Our objective is to work with a recently created organization called the "Alliance of Historical Observatories" which was established to "preserve and promote the importance of early observatories with hopes that these valuable institutions will be able to sustain the recognition they so richly deserve.". Among the observatories participating are the Yerkes Observatory, Mt. Wilson Observatory, Lowell Observatory, Lick Observatory, Griffith Observatory, Palomar Observatory, and the Vatican Observatory in Arizona.
Knightridge Observatory - photo taken by John Adler in 2018 - Indiana University built the Knightridge Space Observatory in the late 1930s
as an alternative to the older Kirkwood Observatory on campus.- this observatory was demolished in 2020
as an alternative to the older Kirkwood Observatory on campus.- this observatory was demolished in 2020
Before the dawning of the space age, observatories across the US worked diligently to gather all the information required to make space exploration possible in the first place. As technology advanced, a number of these valuable observatories fell behind in funding, and as a result, some of the country’s most important scientific institutions have been all but forgotten. In an effort to remedy that, a new organization called the Alliance of Historical Observatories is working to preserve and promote the importance of early observatories, with hopes that these valuable institutions will be able to sustain the recognition they so richly deserve.
Written by Tanja M. Laden - in an article in Hightimes, September 11, 2019
Opportunity to Help
The NWA Space in northwest Arkansas is trying to restore and erect the 24-inch Brashear refractor completed in 1913 and formerly installed at the Sproul Observatory on the campus of Swarthmore College, in a new science center in Lowell, Arkansas. You can help by supporting NWA Space with a contribution or, better yet, a membership for just $60 per individual per year ($30 for students and seniors). Higher membership levels are available. Check out their website and watch a fascinating artist's rendering video of the proposed facility. It's one of the best I've ever seen and I think you'll enjoy it too! Then, click the Join+Support tab on the menu bar and make a difference! Thanks for your help!
Historical Observatory Links
Click on any link below to go to go to their website.
