Comments on: International Year of Astronomy Public Observatory Project at The National Air and Space Museum http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/ Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:31:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: What if They Let YOU Run the Hubble? | Free Astronomy Articles & Videos http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-36552 What if They Let YOU Run the Hubble? | Free Astronomy Articles & Videos Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:15:07 +0000 http://airandspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/#comment-36552 [...] of your shots that you had Kitt Peak do these up for you personally. And you would not be lying.It is probably the dream of any amateur astronomer to be able to be the boss of one of the great mul... And as we improve our personal equipment set, we get better and better at pinpointing what we want [...] [...] of your shots that you had Kitt Peak do these up for you personally. And you would not be lying.It is probably the dream of any amateur astronomer to be able to be the boss of one of the great mul… And as we improve our personal equipment set, we get better and better at pinpointing what we want [...]

]]> By: At Washington, D.C. | a history of Boller and Chivens http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-35100 At Washington, D.C. | a history of Boller and Chivens Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:06:07 +0000 http://airandspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/#comment-35100 [...] this 16 inch Boller and Chivens telescope to the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. is here. This entry was posted in Telescopes by admin. Bookmark the [...] [...] this 16 inch Boller and Chivens telescope to the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. is here. This entry was posted in Telescopes by admin. Bookmark the [...]

]]> By: plans for storage shed http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-5588 plans for storage shed Mon, 23 Aug 2010 03:39:02 +0000 http://airandspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/#comment-5588 The idea of a celestial sphere is not new. Our early ancestors believed that Earth was the centre of the universe, and that the stars and other celestial objects were points of light attached to a vast crystal sphere, with Earth at its centre, which rotated in such a way that the stars seemed to move from east to west during the course of a night. In our enlightened age we scoff at this idea, yet it remains a very useful model of the night sky. The idea of a celestial sphere is not new. Our early ancestors believed that Earth was the centre of the universe, and that the stars and other celestial objects were points of light attached to a vast crystal sphere, with Earth at its centre, which rotated in such a way that the stars seemed to move from east to west during the course of a night. In our enlightened age we scoff at this idea, yet it remains a very useful model of the night sky.

]]> By: David http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-21 David Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:24:54 +0000 http://airandspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/#comment-21 Sadly, the Observatory remains closed for maintenance relating to excessive water under the floor and the adverse effects it causes. We are pushing to clean it up and re-open as soon as possible. Please bear with us. On the positive side, the education staff have been setting up small portable telescopes on the terrace near the front entrance to the Museum every clear day. Over the last two days they've snagged a spectacular prominence that we've submitted to the museum's blog -- we hope it will appear in a timely manner. Late this afternoon they and volunteers also set up the telescopes for a Science Night at the Museum, observing the very thin crescent moon well before sunset. The kids were delighted. Lets hope the dome will open soon so that everyone can once again enjoy the fantastic Cookle Memorial Telescope from Harvard. David Sadly, the Observatory remains closed for maintenance relating to excessive water under the floor and the adverse effects it causes. We are pushing to clean it up and re-open as soon as possible. Please bear with us.

On the positive side, the education staff have been setting up small portable telescopes on the terrace near the front entrance to the Museum every clear day. Over the last two days they’ve snagged a spectacular prominence that we’ve submitted to the museum’s blog — we hope it will appear in a timely manner.

Late this afternoon they and volunteers also set up the telescopes for a Science Night at the Museum, observing the very thin crescent moon well before sunset. The kids were delighted.

Lets hope the dome will open soon so that everyone can once again enjoy the fantastic Cookle Memorial Telescope from Harvard.

David

]]> By: David DeVorkin http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-20 David DeVorkin Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:55:42 +0000 http://airandspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/#comment-20 Oak Ridge is a wonderful site, not that far from Boston, and it would be great to restore it someday for public enjoyment. And the telescope was in great shape, thanks to Joe Zajac and other SAO staff. We are delighted to have the use of this lovely telescope - in the spirit of the IYA, we are putting a telescope where the people are! Oak Ridge is a wonderful site, not that far from Boston, and it would be great to restore it someday for public enjoyment. And the telescope was in great shape, thanks to Joe Zajac and other SAO staff. We are delighted to have the use of this lovely telescope – in the spirit of the IYA, we are putting a telescope where the people are!

