Stull Observatory is an astronomical

observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...

owned and operated by

Alfred University Alfred University is a private university in Alfred (village), New York, Alfred, New York. It has a total undergraduate population of approximately 1,600 students. The university hosts the New York State College of Ceramics, which includes The ...

located in Alfred,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

(USA) and named after

John Stull John Stull (August 30, 1920 – June 8, 2011) was an American politician. He served as a Republican member for the 80th district of the California State Assembly. He also served as a member for the 38th district of the California State Senate. ...

, who helped establish the observatory in 1966. It is notable for housing seven independently housed telescopes ranging in size from 8 to 32 inches. The largest, the Austin-Fellows 32 inch Newtonian Reflector is tied with the Vassar College

Class of 1951 Observatory The Class of 1951 Observatory is located near the eastern edge of the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, on Vassar College's campus. The observatory was built in 1997 and sponsored by the Vassar class of 1951 who donated funds for its construction ...

for the rank of second largest optical telescope in New York state after the 40 inch telescope at

SUNY Oneonta College Observatory The SUNY Oneonta College Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Oneonta, New York, Oneonta, New York (state), New York. The observatory is home to the largest optical telescope in New York: a 1-meter (40 inch) Newtonian reflector. It is also ...

. Telescopes at the observatory are regularly opened to the public. The observatory is also used for those pursuing a minor in astronomy or a concentration in astrophysics.

History

The history of the Stull Observatory goes back to 1863, when the astronomer William A. Rogers ordered and donated a 9-inch refractor with the American optician Henry Fitz. Sometime in the 1920s, with astronomy having been neglected at the University, the observatory was torn down and the telescope mothballed. It was very nearly lost and destroyed during this period, but in the late 1950s its existence was made known to John Stull, a ceramic engineering Ph.D. who was teaching physics. Over the next several years the telescope was used at several locations on campus. Finally, in 1966 Stull and the University established an observatory for the telescope. What is now called the Stull Observatory began with the construction of two domes, one for the 9 inch Fitz telescope and the other for a 16-inch Newtonian reflector. The Fitz was rebuilt in 1970, with a metal tube replacing the badly damaged wooden one. (The original tube is currently being restored by James Gort.) In 1971 the 16 inch Newtonian was replaced with the current 20 inch "Metzger" newtonian. In the interim, a heated classroom building was constructed (1968) and a 16-inch Ealing "Educator" Cassegrain (the "Grindle") had been purchased (1969), and ultimately modified. 1976 saw the addition of the 14 inch Newtonian (the "Olson") telescope, while the "Rose"

heliostat A heliostat (from ''helios'', the Greek word for ''sun'', and ''stat'', as in stationary) is a device that includes a mirror, usually a plane mirror, which turns so as to keep reflecting sunlight toward a predetermined target, compensating ...

was added in 1978. In 1992 the 32 inch Newtonian ("Austin-Fellows") telescope was completed. In 1996, due to funding from the National Science Foundation, a computerized telescope control system was installed. Since 1992 the Observatory has purchased two commercial 8 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes as well as significant amounts of electronic support equipment.

References

{{Portal bar, New York (state), Astronomy, Stars, Spaceflight, Outer space, Solar System, Education, Science Astronomical observatories in New York (state) Alfred University

History

See also

References