Yerkes Observatory (/ˈjɜːrkiːz/YUR-keez) is an astronomical observatory located in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, United States. The observatory was operated by the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics[2][3] from its founding in 1897 to 2018. Ownership was transferred to the non-profit Yerkes Future Foundation (YFF) in May 2020, which began restoration and renovation of the historic building and grounds. Re-opening for public tours and programming began May 27, 2022.[4]
The observatory, often called "the birthplace of modern astrophysics," was founded in 1892 by astronomer George Ellery Hale and financed by businessman Charles T. Yerkes. It represented a shift in the thinking about observatories, from their being mere housing for telescopes and observers, to the early-20th-century concept of observation equipment integrated with laboratory space for physics and chemistry analysis.
The observatory's main dome houses a 40 in-diameter (102 cm) doublet lens refracting telescope, the second-largest refractor ever successfully used for astronomy. The largest lens is the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope. There are several smaller telescopes – some permanently mounted – that are primarily used for educational purposes. The observatory also holds a collection of over 170,000 photographic plates.[5]
The Yerkes 40-inch was the largest refracting-type telescope in the world when it was dedicated in 1897, although there had been several larger reflecting telescopes. During this time, there were many questions about the merits of the various materials used to construct and design telescopes. Another large telescope of this period was the Great Melbourne Telescope, which was a reflector. In the United States, the Lick refractor had just a few years earlier come online in 1888 in California with a 91 cm lens.
Prior to its installation, the telescope on its enormous German equatorial mount was shown at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago during the time the observatory was under construction.
The observatory was a center for serious astronomical research for more than 100 years. By the 21st century, however, it had reached the end of its research life. The University of Chicago closed the observatory to the public in October 2018. In November 2019, "an agreement in principle" was announced that the university would transfer Yerkes Observatory to the non-profit Yerkes Future Foundation (YFF). The transfer of ownership took place on May 1, 2020.[6]
^Hale, George E. (1896). "Yerkes Observatory University of Chicago, Bulletin No. I." The Astrophysical Journal. 3: 215. Bibcode:1896ApJ.....3..215H. doi:10.1086/140199.
^"Yerkes Observatory – Home". Archived from the original on March 17, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2003.
^"The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics: A Bit of History". astro.uchicago.edu. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
^"About Yerkes Observatory". www.yerkesobservatory.org. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
^"Observatory website". Archived from the original on May 14, 2011.
^Carynski, Connor (May 1, 2020). "Foundation celebrates donation and takes ownership of Yerkes Observatory". lakegenevanews.net. Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
and 24 Related for: Yerkes Observatory information
YerkesObservatory (/ˈjɜːrkiːz/ YUR-keez) is an astronomical observatory located in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, United States. The observatory was operated...
The telescope was donated to YerkesObservatory by Helen Snow of Chicago. George Ellery Hale, then director of Yerkes, had the telescope brought to Mount...
mother, Elizabeth Link Yerkes, died of puerperal fever when he was five years old, and shortly thereafter his father Charles Tyson Yerkes Sr. was expelled from...
professor and astronomy director for the University of Chicago's YerkesObservatory in Wisconsin and was the managing editor for George Hale's Astrophysical...
This is a list of observatory codes (IAU codes or MPC codes) published by the Minor Planet Center. For a detailed description, see observations of small...
by William Wilson Morgan, Philip C. Keenan, and Edith Kellman from YerkesObservatory. This two-dimensional (temperature and luminosity) classification...
Eastman Kodak Company at Rochester, New York. He accepted a position at YerkesObservatory in 1924 and worked there until his retirement in 1939. His first important...
Yerkes may refer to: Yerkes (surname), notable people with this surname Yerkes, Kentucky Yerkes, Pennsylvania YerkesObservatory, an astronomical observatory...
mid-20th century. He served as director of Yerkes, McDonald, Leuschner and National Radio Astronomy Observatories and is credited with raising worldwide prestige...
aperture refractor for the start of Yerkesobservatory in the 1890s. The observatory was also called Kenwood Observatory. The 12-inch refractor is noted as...
professor at the University of Chicago, he did some of his studies at the YerkesObservatory, and served as editor of The Astrophysical Journal from 1952 to 1971...
retirement at Yerkes at the age of 65. Relieved of administrative duties, he became an even more active observer at Yerkes and at the McDonald Observatory. He made...
exhibition YerkesObservatory (101.6 cm or 40 in) Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (98 cm or 39 in) Lick Observatory (91 cm or 36 in) Paris Observatory Meudon...
Warner and Swasey Observatory, she was invited by Morgan to be his research associate at YerkesObservatory. She worked at Yerkes for six years, often...
the 40-inch refracting telescope at YerkesObservatory, 60-inch Hale reflecting telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory, 100-inch Hooker reflecting telescope...
the brand new YerkesObservatory in Wisconsin where he began work as a research student in 1898. Though he enjoyed his work at Yerkes, he was enticed...
Refractors" were built from 60 cm to 1 metre aperture, culminating in the YerkesObservatory refractor in 1897; however, starting from the early 1900s a series...
on January 3, 1888, until the construction of YerkesObservatory in 1897. In May 1888, the observatory was turned over to the Regents of the University...
Communication, No. 15, p.5. YerkesObservatory (2013)Photograph Plates Collection Leake, Dave Champaign Urbana Astronomical Society Observatory Accessed" May 20...
except for a brief period (1954–1956) as a research assistant at YerkesObservatory. He married fellow astronomer Ingrid Groeneveld (who became Ingrid...
and the Yerkes Great Refractor at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. A great refractor was often the centerpiece of a new 19th century observatory, but was...
aperture.The second largest refracting telescope in the world is the YerkesObservatory 40 inch (102 cm) refractor, used for astronomical and scientific observation...
This is a partial list of astronomical observatories ordered by name, along with initial dates of operation (where an accurate date is available) and...