FuertesObservatory

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Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 Construction 4 Telescope 5 Use 6 Related Links

[edit] Location

The Fuertes Observatory is located on North Campus, atop a grassy knoll near Appel Commons and Helen Newman Hall.

[edit] History

The Observatory was built 1917, fueled by efforts of the Dean and first professor of Civil Engineering at Cornell, Prof. Estevan Antonio Fuertes. Throughout the Fall semester, the telescopes in the Observatory were used by engineering seniors to measure stars for the calculation of time and position.

[edit] Construction

In April 1916, the Cornell Superintendant of Buildings and Grounds took control of the construction efforts, following the design of Prof. of Architecture, L. P. Burnham and under the supervision of the Dept. of Civil Engineering. In the Fall of 1917, the Observatory, made of concrete block and stucco construction, was completed at a total caost of $20,000. The building incorporated a 24-foot diameter steel dome.

In October 1922, the present 12-inch telescope (with its German equatorial mount) was installed. It was officially dedicated on June 15, 1923 as the "Irving Porter Church Memorial Telescope."

[edit] Telescope

The Observatory's main telescope is a 12-inch refreactor, with a mechanical tracking mechanism operated by weights, much like a grandfather clock. There are also a number of smaller field telescopes for use by the Astronomy lab classes.

[edit] Use

The Observatory is no longer used for professional research. Public viewing nights, run by the Cornell Astronomical Society, are on clear Fridays, from 9 PM to 12 AM.

To check viewing conditions, call 607-255-3557.

[edit] Related Links

Fuertes Observatory [1]

"A brief history of the Fuertes Observatory at Cornell" [2]