Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jun 12, 2005 23:07:33 GMT -6
Telescope at U.Va. will be renovated
Donors hope the work will lead to restoration of entire observatory
Donors hope the work will lead to restoration of entire observatory
CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The Clark telescope at the tiny McCormick Observatory at the University of Virginia will be undergoing a small but crucial renovation soon -- the polishing of a historic gem that has scanned the stars for more than 100 years.
Robert and Rose Capon donated $20,000 for the renovation of the 32½-foot-long telescope in hopes it would lead to even grander things.
Leander J. McCormick, the brother of inventor Cyrus McCormick, decided in 1870 to give a telescope to a college in his home state of Virginia, though he lived in Chicago. The McCormick family had moved from Rockbridge County to the Midwest to further their harvesting-machine business.
Though he had no interest in astronomy, McCormick was probably encouraged to donate a telescope because a friend in his social circle had given one to the now-defunct Chicago University, Murphy said.
McCormick requested that the telescope lens be built 26¼ inches in diameter -- the biggest the technology of the day could create -- so it would supercede in size the 26-inch telescope made for the U.S. Naval Observatory.
The full story here: www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031783239603&path=!news&s=1045855934842
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Hee hee, Oh McCormick....1/4" just to beat out the Navel Observatory!
lol... ;D
