![]() ![]() He found surprising brightness changes in the object now known as Hubble's Variable Nebula, or NGC 2261. Edwin Hubble worked as a graduate student at Yerkes from 1914 to 1917, using the reflecting telescope at Yerkes to photograph faint nebulae for his doctoral dissertation.William van Altena built on Schlesinger’s work in the 1970s, using electronic photometers in conjunction with early photographic plates to measure shifts in star positions using the same telescope.Measuring this tiny shift, called parallax, is the most reliable way to measure a star's distance. He then measured star positions on the photos with a special microscope, looking for any change between one photo and another. In the observatory’s early years, astronomer Frank Schlesinger developed the technique of estimating star distances by taking photographs of the same stars at six-month intervals with the big refractor.Yerkes Observatory has contributed to numerous scientific discoveries throughout the 20th century. (Image credit: Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images) Science at Yerkes By 1920, the observatory had three additional telescopes whose capabilities complemented those of the big refractor, as well as an array of laboratory instruments for analyzing light and measuring photographs. The observatory opened with a two-day dedication ceremony in October 1897 and served as the home of the University of Chicago's astronomy and astrophysics department until the 1960s.įrom the beginning, Yerkes Observatory was designed to be more than a telescope in a dome it was a comprehensive laboratory for astrophysical research. The wooden floor surrounding the pier that supports the telescope is 75 feet (23 m) across and can be raised or lowered by an electric elevator so that astronomers can reach the eyepiece end of the telescope whether it is pointed high or low in the sky. The dome housing the big telescope is 90 feet (27 m) in diameter, according to a pamphlet published by the observatory in 1920. To build the telescope, the university engaged the same team that had built the Lick instrument: Alvan Clark & Sons for the lenses, and the Warner & Swasey Co. A Chicago real estate speculator offered an expanse of land on the shores of Lake Geneva that fit the bill. Hale consulted a group of distinguished astronomers to select an observatory location free of pollution from smoke and electric lights, yet within 100 miles (161 kilometers) of Chicago, to keep a strong link with the university's main campus. "I will spend a million dollars to lick the Lick." A few weeks later, Yerkes "exploded with rage" when told that the "bare necessities" for his observatory would cost $285,375 (about $8 million today), according to an article in the Boone County Journal. Meade's Polaris telescopes are perfect for the astronomer who wishes to manually observe and discover the night sky with ease."I don't care what the cost, send me the bill," Yerkes told journalists at the time. These telescopes deliver bright and clear images with the greatest detail and enables observation of the craters of the Moon, Saturn's rings, and even Jupiter's surface. The Polaris Series telescopes come in a variety of apertures including 114mm and 127mm reflectors. ![]() Furthermore, the Polaris Refractor Series telescopes are perfect for the observer who views both astronomical and terrestrial objects - meaning, you can observe objects in both the sky and on land using the included 90 degree erect-image diagonal. This bonus planetarium software will help you learn the night sky and displays more than 10,000 celestial objects including planets, stars, galaxies, and nebulae. When fully assembled, the Polaris 90mm weighs approximately 18 lbs.Įach Polaris telescope also comes with AutoStar Suite Astronomer Edition Software available as a download. The Polaris 90mm comes complete with everything you need to view the wonders of the night sky the first time out. This gives you the versatility of both narrow and wide fields of view. The telescope includes accessories such as a Red-Dot Viewfinder, 2x Barlow Lens, and three eyepieces that provide varying levels of magnification. ![]() The stable Equatorial mount includes slow-motion control cables that allow for easy and quick viewing across different directions. The Polaris 90mm Telescope has a 90mm aperture and focal length of 1000mm (f/11.1). ![]()
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