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Yerkes Observatory

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	Topics Yerkes Observatory Topic Home The Yerkes Observatory, itself claimed to be the birthplace of modern astrophysics, is an astronomicalAstronomy Overview Astronomy is the science of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere .... observatoryObservatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial and/or celestial events.... of the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago The University of Chicago is a private university located principally in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.... in Williams Bay, WisconsinWisconsin Wisconsin is a state in the United States, located in the Midwest.... . It was created in 1897 by George Ellery HaleGeorge Ellery Hale Summary George Ellery Hale was an American solar astronomer, born in Chicago.... and financed by Charles T. Yerkes. The observatory represented a shift in the thinking of observatories, from mere housing for a telescope and observer, to the modern concept of observation equipment integrated with laboratory space for physicsPhysics Physics , the most fundamental physical science, is concerned with the underlying principles of the natural world.... and chemistryChemistry Chemistry is the science of matter at the atomic to molecular scale, dealing primarily with collections of atoms .... . A 102 cm (40 inch) refracting telescopeRefracting telescope A refracting or refractor telescope is a type of optical telescope that refracts or bends light at each end using lens... built by the master optician Alvan ClarkAlvan Clark Alvan Clark, born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, was an American astronomer and telescope maker.... is located inside. It remains the largest refracting telescope ever used. In addition to the Yerkes refractor, the observatory also has a 102 cm (40 inch, referred to as 41 inch to prevent confusion) and a 61 cm (24 inch) reflecting telescopeReflecting telescope A reflecting telescope is an optical telescope which uses a combination of curved and plane mirrors to reflect light and for... . Several smaller telescopes are used for educational outreach purposes. Yerkes Observatory offers free Saturday programs throughout the year (except when the Saturday falls on Christmas and New Years) beginning at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, and 12:00 (noon). Programs are free but Yerkes appreciates donations. Yerkes Observatory also offers many programs at other times , day or night, for a fee, that include star parties and observing through telescopes. For information, call 262-245-5555, extension 832. Current research includes the interstellar mediumInterstellar medium The interstellar medium is the name astronomers give to the tenous gas and dust that pervade interstellar space.... , globular clusterGlobular cluster A globular cluster is a spherical collection of stars that orbits a galactic core as a satellite.... formation, infraredInfrared Infrared radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of... astronomy, and near-Earth objects. Additionally, the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago Overview The University of Chicago is a private university located principally in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.... maintains a sizable engineering center in the observatory, dedicated to making and maintaining scientific instruments. As of May 2007, the engineers are working on the High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera (HAWC), which will be an integral part of Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center.... . The current director of the observatory is Dr. Kyle M. Cudworth. Development and preservation plans In March 2005, the University of Chicago announced plans to sell the observatory and its land on the shore of Lake GenevaGeneva Lake Geneva Lake is a body of freshwater in southeastern Wisconsin.... , WisconsinWisconsin Overview Wisconsin is a state in the United States, located in the Midwest.... . Initial reports had two purchasers interested, Mirbeau, an east coast developer who wanted to build luxury homes, and Aurora UniversityAurora University Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois is a private liberal arts college that admits both men and women students to two-year,... , which has a campus straddling the Williams Bay property. The , a regional conservation and land trustLand trust A land trust is an agreement whereby one party agrees to hold ownership of a piece of real property for the benefit of anoth... organization, has taken the position that it is critical to save, in place, the historic Yerkes Observatory structures and telescopes for education and research, as well as to conserve the rare undeveloped, wooded lakefront and deep forestForest A forest is an area with a high density of trees .... sections of the 77 acre (31 hectare) site. On June 7 2006, the University announced it would sell the facility to Mirbeau for US$8 million with stipulations to preserve the observatory, the surrounding thirty acres, and the entire shoreline of the site. Under the Mirbeau plan, a 100-room resort with a large spaSPA Overview SPA can refer to:* saddle point approximation in quantum field theory... operation and attendant parking and support facilities is to be located on the 9 acre (4 ha) virgin wooded Yerkes land on the lakeshore -- the last such undeveloped, natural site on Geneva Lake's Geneva's 21-mile (34 km) shoreline. 72 homes are to be developed on the upper Yerkes property, surrounding the historic observatory. These grounds were designed more than 100 years ago by John Olmsted, the brother of famed landscape architectLandscape architect A landscape architect is a person with an education in landscape architecture and whose professional work conforms to the pr... Frederick Law OlmstedFrederick Law Olmsted Frederick Law Olmsted was a United States landscape architect, famous for designing many well-known urban parks, including ... , designer of New YorkNew York City New York City is the largest city in the United States and the twelfth largest city in the world, making it a major global c... 's Central Park. In view of the public controversy surrounding the development proposals, the university suspended these plans in January 2007. The university's department of astronomy and astrophysics then formed a study group, including representatives from the faculty and observatory and a wide range of other involved parties, to plan for the operation of a regional center for science education at the observatory. The study group began its work in February 2007 and its final report was issued November 30, 2007. Popular culture Yerkes Observatory is the setting for a portion of the 1996 movie Chain ReactionChain Reaction (film) *Chain Reaction* is a 1996 film starring Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Morgan Freeman and Fred Ward.... including an airboat chase across the frozen Geneva Lake. See also List of largest optical refracting telescopesList of largest optical refracting telescopes Here is a list of the largest optical refracting telescopes sorted by lens diameter and year of construction.... List of observatories External links (official site). from the National Park ServiceNational Park Service The National Park Service is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and ... .