 Chamberlin Observatory, circa 1900. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Organization | University of Denver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Location | 2930 E. Warren Ave., Denver, Colorado, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 39°40′34″N 104°57′11″W / 39.67611°N 104.95306°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Altitude | 1651 meters (5417 feet) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weather | See the Clear Sky Chart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Established | 1890 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | mysite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Telescopes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chamberlin Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by the University of Denver. It is located in Denver, Colorado, in Observatory Park, a two-block city-owned recreational area.[2] The observatory features a 20-inch refracting telescope and has held public viewings through the Denver Astronomical Society since 1894.[3] It is named for Humphrey B. Chamberlin, a Denver real estate magnate who pledged $50,000 in 1888 to build and equip the facility.
History
editPrevious
editThe observatory building was designed by Robert S. Roeschlaub, with the astronomical aspects and functions designed by Professor Herbert Alonzo Howe after he visited many observatories in the east. It was modeled after the Goodsell Observatory at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and constructed from rusticated red sandstone blocks. The Romanesque structure includes a central rotunda and domed roof. Construction began in 1890.
The 20-inch objective lens for the observatory's main refracting telescope was made by Alvan Clark & Sons, and the mount was built by George Nicholas Saegmuller. The mount rests on a cast iron pillar which is in turn supported by a massive stone pier. Assembly of the telescope was supervised by Professor Herbert Alonzo Howe. The telescope saw first light in 1894.[4][5]
As of 2018, the Denver Astronomical Society hosts several public outreach events at the observatory every month.[6] As it is located in a large metropolitan area, the observatory is heavily affected by light pollution, which limits its use in scientific research.
The observatory was built during the golden era of great refractors in the late 19th century. The discovery of the Moons of Mars in 1877 using a 26-inch refractor, and several failed reflector projects, contributed to the popularity of refractor telescopes at that time. However, this era only lasted for ten years before the shift toward big reflectors occurred.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ University Park Plus: 5th Annual League of Women Voters of Denver Tour. Denver, CO: League of Women Voters. 3 June 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 11 March 2023 – via Denver Public Library.
- ^ "Chamberlin Observatory". science.du.edu. Denver, CO: University of Denver Department of Physics & Astronomy. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ Stencel, Robert E. "Chamberlin Observatory homepage". Welcome to the Virtual Tour. Archived from the original on 2006-01-27. Retrieved December 16, 2005.
- ^ Stencel, Claire M.; Stencel, Robert E. (2006). Denver's Great Telescope. Denver: University of Denver Astronomy Program. ISBN 0-9762017-2-0. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
- ^ "Chamberlin Observatory". Denver Astronomical Society. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
External links
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Media related to Chamberlin observatory at Wikimedia Commons
- Chamberlin Observatory Clear Sky Chart Forecasts of observing conditions.
- Denver Astronomical Society Public Outreach Includes events at the observatory