Yerkes Observatory
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The Yerkes Observatory is an astronomy observatory of the University of Chicago, in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. It was created in 1897 by George Ellery Hale and financed by Charles T. Yerkes. The observatory represented a shift in the thinking of observatories, from mere housing for a telescope and observer, to the modern concept of observation equipment integrated with laboratory space for physics and chemistry. A 102 cm (40 inch) refracting telescope is located inside; it was the largest telescope until the construction of Mount Wilson's reflector. It remains the largest refracting telescope ever used.
In addition to the Yerkes refractor, the observatory also has a 102 cm (40 inch) and a 61 cm (24 inch) reflecting telescope. Several smaller telescopes are used for educational outreach purposes.
Current research includes the interstellar medium, globular cluster formation, infrared astronomy, and near-Earth objects. Additionally, the University of Chicago maintains a sizable engineering center in the observatory, dedicated to making and maintaining scientific instruments.
The current director is Dr. Kyle M. Cudworth. In March, 2005, the University of Chicago announced plans to sell the observatory and its land. Initial reports had two purchasers interested, an east coast developer who wants to build luxury homes and Aurora University, which has a campus straddling the Williams Bay property. The Geneva Lake Conservancy, a regional conservation and land trust organization, has taken the position that it is critical to save, in place, the historic Yerkes Observatory structures and telescopes for education and research, as well as to conserve the rare undeveloped, wooded lakefront and deep forest sections of the 77 acre (312,000 m²) site.
Related topics
External links
- Yerkes Observatory (http://astro.uchicago.edu/yerkes/) - official site.
- Description and history (http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/butowsky5/astro4p.htm) from the National Park Service.de:Yerkes-Observatorium