Cincinnati Observatory

Image:Refractor Cincinnati observatory.jpg refracting telescopefrom "Smith's Illustrated Astronomy", 1848]]

Cincinnati Observatory was built by Ormsby M. Mitchel at the peak of Mount Ida,{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJxABLtxX60C&q=1880%20cincinnati&pg=PA713 | title=Centennial History of Cincinnati and Representative Citizens, Volume 1 | publisher=Biographical Publishing Company | year=1904 | access-date=2013-05-22 | author=Charles Theodore Greve | pages=713}} a hill that overlooks downtown Cincinnati. Nicholas Longworth donated {{convert|4|acre|ha}} of land for the purpose.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJxABLtxX60C&q=1880%20cincinnati&pg=PA898 | title=Centennial History of Cincinnati and Representative Citizens, Volume 1 | publisher=Biographical Publishing Company | year=1904 | access-date=2013-05-22 | author=Charles Theodore Greve | pages=898}} The Holy Cross Monastery and Chapel stands today at the site.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kgnS65gAbJoC&q=cincinnati+workhouse&pg=PA50 | title=Cincinnati Landmarks | publisher=Arcadia Publishing | date=Oct 29, 2012 | access-date=2013-05-19 | author=Rolfes, Steven | pages=50| isbn=9780738593951 }} The cornerstone was laid on November 9, 1843, and presiding over the occasion was former President John Quincy Adams, with an introduction by Judge Jacob Burnet.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJxABLtxX60C&q=1880%20cincinnati&pg=PA899 | title=Centennial History of Cincinnati and Representative Citizens, Volume 1 | publisher=Biographical Publishing Company | year=1904 | access-date=2013-05-22 | author=Charles Theodore Greve | pages=899}} At 77 years old, it was to be his last public speech, and Mount Ida was renamed to Mount Adams in his honor.

The Merz refractor was the biggest telescope in the United States in the early 1840s.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r5ePcHxf0T4C&q=yale+college+observatory+first+usa+observatory&pg=PA37|title=The Harvard College Observatory: The First Four Directorships, 1839-1919|last1=Jones|first1=Bessie Judith (Zaban)|last2=Jones|first2=Bessie Z.|last3=Jones|first3=Bessie Zaban|last4=Boyd|first4=Lyle Gifford|date=1971|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=9780674374607|language=en}}

In 1871, the Observatory came under the control of the University of Cincinnati and in 1873 it was transferred from Mt. Adams to Mt. Lookout in order to escape the smoke and dirt of the city, where it remains today.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uQg9XG6I9CsC&q=vas+you+ever+in+zinzinnati&pg=PA12 | title=Legendary Locals of Cincinnati | publisher=Arcadia Publishing | date=Jan 4, 2012 | access-date=2013-05-07 | author=Grace, Kevin | pages=12| isbn=9781467100021 }} The ground on which it stands was given to the city by John Kilgour in 1872.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJxABLtxX60C&q=1880%20cincinnati&pg=PA896 | title=Centennial History of Cincinnati and Representative Citizens, Volume 1 | publisher=Biographical Publishing Company | year=1904 | access-date=2013-05-22 | author=Charles Theodore Greve | pages=896}} A smaller structure, the Mitchel Building, holds the original telescope taken from the Mount Adams observatory. The 1873 building was built by the firm of Cincinnati architect Samuel Hannaford.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dW-52BWC4LoC&q=%22guilford+school%22+AND+cincinnati&pg=PA308 | title=Cincinnati, a Guide to the Queen City and Its Neighbors | year=1943 | access-date=2013-05-04 | author=Federal Writers' Project | author-link=Federal Writers' Project | pages=308| publisher=Best Books on | isbn=9781623760519 }} From 1884 to 1930 the director of the Observatory was Jermain G. Porter.[https://runeberg.org/salmonsen/2/19/0451.html Porter, Jermain Gildersleeve]. Salmonsens Konversationsleksikon (andra utgåvan, 1925).[https://www.nytimes.com/1933/04/15/archives/dr-jg-porter-astronomer-dead-authority-on-stellar-motion-wrote.html "Dr. J.G. Porter, Astronomer, Dead"]. The New York Times. In 1998 the Observatory was declared a National Historic Landmark.

The asteroid 1373 Cincinnati was named to honor the staff of the observatory.

• The 1845 Merz und Mahler 11 inch refractor – Housed in the "Mitchel Building". May be the oldest continually used telescope in the world. It is currently used for public education programs.
• The 1904 Alvan Clark & Sons 16 inch refractor – Housed in the "Herget Building". Used in public education programs and graduate research.

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• List of observatories
• List of largest optical telescopes in the 19th century
• List of the largest optical telescopes in North America

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{{Commons category|Cincinnati Observatory}}

• [http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/ Cincinnati Observatory Center]
• [https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=ABwJzN9u3pr View The Cincinnati Observatory Center in 3D]
• [http://cleardarksky.com/c/CncntObCOHkey.html?1 Cincinnati Observatory Center Clear Sky Clock] Forecasts of observing conditions.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100918022137/http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/merzundmahlerref.html Merz und Mahler telescope photos]

{{National Register of Historic Places in Ohio}}

{{Samuel Hannaford and Sons TR}}

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Category:1843 establishments in Ohio

Category:Astronomical observatories in Ohio

Category:National Historic Landmarks in Ohio

Category:Planetaria in the United States

Category:Tourist attractions in Cincinnati

Category:Education in Cincinnati

Category:Buildings and structures in Cincinnati

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Cincinnati

Category:Research institutes established in 1843