]]> By: David DeVorkin http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-19 David DeVorkin Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:52:00 +0000 http://airandspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/#comment-19 We're almost there! Informal first light at the end of next week, then full public opening in two to three weeks. We’re almost there! Informal first light at the end of next week, then full public opening in two to three weeks.

]]> By: David DeVorkin http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-18 David DeVorkin Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:44:05 +0000 http://airandspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/#comment-18 Thanks Paul - quite right. We also recovered the Cook plaque and it will be placed on the west side of the pier of the telescope, welcoming visitors. In the process of determining the history of the telescope, we looked into how and why it was dedicated to Cook. When the smoke clears here (we are about to have first light) I'll prepare a blog post telling the story. Meanwhile, I'd welcome information from ATMs. Thanks Paul – quite right. We also recovered the Cook plaque and it will be placed on the west side of the pier of the telescope, welcoming visitors. In the process of determining the history of the telescope, we looked into how and why it was dedicated to Cook. When the smoke clears here (we are about to have first light) I’ll prepare a blog post telling the story. Meanwhile, I’d welcome information from ATMs.

]]> By: Peter Serrada http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Peter Serrada Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:43:06 +0000 http://airandspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/#comment-17 I think this is a very good use for this large telescope; much better than having it rust away at Oak Ridge Observatory. Congratulations on your persistence with the institutional bureaucracy in D.C. in finally getting a public observatory in our nation's capital (there is the Naval Obs, but it is far from the beaten path of downtown). I think this is a very good use for this large telescope; much better than having it rust away at Oak Ridge Observatory. Congratulations on your persistence with the institutional bureaucracy in D.C. in finally getting a public observatory in our nation’s capital (there is the Naval Obs, but it is far from the beaten path of downtown).

]]> By: Paul Valleli http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Paul Valleli Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:55:13 +0000 http://airandspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/#comment-16 David, You didn't mention that Harvard had commemorated the Boller & Chivens/Observatory to Chester Cook of Lexington,MA. 'Chet' as we called him was observatory optician, participated in the secret war project under Harvard Stadium, taught piano in his home, and was Director of the Observatory Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a past president of the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston and frequently came down to our workshop to pass on the quality of telescope mirrors made by struggling beginners. Chet passed away in 1964 at a time when Oak Ridge was known as the Agassiz Research Station of HCO. He maintained an optical shop in his basement at 16 Belfry Terrace and had set up a polishing machine that polished away while he was teaching a piano student. He would have to interrupt the class and run downstairs to add some polishing compound when the lap began squealing. Paul ATMoB, ATS David,
You didn’t mention that Harvard had commemorated the Boller & Chivens/Observatory to Chester Cook of Lexington,MA.
‘Chet’ as we called him was observatory optician, participated in the secret war project under Harvard Stadium, taught piano in his home, and was Director of the Observatory Philharmonic Orchestra.
He was a past president of the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston and frequently came down to our workshop to pass on the quality of telescope mirrors made by struggling beginners.
Chet passed away in 1964 at a time when Oak Ridge was known as the Agassiz Research Station of HCO.
He maintained an optical shop in his basement at 16 Belfry Terrace and had set up a polishing machine that polished away while he was teaching a piano student. He would have to interrupt the class and run downstairs to add some polishing compound when the lap began squealing.
Paul
ATMoB, ATS

]]> By: Tom Williams http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Tom Williams Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:23:49 +0000 http://airandspace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/international-year-of-astronomy-public-observatory-project-at-the-national-air-and-space-museum/#comment-15 Way to go, David, Good luck on completing the project. Way to go, David, Good luck on completing the project.

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