CHRONOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE HARVARD OBSERVATORY

Between 1840 or 1843 the Harvard Observatory was established. It was the first observatory in this country devoted to observational research work in Astronomy.

* * *

In 1847, a 15-inch refractin telescope was installed in the bid dome. This telescope was then the largest one in the world, and with it a number of important discoveries were made. At this time, the staff at the observatory numbered about twelve people.

* * *

In 1870 or thereabouts it was discovered that by the use of photographic plates which are much more sensitive to light than the human eye, would be a great advantage for astronomers. With the availability of photographic plates, the Harvard Observatory devoted itself to photographic work on the stars, taking photographs every night, until in 1890 they had a plate collection of several thousand. It was then necessary to enlarge the observatory so a new building was made to house the photographic plates.

* * *

In 1890, the need of having an observatory in the southern hemisphere if they wished to study the entire heavens became apparent. The one in Cambridge could only photograph the region of the sky in what in called the North Colestial Pole, so a station was established in Arequipa, Peru, for photographic work on the southern skies.

* * *

In 1927 in Peru, there was a cloudy period that lasted two months during which it was impossible to secure any photographs, so that same year they decided to change the location of the observatory to a place where there was no cloudy season. It was then they founded a station in Bioem Fontein, Orange Free State, South Africa.

* * *

In 1931, work was hindered in Cambridge by the number overcast nights and imperfect atmospheric conditions resulting from dust street illumination, smoke and uneven heating of the air. It was then decided to erect a new station for their work here in the Northern Hemisphere. This new station is located at Harvard, Massachusetts, at a place called Oak Ridge about 27 miles north-west of Cambridge.

* * *

Along with the development of Oak Ridge station and the increased collection of plates, a collection numbering five hundred thousand, it became imperative to construct a fire-proof building for their storage. In 1931 the erection of the Astrophotographic Building of the Harvard Observatory began. It was dedicated in the spring of 1932.

* * *

The Harvard Observatories are better equipped than any other observatories in the world. There is now in operation at Fontein, a 60-inch reflecting telescope which is the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere and within two months a 61-inch reflector, the largest in the Eastern states will be operating at the Oak Ridge station, thus giving Harvard, two high-power telescopes capable of surveying the entire sky. In addition to these telescopes the Southern station has five other telescopes in constant operations. The Oak Ridge station has also five other telescopes and five more are located in Cambridge.

* * *

The collection of plates recording the history of the sates from 1870 to the present times is the most extensive and valuable collection of astronomical photographs in the world, and the staff at the observatory in Cambridge now includes 50 research workers and computers.

* * *

Recently three books have been published concerning the progress in astronomical research made by the Harvard Observatories. They are; "The Universe Of Stars," a collection of talks on Astronomy by several members of the staff. "Flight From Chaos," by Dr. Shapley, and the "History And Work of Harvard Observatory," by the late Dr. Bailey.