The Great Refractor Telescope

September 25, 2018, 12:58 PM

This is an image of the Great 40-inch Refractor telescope located in the Yerkes Observatory, Williams Bay, Wisconsin. I took this photo while standing on the elevator floor during my visit there last week. The Yerkes Observatory will close its doors on 1 October 2018. The future is uncertain for the observatory, its archives and its telescopes. The Great Refractor went into service in 1897 and remains to this day, the largest refracting telescope in the world.

*********
US Army, Retired
NRA Golden Eagle Life Member

‘‘Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? ... If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?’’

— Patrick Henry

September 25, 2018, 01:38 PM

ffips

Why is it closing?

September 25, 2018, 02:16 PM

reconair

quote:
Originally posted by ffips:
Why is it closing?

The University of Chicago having had ownership of the observatory since inception, claims that the telescope no longer meets their level of astronomy/astrophysics research and that the level of light pollution pretty much makes the telescope obsolete. They claim that their Astronomy and Astrophysics Department could better use the funds for advanced research at international observatories with larger, more capable instruments. According to the staff of the observatory, it costs the UChicago ~500K per year to maintain the observatory and preserve the instruments located there. The UChicago is looking for a person or group to take over the observatory to preserve its unique history and outreach programs. Not only that, but the observatory sits on 78 acres of prime lakeside real estate that developers would love to put condos on.

September 26, 2018, 11:31 AM

bendable

seems like someone , some where could get some good use out of it.

September 26, 2018, 11:38 AM

Newf

Hopefully a plan will develop that saves such a wonderful piece of history.

September 26, 2018, 05:19 PM

ffips

quote:
Originally posted by reconair:
quote:
Originally posted by ffips:
Why is it closing?

..snip...
According to the staff of the observatory, it costs the UChicago ~500K per year to maintain the observatory and preserve the instruments located there. The UChicago is looking for a person or group to take over the observatory to preserve its unique history and outreach programs. Not only that, but the observatory sits on 78 acres of prime lakeside real estate that developers would love to put condos on.

Well given that I recently found out my 401k isn't fully funded yet ( Fidelity says...) and my toral lot size is just over 5 acres in GA, I won't be of much help keeping it out of the salvage/garbage yard.

September 26, 2018, 06:15 PM

reconair

quote:
Originally posted by ffips:
quote:
Originally posted by reconair:
quote:
Originally posted by ffips:
Why is it closing?

..snip...
According to the staff of the observatory, it costs the UChicago ~500K per year to maintain the observatory and preserve the instruments located there. The UChicago is looking for a person or group to take over the observatory to preserve its unique history and outreach programs. Not only that, but the observatory sits on 78 acres of prime lakeside real estate that developers would love to put condos on.

Well given that I recently found out my 401k isn't fully funded yet ( Fidelity says...) and my toral lot size is just over 5 acres in GA, I won't be of much help keeping it out of the salvage/garbage yard.

Every dollar helps - Man up!