largest refracting telescope ever made). So, the eight inch refracting telescope I used was 12 feet long, but the 8 inch reflective telescope was approximately 2 foot long. This is the main reason that really large refracting telescopes are so old. And I don't think that it is an issue of refracting telescopes providing an inferior view compared to reflecting telescopes; I think it is an issue of efficiency and the best surface for the application intended and evolution of the science. A few decades later and they are making telescopes that look more like beehives than this tradtional model.... -- carol (talk) 21:06, 30 June 2008 (UTC) and edited by carol (talk) 23:34, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

1 meter = 39.37 inches, slightly less than the 40 inches in the large refractor at Yerkes, but it seems very close. H Padleckas (talk) 04:27, 24 October 2015 (UTC)

"Chain Reaction" image

Someone who does not have a Wikipedia account has removed the image from "Chain Reaction" on the grounds that "Free images of this observatory exist, undermining any need for using a copyrighted image. It is being used to decorate/illustrate what an observatory looks like. The Licensing tag does not cover this usage." It is not being used to illustrate what an observatory looks like. Observatory roofs are not typically venues for gunfights. It does show Yerkes from an unusual point of view, but the reason I added it was to illustrate the item about its use in "Chain Reaction." It is a trivial but amusing incident in the history of Yerkes observatory. It's worth mentioning, and, having been mentioned, is worth illustrating. I don't believe anyone has ever staged a movie chase scene at Mt. Palomar or Lick.

This is not one of these split-second "popular culture" sightings, either. The portions of the film in and around Yerkes must be something like six or seven minutes' worth, maybe not quite as integral to the film as the scenes of Mt. Rushmore in North by Northwest, but important nevertheless. The first appearance of one the film's main characters, the Maggie McDermott, occurs when the hero and heroine find her at the eyepiece of the big refractor.

I've added the following fair use rationale to the image page, but am repeating it here.

The fair use rationale for this image according to the four factors is:

1) The purpose and character have been fundamentally transformed. In the movie, this image is a dramatic incident in the lives of the characters, who are engaging in a life-threatening gunfight. In the article, the image documents an amusing but non-dramatic moment in the history of Yerkes Observatory, namely the use of this dignified temple of science as a movie set.

2) The image is copied from a published work and is therefore on stronger ground regarding fair use then had it been copied from a nonpublished work.

3) The amount and substantiality of the portion taken is one frame from a two-hour movie, thus representing approximately 1/170,000 or 0.0006% of the work. Furthermore, the cinematic meaning of the frame relies on action and sound, both absent from the silent, still frame.

4) The effect of the use upon the potential market is negligible. It is not credible that anyone would decide not to buy the DVD of Chain Reaction as a result of the publication of this image in Wikipedia. Dpbsmith (talk) 01:43, 11 September 2008 (UTC)

You seem to want to re-write the copyright laws, you may want to re-think that. It does not matter how little impact your use of someone else work has -- it still belongs to them so you have to pass Wikipedia's requirements for usage.

There are several problems with your submission:

-Illustrating a "trivial but interesting moment in Yerkes' observatory's history" is by definition trivia. Just because it was used for a "significant chunk of a popular movie" does not mean this would be relevant or significant to Yerkes Observatory. There is no supporting reference as to why this would be significant, other than the fact that you noticed it (see also WP:OR).

-It fails WP:NONFREE Item 8 - Significance criteria. It does not "significantly increase readers' understanding" of Yerkes' observatory.

-It fails WP:NONFREE Item 10 - Image description page criteria. It does not have a "copyright tag that indicates which Wikipedia policy provision is claimed to permit the use". The tag used to support it is for "critical commentary and discussion of the cinema and television", its use is nether critical commentary or discussion of the cinema and television.

I will leave it to other editors to delete it. 75.196.92.3 (talk) 17:47, 11 September 2008 (UTC)(comment left at users talk page and refer to text there)

Focal length

there is no mention of thee focal length of the primary lens. He telescope is mentioned in the page of worlds longest telescopes. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.94.232.102 (talk) 15:10, 3 November 2014 (UTC)

Focal length

there is no mention of thee focal length of the primary lens. He telescope is mentioned in the page of list_of_the_longest_optical_telescopes .

