Shattuck Observatory

Shattuck Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States.

Shattuck Observatory
Shattuck Observatory in 2017
OrganizationDartmouth College
Observatory code 307 Edit this on Wikidata
LocationHanover, New Hampshire
Coordinates43°42′18″N 72°17′07″W
Established1854 (1854)
Websitewww.dartmouth.edu/~physics/news/observing.html
Telescopes
unnamed telescope9.5-inch refractor
Shattuck Observatory is located in the United States
Shattuck Observatory
Location of Shattuck Observatory
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The observatory's most notable director was Edwin Brant Frost, who went on to be the director of the Yerkes Observatory. Today, it is primarily used for instructional purposes, but is open for public observation of the stars on Friday evenings. For scientific work Dartmouth has shares in the MDM Observatory on Kitt Peak, Arizona, and the Southern African Large Telescope in South Africa.[1]

Building

The observatory was built in 1854 for Ira Young, Professor of Natural Philosophy, to designs drawn up by his brother Ammi B. Young, and Boston architect G.J.F. Bryant, Young was then the supervising architect of the United States Treasury Department.[2] It is a small building with three wings and a two-story dome (20 foot diameter). Its foundations are granite blocks; the building itself is brick. It is notable as the oldest scientific building on campus. Its construction and equipment costs were covered by a gift of $7,000 by Dr. George C. Shattuck, Dartmouth class of 1803, who stipulated that the Trustees match the gift with an additional $4,000.[3] In 1955 the building was renovated and its original dome replaced, but otherwise the building remains substantially unaltered since its first construction.[4]

Telescopes
Shattuck Observatory around 1950, with original dome. The college's weather station can be seen to the left of the building.

See also

References
  1. "Public Observing". Dartmouth College Department of Physics and Astronomy. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  2. "Dartmouth College, Shattuck Observatory, Hanover, Grafton County, NH". Historic American Buildings Survey, Engineering Record, Landscapes Survey. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  3. "Guide to the Dartmouth College Shattuck Observatory Meteorological Records 1827-present (1853-1966) in the Dartmouth College Library". Dartmouth College Library. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  4. "Shattuck Observatory". Dartmouth College. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  5. LOTKO, LAUREN (March 6, 2006). "Stargazer's Delight". Vox. Dartmouth College. Retrieved 2012-01-11.


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