September 2007 Issue

Scoping Out Ohio

Ohio's proud role in the history of American astronomy is also exemplified by the Cincinnati, Loomis and Stephens Memorial observatories, as well as a dozen others around the state, some of which have been relocated or updated. The following are just three of these star-gazing spots.

The Ballreich Observatory, Tiffin, now operated by the Sandusky Valley Amateur Astronomy Club, houses a 12.5-inch Brashear refractor mounted by Warner & Swasey. Originally the main instrument of the Emerson McMillin Observatory at The Ohio State University, it was Ohio's largest refractor when completed in 1895 (see www.friendlynet.com/astronomy/observatory.htm). For information about its occasional public observing nights, contact director Dave North at hotrod@friendlynet.com, 419/443-0104).

The Ralph Mueller Observatory at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History features a 10.5-inch Brashear refractor mounted by Warner & Swasey in 1899, originally in a dome on the roof of the physics building of Western Reserve University (now part of Case Western). In 1960, it was transferred to the museum. Visitors can look through it every clear Wednesday night from 8:30 to 11 p.m. from September to May (for ticket information, see www.cmnh.org/site/AtTheMuseum_PlanetariumandObservatory_MuellerObservatory.aspx or contact observatory coordinator Clyde Simpson at 216/231-4600 x3253 or csimpson@cmnh.org.

The Elgar Weaver Observatory at Wittenberg University in Springfield, dating to 1931, is a comparative youngster. The telescope's 10-inch lens was figured by Carl Lundin (successor to Alvan Clark & Sons) and mounted by 20th-century architects Towner & Sellew Associates. The observatory holds public observing nights and special events 10 to 15 times a year; for information, see www4.wittenberg.edu/academics/phys/astropage/weaver.html or contact its director, physics professor Dan Fleisch at 937/327-7824 or dfleisch@wittenberg.edu.

Hankering to know more about finding, enjoying and preserving vintage observatories? The Antique Telescope Society holds annual conventions, publishes a journal and offers informative camaraderie on its e-mail list Oldscope; for more information, see www.oldscope.org or contact executive secretary Walter H. Breyer at 706/864-8207 or whbreyer@alltel.net.

The next ATS event in Ohio will be a thematic workshop on the vintage observatory in the 21st century, to be held at the Cincinnati Observatory May 2–4, 2008. For details, contact Trudy E. Bell, one of the workshop's organizers, at t.e.bell@ieee.org.