Shattuck Observatory
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox observatory
|name = Shattuck Observatory
|background =
|image = Shattuck Observatory Dartmouth 2017.jpg
|caption = Shattuck Observatory in 2017
|organization = Dartmouth College
|location = Hanover, New Hampshire
|coords = {{coord|43|42|18|N|72|17|07|W|region:US-NH_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|altitude =
|weather =
|established = {{Start date|1854}}
|closed =
|website = {{URL|www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/news/observing.html}}
|telescope1_name = unnamed telescope
|telescope1_type = 9.5-inch refractor
|telescope2_name =
|telescope2_type =
|telescope3_name =
|telescope3_type =
|telescope4_name =
|telescope4_type =
}}
Shattuck Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States.
The observatory's most notable director was Edwin Brant Frost, who went on to be the director of the Yerkes Observatory. Today, it is primarily used for instructional purposes, but is open for public observation of the stars on Friday evenings. For scientific work Dartmouth has shares in the MDM Observatory on Kitt Peak, Arizona, and the Southern African Large Telescope in South Africa.{{cite web |title=Public Observing |url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/news/observing.html |publisher=Dartmouth College Department of Physics and Astronomy |accessdate=2012-01-11}}
Building
The observatory was built in 1854 for Ira Young, Professor of Natural Philosophy, to designs drawn up by his brother Ammi B. Young, and Boston architect G.J.F. Bryant, Young was then the supervising architect of the United States Treasury Department.{{cite web |title=Dartmouth College, Shattuck Observatory, Hanover, Grafton County, NH |url=https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/nh0027/ |work=Historic American Buildings Survey, Engineering Record, Landscapes Survey |publisher=Library of Congress |accessdate=2012-01-11}} It is a small building with three wings and a two-story dome (20 foot diameter). Its foundations are granite blocks; the building itself is brick. It is notable as the oldest scientific building on campus. Its construction and equipment costs were covered by a gift of $7,000 by Dr. George C. Shattuck, Dartmouth class of 1803, who stipulated that the Trustees match the gift with an additional $4,000.{{cite web |title=Guide to the Dartmouth College Shattuck Observatory Meteorological Records 1827-present (1853-1966) in the Dartmouth College Library |url=http://ead.dartmouth.edu/html/da9.html |publisher=Dartmouth College Library |accessdate=2012-01-11}} In 1955 the building was renovated and its original dome replaced, but otherwise the building remains substantially unaltered since its first construction.{{cite web|title=Shattuck Observatory|url=http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/3dcampus/descriptions/observatory.html|publisher=Dartmouth College|accessdate=2012-01-11|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120723161503/http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/3dcampus/descriptions/observatory.html|archivedate=2012-07-23}}
Telescopes
File:Shattuck Observatory - Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH.jpg can be seen to the left of the building.]]
- 9.5-inch (24 cm) refracting telescope built in 1872{{cite journal |last=LOTKO |first=LAUREN |title=Stargazer's Delight |journal=Vox |date=March 6, 2006 |url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~vox/0506/0306/stargaze.html |accessdate=2012-01-11 |publisher=Dartmouth College}}
- 4-inch Troughton & Simms meridian circle{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
- 12-inch Meade LX200
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/news/observing.html Public Observing] at Shattuck Observatory.
- [http://cleardarksky.com/c/HnvrNHkey.html?1 Hanover, NH Clear Sky Chart] Forecasts of observing conditions.
{{Dartmouth College}}
{{Portal bar|Astronomy|Stars|Spaceflight|Outer space|Solar System|Education|Science}}
Category:Dartmouth College facilities
Category:Astronomical observatories in New Hampshire
Category:Buildings and structures in Grafton County, New Hampshire