Washburn Observatory
Encyclopedia
The Washburn Observatory is located at 1401 Observatory Drive on the University of Wisconsin–Madison
campus. Completed in 1881, it was a major research facility
for about 50 years. Now it is used primarily by the public during open houses and by students in introductory astronomy
courses.
, Cadwallader C. Washburn
. In 1876, the Wisconsin State Legislature
passed "An Act to permanently provide for deficiencies in the University fund income" to which Washburn added a provision that allocated a sum of $3000 USD
per year over three years for the establishment of astronomy instruction and a corresponding observatory. This money was not to come from state funds, but was to be raised with property tax.
On September 18, 1877, John Bascom
, the president of the University, announced that Washburn would provide an observatory with a telescope
that was to be larger than the 15-inch refractor
at Harvard. Washburn, along with the Board of Regents, chose the site of the observatory to be removed from the city of Madison
with the university campus acting as the divider. The site was about 100 feet above Lake Mendota
on the north side of campus and, at the time, was surrounded by a vineyard and orchard. Construction on the observatory was started in May, 1878, and a contract was given to Alvan Clark
to build the telescope. It was decided that the telescope would have a diameter of 15.6 inches, which would make it the third largest in the United States
. James C. Watson was appointed the first director of the observatory. He oversaw the completion of the original building, and also provided funding for a students' observatory, as well as a solar observatory. He died suddenly in 1880, never seeing the completed observatory.
The observatory was used quite heavily until the new Pine Bluff Observatory
was dedicated in 1958. Today Washburn Observatory is home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Letters & Science Honors Program. The telescope, managed by the UW Department of Astronomy, is still used for public viewings and educational events.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
campus. Completed in 1881, it was a major research facility
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
for about 50 years. Now it is used primarily by the public during open houses and by students in introductory astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
courses.
History
The observatory is named after the former Wisconsin governorGovernor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
, Cadwallader C. Washburn
Cadwallader C. Washburn
Cadwallader Colden Washburn was an American businessman, politician, and soldier noted for founding what would later become General Mills and working in government for Wisconsin. He was born in Livermore, Maine, one of seven brothers that included Israel Washburn, Jr., Elihu B. Washburne, William D...
. In 1876, the Wisconsin State Legislature
Wisconsin Legislature
The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house Wisconsin Senate and the lower Wisconsin Assembly...
passed "An Act to permanently provide for deficiencies in the University fund income" to which Washburn added a provision that allocated a sum of $3000 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
per year over three years for the establishment of astronomy instruction and a corresponding observatory. This money was not to come from state funds, but was to be raised with property tax.
On September 18, 1877, John Bascom
John Bascom
John Bascom was born on May 1, 1827 in Genoa, New York and was a graduate of Williams College with the class of 1849. He graduated from the Andover Theological Seminary in 1855. Besides the degrees he got in those places, he held many other scholarly and honorary degrees...
, the president of the University, announced that Washburn would provide an observatory with a telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
that was to be larger than the 15-inch refractor
Refracting telescope
A refracting or refractor telescope is a type of optical telescope that uses a lens as its objective to form an image . The refracting telescope design was originally used in spy glasses and astronomical telescopes but is also used for long focus camera lenses...
at Harvard. Washburn, along with the Board of Regents, chose the site of the observatory to be removed from the city of Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
with the university campus acting as the divider. The site was about 100 feet above Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota is the northernmost and largest of the four lakes near Madison, Wisconsin. The lake borders Madison on the north, east and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast, and Westport on the northwest....
on the north side of campus and, at the time, was surrounded by a vineyard and orchard. Construction on the observatory was started in May, 1878, and a contract was given to Alvan Clark
Alvan Clark
Alvan Clark , born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, the descendant of a Cape Cod whaling family of English ancestry, was an American astronomer and telescope maker. He was a portrait painter and engraver , and at the age of 40 became involved in telescope making...
to build the telescope. It was decided that the telescope would have a diameter of 15.6 inches, which would make it the third largest in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. James C. Watson was appointed the first director of the observatory. He oversaw the completion of the original building, and also provided funding for a students' observatory, as well as a solar observatory. He died suddenly in 1880, never seeing the completed observatory.
The observatory was used quite heavily until the new Pine Bluff Observatory
Pine Bluff Observatory
The Pine Bluff Observatory is located in the town of Cross Plains, Wisconsin about 15 miles west of Madison. The observatory was built in 1958 and is mainly used by students and faculty of the University of Wisconsin–Madison for teaching and research in astronomy. PBO also provides a facility for...
was dedicated in 1958. Today Washburn Observatory is home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Letters & Science Honors Program. The telescope, managed by the UW Department of Astronomy, is still used for public viewings and educational events.