Stull Observatory
Encyclopedia
Stull Observatory is an astronomical
observatory
owned and operated by Alfred University
. Named after Dr. John Stull, who helped establish the observatory in 1966, it is located in Alfred
, New York
(USA). It is notable for housing 7 independently housed telescopes ranging in size from 8 to 32 inches. The largest, the The Austin-Fellows 32 inch Newtonian Reflector is the second largest optical telescope in New York state after the 40 inch telescope at SUNY Oneonta College Observatory
. Telescopes at the observatory are regularly opened to the public. The observatory is also used for those pursueing a minor in astronomy or a concentration in astrophysics.
.
Sometime in the 1920s, with astronomy having been neglected at the University, the observatory was torn down and the telescope mothballed. It was very nearly lost and destroyed during this period, but in the late 1950s its existence was made known to John Stull, a ceramic engineering Ph.D. who was teaching physics. Over the next several years the telescope was used at several locations on campus. Finally, in 1966 Stull and the University established an observatory for the telescope.
What is now called the Stull Observatory began with the construction of two domes, one for the 9 inch Fitz telescope and the other for a 16 inch newtonian reflector. The Fitz was rebuilt in 1970, with a metal tube replacing the badly damaged wooden one. (The original tube is currently being restored by James Gort.) In 1971 the 16 inch newtonian was replace with the current 20 inch "Metzger" newtonian.
In the interim, a heated classroom building was constructed (1968) and a 16 inch Ealing "Educator" cassegrain (the "Grindle") had been purchased (1969), and ultimately modified. 1976 saw the addition of the 14 inch newtonian (the "Olson") telescope, while the "Rose" heliostat
was added in 1978.
In 1992 the 32 inch newtonian ("Austin-Fellows") telescope was completed. In 1996, due to funding from the National Science Foundation, a computerized telescope control system was installed.
Since 1992 the Observatory has purchased two, commercial 8 inch Schmidt-cassegrain telescopes as well as significant amounts of electronic support equipment.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
owned and operated by Alfred University
Alfred University
Alfred University is a small, comprehensive university in the Village of Alfred in Western New York, USA, an hour and a half south of Rochester and two hours southeast of Buffalo. Alfred has an undergraduate population of around 2,000, and approximately 300 graduate students...
. Named after Dr. John Stull, who helped establish the observatory in 1966, it is located in Alfred
Alfred (town), New York
Alfred is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 5,140 at the 2000 census.The Town of Alfred has a village named Alfred in the center of the town....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(USA). It is notable for housing 7 independently housed telescopes ranging in size from 8 to 32 inches. The largest, the The Austin-Fellows 32 inch Newtonian Reflector is the second largest optical telescope in New York state after the 40 inch telescope at SUNY Oneonta College Observatory
SUNY Oneonta College Observatory
The SUNY Oneonta College Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Oneonta, New York. The observatory is home to the largest optical telescope in New York: a 1 meter Newtonian reflector. It is also believed to be the largest telescope regularly open to the public east of the Mississippi...
. Telescopes at the observatory are regularly opened to the public. The observatory is also used for those pursueing a minor in astronomy or a concentration in astrophysics.
History
The history of the Stull Observatory goes back to 1863, when the astronomer William A. Rogers ordered and donated a 9 inch refractor with the American optician Henry FitzHenry Fitz
-Early life:Fitz was born in 1808 in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The family moved to Albany, New York, some eleven years later and to New York City later on. Fitz as a boy was already very interested in science and mechanics. He initially learned the printing trade from his father. They printed the...
.
Sometime in the 1920s, with astronomy having been neglected at the University, the observatory was torn down and the telescope mothballed. It was very nearly lost and destroyed during this period, but in the late 1950s its existence was made known to John Stull, a ceramic engineering Ph.D. who was teaching physics. Over the next several years the telescope was used at several locations on campus. Finally, in 1966 Stull and the University established an observatory for the telescope.
What is now called the Stull Observatory began with the construction of two domes, one for the 9 inch Fitz telescope and the other for a 16 inch newtonian reflector. The Fitz was rebuilt in 1970, with a metal tube replacing the badly damaged wooden one. (The original tube is currently being restored by James Gort.) In 1971 the 16 inch newtonian was replace with the current 20 inch "Metzger" newtonian.
In the interim, a heated classroom building was constructed (1968) and a 16 inch Ealing "Educator" cassegrain (the "Grindle") had been purchased (1969), and ultimately modified. 1976 saw the addition of the 14 inch newtonian (the "Olson") telescope, while the "Rose" heliostat
Heliostat
A heliostat is a device that includes a mirror, usually a plane mirror, which turns so as to keep reflecting sunlight toward a predetermined target, compensating for the sun's apparent motions in the sky. The target may be a physical object, distant from the heliostat, or a direction in space...
was added in 1978.
In 1992 the 32 inch newtonian ("Austin-Fellows") telescope was completed. In 1996, due to funding from the National Science Foundation, a computerized telescope control system was installed.
Since 1992 the Observatory has purchased two, commercial 8 inch Schmidt-cassegrain telescopes as well as significant amounts of electronic support equipment.