UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
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Observatory

In June 1895 the State Legislature approved $15,000 for the construction of an observatory at the University of Illinois and by April of the following year construction was underway on the $6,800 building. [1] The building, designed by Charles A. Gunn, is [2] located at latitude 40o 6' 29".66, longitude, west of Washington, 11o 10' 37".5, or 44m. 42.5s, with elevation 720 feet above sea level. [3] Construction took just four months to complete and the observatory was in use by August. In November, the primary observing instrument arrived, a 12-inch Equatorial Telescope. By 1914 an observatory annex had been constructed to house a 30-inch reflecting telescope. [4] Designed by James White and [5] costing just $2,461.20 to erect, [6] the annex was later remodeled and relocated in 1924. [7] In 1954 the first addition to the observatory was constructed, followed by a second addition in 1966, adding laboratories for optical and radio astronomy. [8]

The Observatory was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 6, 1986 and on December 20, 1989 it became a National Historic Landmark. [9]

As part of its dedication to astronomical research, the University also created the Vermillion River Observatory, located 5 miles southeast of Danville. It was here that a new $871,650 reflecting radio telescope was dedicated on November 9, 1962, to "try to answer the question of whether the universe is "flying to pieces'". The 5 acre telescope was 600 feet wide by 400 feet long, consisting of "2x2 inch galvanized wire mesh, stapled to the asphalt liner with successive rolls crimped to 1 another so that each half of the reflector forms a continuous electrical surface, accurate to within 1 inch of a perfect parabolic cylinder". [10]




[1]
http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/IL/Champaign/state.html
[2] http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/department/observatory.shtml
[3] 15th trustees report
[4] http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/department/observatory.shtml
[5] History of the Growth and Development of the Campus of The University of Illinois - Leon Tilon / Thomas O'Donnell - UI Press 1930 - p 181
[6] Sixteen Years at the UI / p80
[7] History of the Growth and Development of the Campus of The University of Illinois - Leon Tilon / Thomas O'Donnell - UI Press 1930 - p 181
[8] http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/department/observatory.shtml
[9] http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/department/observatory.shtml
[10] University of Illinois Archives, Building and Statue Dedication Programs: RS 2/0/808
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