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.94.232.102 (talk) 15:16, 3 November 2014 (UTC)

New Proposal to Save Yerkes Observatory Made Today

Contact: Chuck Ebeling 262-581-6229 ceebeling@hotmail.com

Press Points – Saving Yerkes Observatory – May 2, 2018

1. A new foundation, the Yerkes Future Foundation (YFF), today sent an “Expression of Interest” letter to David Chiaro, associate VP of the University of Chicago, indicating that concerned citizens of the Geneva Lake areas have come together as a cohesive organization with the desire to work with the university regarding the transfer of ownership of Yerkes Observatory, including its contents and associated land. The university had previously announced it plans to close Yerkes on Oct. 1, 2018 and is open to proposals regarding its future.

2. The chair of YFF is Dianna Colman, a local Geneva Lake area resident, who heads a group of founding members.

3. It was on this day 125 years ago that the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 opened, and one of the displays was the revolutionary new 40-inch telescope – then and now the world’s largest operating through-the-lens telescope – which would be installed at the new Yerkes Observatory near the shores of Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, in 1897.

4. The goals of YFF are to preserve the historic features of both the observatory building and the site and at the same time make the facility open to the public, available for youth development and continuing education as a science center.

5. A public meeting is planned by YFF to introduce and discuss its Expression of Interest, to be held Monday, May 14, at George Williams College of Aurora University, at Williams Bay, Wisconsin, at 7 pm in the Seabury Room in Beasley Campus Center.

6. This proposal is being made by YFF “with a genuine concern for all aspects of the Yerkes entity but also with a deep respect for the Village of Williams Bay, its citizenry, the greater Geneva Lake community and the future, science, astronomy and architectural students who will benefit from the open and enhanced environment of Yerkes Observatory.”

7. The YFF believes an endowment of at least 10 to 15 million dollars will be needed to preserve and operate the observatory, depending on deferred capital expenses necessary to have the building and grounds meet minimum standards.

8. The YFF encourages the University of Chicago to give their proposal prompt and thoughtful consideration and looks forward to entering a dialog with the university leading to a good result.

Orphaned references in Yerkes Observatory

I check pages listed in Category:Pages with incorrect ref formatting to try to fix reference errors. One of the things I do is look for content for orphaned references in wikilinked articles. I have found content for some of Yerkes Observatory's orphans, the problem is that I found more than one version. I can't determine which (if any) is correct for this article, so I am asking for a sentient editor to look it over and copy the correct ref content into this article.

Reference named "MPC-object":

• From 1093 Freda: "1093 Freda (1925 LA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
• From 1108 Demeter: "1108 Demeter (1929 KA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
• From 1503 Kuopio: "1503 Kuopio (1938 XD)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
• From 1541 Estonia: "1541 Estonia (1939 CK)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
• From 1330 Spiridonia: "1330 Spiridonia (1925 DB)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
• From 1277 Dolores: "1277 Dolores (1933 HA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
• From 1239 Queteleta: "1239 Queteleta (1932 CB)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
• From 1046 Edwin: "1046 Edwin (1924 UA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
• From 1045 Michela: "1045 Michela (1924 TR)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
• From 1058 Grubba: "1058 Grubba (1925 MA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
• From 3789 Zhongguo: "3789 Zhongguo (1928 UF)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
• From 1079 Mimosa: "1079 Mimosa (1927 AD)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
• From 1136 Mercedes: "1136 Mercedes (1929 UA)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
• From 1024 Hale: "1024 Hale (A923 YO13)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
• From 993 Moultona: "993 Moultona (1923 NJ)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
• From W. Albert Hiltner: "4924 Hiltner (1981 EQ40)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
• From 1252 Celestia: "1252 Celestia (1933 DG)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
• From 1061 Paeonia: "1061 Paeonia (1925 TB)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
• From 1009 Sirene: "1009 Sirene (1923 PE)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
• From 1270 Datura: "1270 Datura (1930 YE)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 31 July 2018.

