The Georgetown University Astronomical Observatory (also the Heyden Observatory and Francis J. Heyden Observatory) was founded in 1841 by Father James Curley of the Department of Physics at Georgetown College. Father Curley chose a site on the college grounds, planned the building, and supervised its construction to its completion in 1844.[1] Costs were initially paid by Rev. Thomas Meredith Jenkins, S.J., and Rev. Charles H. Stonestreet, S.J., who were Georgetown professors at the time. The observatory was used in 1846 to determine the latitude and longitude of Washington, D.C., which Curley determined to be latitude 38°54′26N and longitude 5h8m18.29s (west of Greenwich).[2]
In 1850, Benedict Sestini used the observatory to make a series of sunspot drawings, which were engraved and published (44 plates) as "Appendix A" of the Naval Observatory volume for 1847, printed in 1853. In 1888, Johann Georg Hagen was named director. He was responsible for the installation of the 12-inch equatorial telescope with which for twenty years he observed and gathered data on variable stars. This instrument is still in continuous use. In 1928, Paul McNally became director. Francis J. Heyden, S.J. became director in 1945, and continued research into solar eclipses. In 1972, Georgetown University closed its Department of Astronomy, and the observatory was used by the Georgetown University Astronomical Society. Light pollution from surrounding Washington, D.C., has limited viewing celestial bodies from the location.
On July 2, 1973, the observatory was designated as a U.S. national landmark National Register of Historic Places. The Georgetown University Astronomical Society has, with support of Department of Physics and Georgetown University, periodically sponsored renovation of the Heyden Observatory, which is now primarily used by the Laboratory of Entomology and Biodiversity directed by Edward M. Barrows.[3] The Heyden Memorial Garden is on the east and north sides of the observatory. The garden has a conservation garden with native species; formal gardens; ponds with fish, frogs, water plants, and other biota; and trees including American beech, crapemyrtle, eastern redcedar, and English oak. The conservation garden is a monarch butterfly waystation. In 1989, as part of GU's bicentennial celebration, Professor Donald M. Spoon, who had a lab in the observatory at the time, organized the dedication of the garden. Father Heyden attended the ceremony. At the time, the garden was full of hundreds of iris species and cultivars, including new ones that Professor Spoon bred. Currently, Observatory Hill likely has thousands of species of archaens, bacteria, and eurkaryans, including animals, fungi, plants, and protistans. About 20 pollinator species regularly visit flowers on the hill.
Currently the observatory is operated and maintained by the Georgetown University Astronomical Society.
^"About Us". Georgetown University Astronomical Society. 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
^Fargis, G.A. (1895). "Georgetown College Observatory, 1843-1893". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 7 (41): 89–97. Bibcode:1895PASP....7...89F. doi:10.1086/121000.
^"The Georgetown University Observatory". The Biodiversity Database of the Washington, D.C., Area. 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
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georgetown, university, astronomical, observatory, also, heyden, observatory, francis, heyden, observatory, founded, 1841, father, james, curley, department, physics, georgetown, college, father, curley, chose, site, college, grounds, planned, building, superv. The Georgetown University Astronomical Observatory also the Heyden Observatory and Francis J Heyden Observatory was founded in 1841 by Father James Curley of the Department of Physics at Georgetown College Father Curley chose a site on the college grounds planned the building and supervised its construction to its completion in 1844 1 Costs were initially paid by Rev Thomas Meredith Jenkins S J and Rev Charles H Stonestreet S J who were Georgetown professors at the time The observatory was used in 1846 to determine the latitude and longitude of Washington D C which Curley determined to be latitude 38 54 26N and longitude 5h8m18 29s west of Greenwich 2 Georgetown University Astronomical ObservatoryU S National Register of Historic PlacesD C Inventory of Historic SitesObservatory in September 2010LocationGeorgetown Washington D C Coordinates38 54 30 N 77 04 38 W 38 90833 N 77 07722 W 38 90833 77 07722Built1841 1843ArchitectJames CurleyArchitectural styleGreek RevivalNRHP reference No 73002087Significant datesAdded to NRHPJuly 2 1973Designated DCIHSNovember 8 1964In 1850 Benedict Sestini used the observatory to make a series of sunspot drawings which were engraved and published 44 plates as Appendix A of the Naval Observatory volume for 1847 printed in 1853 In 1888 Johann Georg Hagen was named director He was responsible for the installation of the 12 inch equatorial telescope with which for twenty years he observed and gathered data on variable stars This instrument is still in continuous use In 1928 Paul McNally became director Francis J Heyden S J became director in 1945 and continued research into solar eclipses In 1972 Georgetown University closed its Department of Astronomy and the observatory was used by the Georgetown University Astronomical Society Light pollution from surrounding Washington D C has limited viewing celestial bodies from the location On July 2 1973 the observatory was designated as a U S national landmark National Register of Historic Places The Georgetown University Astronomical Society has with support of Department of Physics and Georgetown University periodically sponsored renovation of the Heyden Observatory which is now primarily used by the Laboratory of Entomology and Biodiversity directed by Edward M Barrows 3 The Heyden Memorial Garden is on the east and north sides of the observatory The garden has a conservation garden with native species formal gardens ponds with fish frogs water plants and other biota and trees including American beech crapemyrtle eastern redcedar and English oak The conservation garden is a monarch butterfly waystation In 1989 as part of GU s bicentennial celebration Professor Donald M Spoon who had a lab in the observatory at the time organized the dedication of the garden Father Heyden attended the ceremony At the time the garden was full of hundreds of iris species and cultivars including new ones that Professor Spoon bred Currently Observatory Hill likely has thousands of species of archaens bacteria and eurkaryans including animals fungi plants and protistans About 20 pollinator species regularly visit flowers on the hill Currently the observatory is operated and maintained by the Georgetown University Astronomical Society Contents 1 List of directors 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksList of directors EditJames Curley 1843 Johann Georg Hagen 1888 Edward C Phillips Paul McNally 1928 Francis J Heyden 1948 See also EditList of astronomical observatoriesReferences Edit About Us Georgetown University Astronomical Society 2009 Retrieved March 12 2010 Fargis G A 1895 Georgetown College Observatory 1843 1893 Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 7 41 89 97 Bibcode 1895PASP 7 89F doi 10 1086 121000 The Georgetown University Observatory The Biodiversity Database of the Washington D C Area 2009 Retrieved March 12 2010 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georgetown University Astronomical Observatory Location on Georgetown University campus Portals Astronomy Stars Spaceflight Outer space Solar System Education Science Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Georgetown University Astronomical Observatory amp oldid 1120652892, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
