Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin operated by the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. [1][2] The observatory calls itself "the birthplace of modern astrophysics."[3] Astronomer George Ellery Hale founded it in 1897 with financial support from businessman Charles T. Yerkes.[4] John Johnston Jr. donated a 53-acre site on the shore of Lake Geneva for the observatory.
The observatory houses a 40" refracting telescope. This is the largest refracting telescope ever successfully used for astronomy.[5] It has a collection of over 170,000 photographic plates.[6]
References
- â Yerkes Observatory-Home
- â The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago-A Bit of History
- â Observatory website
- â Yerkes Observatory - 1892-1893 History of Yerkes Observatory
- â Elizabeth Howell (August 15, 2014). Yerkes Observatory: Home of Largest Refracting Telescope. Space.com. Retrieved on April 3, 2017.
- â Observatory website