Reference named "springer":

• From 1726 Hoffmeister: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1726) Hoffmeister". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1726) Hoffmeister. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 137. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1727. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1270 Datura: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1270) Datura". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1270) Datura. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 105. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1271. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1033 Simona: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1033) Simona". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1033) Simona. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 89. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1034. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1079 Mimosa: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1079) Mimosa". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1079) Mimosa. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 92. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1080. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1058 Grubba: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1058) Grubba". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1058) Grubba. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 91. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1059. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1832 Mrkos: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1832) Mrkos". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1832) Mrkos. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 147. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1833. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1503 Kuopio: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1503) Kuopio". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1503) Kuopio. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 120. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1504. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 789 Lena: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(789) Lena". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (789) Lena. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 74. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_790. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1541 Estonia: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1541) Estonia". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1541) Estonia. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 122. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1542. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1213 Algeria: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1213) Algeria". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1213) Algeria. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 101. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1214. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 2253 Espinette: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2253) Espinette". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2253) Espinette. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 183. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2254. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 4090 Říšehvězd: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(4090) Říšehvězd". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (4090) Říšehvězd. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 349. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_4067. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1252 Celestia: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1252) Celestia". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1252) Celestia. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 104. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1253. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From Walter Scott Houston: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(3031) Houston". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (3031) Houston. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 249. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_3032. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1798 Watts: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1798) Watts". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1798) Watts. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 144. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1799. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1045 Michela: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1045) Michela". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1045) Michela. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 89. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1046. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1776 Kuiper: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1776) Kuiper". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1776) Kuiper. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 142. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1777. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1046 Edwin: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1046) Edwin". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 89. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1047. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1312 Vassar: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1312) Vassar". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1312) Vassar. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 107. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1313. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1277 Dolores: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1277) Dolores". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1277) Dolores. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 105. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1278. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1009 Sirene: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1009) Sirene". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1009) Sirene. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 87. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1010. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From Cornelis Johannes van Houten: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1673) van Houten". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1673) van Houten. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 133. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1674. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1027 Aesculapia: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1027) Aesculapia". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1027) Aesculapia. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 88. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1028. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 993 Moultona: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(993) Moultona". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (993) Moultona. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 86. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_994. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1108 Demeter: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1108) Demeter". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1108) Demeter. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 94. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1109. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1136 Mercedes: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1136) Mercedes". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1136) Mercedes. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 96. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1137. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 2009 Voloshina: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2009) Voloshina". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2009) Voloshina. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 163. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2010. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1781 Van Biesbroeck: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1781) van Biesbroeck". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1781) Van Biesbroeck. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 142. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1782. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1239 Queteleta: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1239) Queteleta". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1239) Queteleta. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 103. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1240. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1330 Spiridonia: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1330) Spiridonia". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1330) Spiridonia. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 108. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1331. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 2227 Otto Struve: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2227) Otto Struve". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2227) Otto Struve. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 181. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2228. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1093 Freda: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1093) Freda". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1093) Freda. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 93. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1094. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1846 Bengt: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1846) Bengt". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1846) Bengt. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 148. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1847. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1167 Dubiago: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1167) Dubiago". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1167) Dubiago. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 98. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1168. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1061 Paeonia: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1061) Paeonia". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1061) Paeonia. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 91. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1062. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1024 Hale: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1024) Hale". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1024) Hale. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 88. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1025. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1804 Chebotarev: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1804) Chebotarev". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1804) Chebotarev. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 144–145. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1805. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 6349 Acapulco: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(6349) Acapulco". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (6349) Acapulco. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 526. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_5810. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
• From 1626 Sadeya: Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1626) Sadeya". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1626) Sadeya. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 129. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1627. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.

I apologize if any of the above are effectively identical; I am just a simple computer program, so I can't determine whether minor differences are significant or not. AnomieBOT⚡ 18:10, 30 October 2019 (UTC)

No mention of Pluto?

The main page has a fact today that the first known photograph of Pluto was taken at Yerkes Observatory in 1909. I'm wondering why it isn't mentioned in the article, as it seems like a very interesting part of its history. Cheesycow5 (talk) 22:31, 20 August 2021 (UTC)

Photo is presumably of the son, not the father?

The description of the photo of two men at a lens is titled "Alvan Clark polishes the big Yerkes objective lens in 1896". This implies it is the father, Alvan Clark, and the hyperlink points to him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvan_Clark. But his page says he died in 1887 - 9 years before the stated photo date. I think it will be the son and, indeed, his page has that same picture and description (minus the link): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvan_Graham_Clark.

I think the picture Description should change from Alvan Clark to Alvan Graham Clark (or similar) and the link be pointed to that son's page.

I'll double check dates and change it in a few days if no one shouts otherwise.

Gordon Panther (not logged in on this computer and not got signon to hand). 92.14.11.71 (talk) 00:36, 2 April 2023 (UTC)